About
A Community of Love and Acceptance
St. Isidore Episcopal Church believes in the power of belonging. We are a diverse community that welcomes everyone, regardless of beliefs, background, or where you are on your spiritual journey. Here, you'll find a judgement-free space of acceptance, and love where faith comes alive in a Christ-led environment.
Our Staff
Ted W. Smith, Interim Vicar
After a long and successful career in the Petro-Chemical industry, Rev. Smith left his corporate management position to answer God’s call to ordained ministry. He completed his theological studies in Florida and Texas and was ordained to the priesthood in 2010 by the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle. That same year he was installed as Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Liberty where he served for 15 years before retiring in 2022. After retirement from full time ministry, Rev. Smith traveled throughout the Diocese of Texas as supply priest, filling in where there were clergy vacancies and otherwise assisting parishes and missions in whatever was needed. Most recently he served as Interim Rector for Christ the King Episcopal Church in Humble/Atascocita, leaving that position in December of 2024 when a new permanent Rector was chosen. “Father Ted”, as he is often called, is looking forward to this new ministry opportunity with the community of St. Isidore.
Debbie Daigle, Assistant Vicar
Rev. Debbie grew up understanding that church was an important and essential piece of life. With a strong prayer warrior mother, she grew up understanding that church was an important and essential. She was led to mission work outside the U.S. She spent 2 weeks every summer for 10 years working with a Honduras Medical Mission out of Bay City. After 3 years, she was urged to return to Honduras and teach in an Episcopal Bi-lingual school. She has spent time working with children in Tela, gone on a pilgrimage from Austin to Malawi, and worked to start the DOK Microloan project in Blantyre. She attended the Iona School of Ministry for the Bi-Vocational Priesthood in 2008. I graduated at the age of 62 and proceeded to lead 3 small churches in Madisonville, Kilgore and Tyler. She has now found a home to lead St. Isidore’s Montgomery Chapel Community, facilitate a women’s spirituality group-St. Brigid’s Guild, facilitate a Bible Study for St. Paul’s where I am permanent supply. I have two amazing children, Christopher and Katie, 8 grandchildren and a new great-grandchild.
Tom Budde, Warden
Tom has been active in St. Isidore's outreach ministries since 2016, soon after its inception. Tom serves as the Warden of St. Isidore, and has picked up and distributed food for the Abundant Harvest Food Pantry for several years. He has cooked at the Abundant Harvest Kitchen even longer. Born into the Episcopal Church Tom has attended numerous Episcopal churches and served on vestries and stewardship committees. He has a BS in engineering from Northeastern University and retired from ExxonMobil in 2019.
The Wisdom is in the Room
Wisdom is treasure! We begin our search for wisdom with the people already present. Pentecost means the Spirit has been shed abroad, free to speak wisdom to or through anyone. We embrace full participation on the part of the laity, who learn to expect the Spirit’s guidance on matters great and small. Scripture, history, facts, dreams, and intuitions all work together in our communal search for the practical wisdom we need to live well.
All are Welcome
We actively invite all people to experience the love of Christ. With unconditional acceptance, we are intentional about engaging and partnering with the local community. We create spaces where both giftedness and brokenness are welcome. We joyfully affirm being a being a safe space where honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability are fostered. We show up fully because we believe God loves us as we are. All means All.
All Hands on Deck
We need everyone — everyone’s gifts, everyone’s heart, everyone’s prayers, everyone’s commitment to the mission of the church, each in his or her own way. We extend an open invitation to all to be part of this great call because the mission of God’s church is urgent and encompasses everything.
Radical Generosity
Our Lord gives generously and abundantly, so we make all of our decisions from a place of gratitude. We gladly share ourselves and the resources God gives in ways that reflect trust in God and a thorough commitment. to serve others, especially the underserved. We create opportunities for people to be healthy and whole. We break bread often and everywhere, seeking to nourish bodies, minds, and souls. We can never out-give God.
The Sacred is in the Ordinary
God uses the ordinary. God transforms the common. God is everywhere, all the time. We embrace the belief both the spiritual world and the material world are good. We are inclined to look for evidence of God’s handiwork in even the messiest places of our lives.
The Truth is in the Tension
We embrace differences. We enjoy the “yes, and” stance on complex issues. We understand that there is difference in the room, trusting that the truth and justice we all seek are not easily grasped. Together, we strive to understand. Seeking higher ground, we will agree to disagree, and together to accept the messiness of life, allowing the personal paradoxes of Jesus to be our basis for staying in conversation.