Updates from the Bishop’s Office

The Rev. Deacon Aric Bokker - St. Barnabas, Foreman (Vicar)

Born in West Memphis, Aric graduated from Arkansas State University and earned a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary and a Master of Science in Counseling from Pittsburg State University (KS), along with a course of study in Spiritual Formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Recognizing his calling was back in the church, he completed a Diploma of Anglican Studies through Bexley-Seabury Theological Seminary while serving as a licensed worship leader at St. Stephen’s, Horseshoe Bend and St. Barnabas’, Foreman.

Aric comes from the United Methodist and Old Catholic traditions. He served UMC churches before completing a Clinical Pastoral Education Residency and serving as a hospital and hospice chaplain. He later became a licensed professional counselor while continuing to serve as a priest in the Old Catholic tradition. For nearly ten years, he has counseled in some of Arkansas' least-resourced counties, certified in children's trauma and infant mental health, and licensed for all ages. He currently provides counseling in Nashville, Arkansas, focusing mainly on children and adolescents but serving all ages.

The Rev. Deacon Dr. Bruce Bryant - Christ Episcopal Church, Mena (Vicar)

Bruce, who is from Formosa, Arkansas, recently retired after a 30-year career in education as a teacher, professor, principal, and superintendent, and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership. He prepared for ordained ministry through the Iona Initiative and by reading for Holy Orders. Sponsored by St. Stephen’s, Jacksonville, Bruce was ordained deacon at Trinity Cathedral on December 13, 2025.

Bruce often says that while the classroom has changed, his calling has not — whether teaching literature, leading a school, or preaching from the pulpit, he has always found joy in helping people ask good questions and grow into who God created them to be. His ministry centers on preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and building communities where people feel welcomed, valued, and loved.

Bruce lives in Hot Springs with his partner, Adam, and is the proud father of two sons and grandfather (“GranDoc”) to his grandson, Mitt. He enjoys traveling to America's national parks, a good cup of coffee, and the quiet beauty of God's creation.  He is grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the people of Christ Church and looks forward to discovering what God has in store as they continue to grow in faith, serve their neighbors, and share the love of Christ throughout the Mena community.

The Rev. Deacon James Crews -Trinity Episcopal Church, Van Buren (Vicar)

James is a native Arkansan, born in Prescott and raised in the Pea Ridge and Rogers communities of Northwest Arkansas and a graduate from Gurdon High School. He serves in bi-vocational ministry, working full-time at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, where he oversees laboratory medicine operations and serves as Sacristan of St. Mary's Chapel. He previously held laboratory leadership roles at Stanford University and California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

In ministry, James has served across the Diocese of California as a youth minister and in the Diocese of Arkansas as Lay Missioner for the Pea Ridge mission congregation, now the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. He sits on the Province VII Council Board and has served as alternate deputy to the General Convention and on the Standing Committee. He graduated from the Iona School for Ministry and was ordained deacon on June 13, 2026, at Trinity Cathedral, beginning his ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church, Van Buren, on July 1, 2026.

James and his husband of 21 years, Jason, live in Goodman, Missouri, with their dogs and cat, and enjoy traveling and exploring history together.

The Rev. Deacon Michael Mitchell - St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Hope (Vicar)

Michael grew up in Northern and Central Arkansas and graduated from Hendrix College in 1975, followed by a Master of Theology from SMU's Perkins School of Theology. Raised in a United Methodist minister's family, he was ordained deacon and elder in the UMC and served congregations in Southeast Arkansas and Northeast Kansas for 20 years. He then trained as a family therapist at the Menninger Foundation and earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas, practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas for 23 years, including school-based therapy in Arkansas, with many years spent in service in a small rural mental health center before retiring in 2015.

Michael came to the Episcopal Church in 2018 at St. Mark's, Little Rock. After nearly a decade of retirement, he felt called back into ordained ministry — this time in the Episcopal Church — and, with the support of Bishop Harmon and the people of St. Mark’s Little Rock and St. Luke’s North Little Rock, he was ordained at Trinity Cathedral on June 13 and now joins the people of St. Mark's, Hope, in ministry.

