The REv. Kirby Smith

St. David’s, San Diego

Nominee’s short bio: I was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles in June 2009. As a teenager, I lived in Japan and later continued a family tradition of serving in the military and spent four years in Germany as a counterintelligence officer in the U.S. Army. After the Army, I received a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of San Diego and then spent fifteen years in the banking industry and fifteen years in the non-profit sector. I was called to the Diocese of San Diego in 2018 when I joined the Bishop’s staff to be the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Diocese. I later returned to parish ministry, serving as the priest-in-charge at All Saints Vista and currently at St. David's Clairemont.

Reflecting upon my call to the ordained ministry that started in 1999, I feel the more I opened my eyes, ears, and heart, the more I became aware of God’s presence in my life. Each step I took felt as though it was the right step; all I can do now is put one foot in front of the other and trust in the God who made me.

Nominee’s Statement in Favor of Their Candidacy: When I was on the Bishop's staff, I had the opportunity to visit a number of parishes, so I was able to get to know many of the clergy in our diocese, as well as individual congregation members who served on diocesan committees. While we hope that incidents do not occur that require the need of the Disciplinary Board, it's necessary to have a process and board members in place to provide support to all parties involved in difficult situations. I offer my help in whatever way it can be most useful.