Staff
The Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield
Assisting Bishop
Bishop Larry Benfield is serving as the assisting bishop of the diocese, splitting time each month between his home in Arkansas and in the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. While here, he visits a different congregation on Sunday mornings and is available to assist Sacramentally when needed. Before his work here, he served as bishop of Arkansas for seventeen years.
Jeff Mills
Canon for Finance
Jeff Mills has served in the Diocese for more than 32 years. As a lay leader at Redeemer,
Hermitage, St. Jude’s and now Resurrection in Hermitage, he has served on the vestry/bishop’s
committee as clerk and treasurer and is a licensed Lay Eucharistic Minister and Visitor. At the
diocesan level, Jeff has served on Diocesan Council, the Audit Committee, the Finance
Committee, and the Grant Committee, and as Assistant Diocesan Treasurer. In 2022, Jeff was
called to serve as Canon for Finance/CFO for the partnership Diocese of WNY & NWPA and is
grateful to support the ongoing ministry of the Diocese of NWPA.
Contact Jeff for assessments, Parochial Reports, Grant Requests, Congregational Audits, Clergy Compensation, Payroll & Benefits including Insurance, Clergy Assurance Fund Questions, and Comingled Trusts
Casandra Reese
Director of Design & Media
Casandra Reese serves as the Director of Design and Media, bringing creativity to the diocese’s visual and communication needs. She oversees newsletters, social media, photography, videography, editing, illustrations, and overall communications strategy. Casandra has a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design with concentrations in marketing and photography from Mercyhurst University. Rooted in her love for Jesus and commitment to the church, Casandra is dedicated to supporting our congregations and parishioners with thoughtful, faithful, and beautifully crafted visual work. She is always glad to help with any artistic or media needs across the diocese.
Contact Casandra for web-Site Questions, ENews Submissions or Questions, Social Media, and Advice on Digital Prescence
Tim Kroh
Missioner for the Ordination Process, Missioner for SE Region
Born and raised in our diocese, Tim was baptized as a teenager at Church of Our Saviour, DuBois. He graduated with a BA in World Religions from Penn State and received his M.Div from the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 2006 in the Diocese of Maryland, and served urban, suburban, and rural congregations in that diocese as Rector, Priest-in-Charge, Interim, and University Chaplain. Tim also served for a time in the Dioceses of Pennsylvania, Arizona and San Diego before returning home in 2022 as Vicar of Church of Our Saviour, DuBois and Holy Trinity,
Brookville. Tim also serves our diocese as Missioner for Ordination, Transitions, and for the Southeast Deanery.
Contact Tim for the Ordination Process and Aspirants Retreats
ELLIE ROBERTS
Office Manager
Ellie has many years of experience as a church administrator and has worked for several churches over her professional career, including Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern North Carolina where she fulfilled the role of Director of Church Life. Ellie has worked in nonprofit management for the past 25 years and is also a vocal musician. She has directed several choirs over the years. Ellie, her husband Ed and dogs Cooper and Brie, moved to Erie about a year ago to be closer to family and old friends. She ensures that everything runs smoothly and provides essential administrative support to the staff and volunteers. With the Erie Episcopal partnership she maintains office hours at both St. Mark’s and the Cathedral.
Contact Ellie for Lay Licensing, Safe Church Training, Diocesan Convention, Remarriage Applications, and Building Use