The Rev. Deacon Andrew White - St. John's Episcopal Church, Ft. Smith

Andrew grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1991 before enrolling at John Brown University, where he met his wife, Dawn. They married in 1994 and settled in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, raising their daughter Lilly along with two bonus kids, Zach and Alexis, and a fur-monster Goldendoodle, named Paco. Andrew earned his B.S. in Education from JBU in 1995 and taught high school English at Gentry High School for 31 years, focusing on AP Language and Literature courses with juniors and seniors.

Raised in the Evangelical church, Andrew found a home in the Episcopal tradition in 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs, where he soon felt called into ministry. He earned his M.Div. from Bexley-Seabury Seminary Federation while teaching full-time and was ordained a transitional deacon on June 13, 2026, at Trinity Cathedral. Since July 1, 2026, Andrew has served St. John's Episcopal Church in Ft. Smith, where he and his wife have settled with their geriatric beagle Moses, and quickly felt welcomed. His interests include hanging out with his wife and kids, reading murder mystery novels, fly fishing, vegetable gardening, hiking, classic rock music, and wood turning.

The Rev. Canon Ryan Boyce has been called as the Rector of St. John’s, Helena/West Helena. Ryan was born and educated in Barbados, where he completed his graduate studies. He holds undergraduate degrees in Law, Political Science, and Theology, along with certifications in Canon Law, Chaplaincy, and Police Chaplaincy. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Forensic and Counseling Psychology.

Ryan has served in ordained ministry for 18 years across the Dioceses of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, Barbados, New Jersey, and, most recently, Long Island, leading parish revitalization, church restoration, stewardship, youth development, and community outreach initiatives.

Ryan’s public service includes leadership roles in government, education, social services, corrections, and law enforcement. Committed to education and community engagement, he has lectured at Stockton University and Rutgers University, served as a school counselor, prison chaplain trainer, board member, and CEO and Spiritual Director of a senior housing community. A passionate advocate for youth, mentorship, and restorative justice, he also enjoys the study of Latin and Greek and is an accomplished organist. Ryan began his call at St. John’s on July 1, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Diocese of Arkansas!

The Rev. Carolyne A. Adhola has accepted the vestry’s call to become the next rector of St. Paul’s, Batesville.  Carolyne is a seasoned priest with more than 15 years of experience in pastoral care, church revitalization, and organizational leadership. Her ministry has spanned diverse contexts, from parish leadership in the Anglican Church of Kenya, to the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 

After graduating from Carlile School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya, Carolyne was ordained in the Anglican Church of Kenya in 2009, and served as vicar and youth pastor at St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral, in the Diocese of Bondo. Her ministry has also included academic leadership as Lecturer in the School of Theology, assistant chaplain and Administrator at St. Paul’s University, Kenya.

In the United States, she has served as assisting priest both in parishes in the Dioceses of Virginia and DC. Currently, she is serving as Priest-in-Charge at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Beyond parish ministry, Carolyne serves as Director of both the Daughters of Zion Widows Group and the Shalom Orphans Rescue Center in Bondo, Kenya, ministries dedicated to care, empowerment, and advocacy. 

With her rich experience in ministry renewal, mission outreach, resource stewardship, and pastoral care across generations, Carolyne embodies the heart of servant leadership. She delights in contextual preaching and teaching, connecting scripture to daily life experience. She brings to St. Paul’s Batesville a deep commitment to spiritual formation, compassionate pastoral presence, and a vision for building communities rooted in faith, service, and hope.  Carolyne will begin her work at St. Paul’s on February 5th.  Please, keep her and the people of St. Paul’s in your prayers as they begin this exciting new season together. We are delighted to welcome her to the Diocese of Arkansas! 

The Rev. Dr. Herman Browne has been called as the Rector of Trinity Pine Bluff. Herman is a theologian and a priest with 35 years of ministerial practice in the United Kingdom and Liberia. He earned a B.A. in theology from Cuttington University Liberia, a Bachelor of Divinity from Kings College London, and in 1994 a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of London. 

Herman’s ministry has spanned multiple continents.  He served as senior advisor on Anglican Communion affairs to both Archbishops George Carey and Rowan Williams at Lambeth Palace in England.  He returned to Liberia  in 2005 and served in higher education posts, and eventually as Dean of Trinity Cathedral Monrovia.  His parochial experience focused on rural areas, and smaller urban churches, engaging communities and mentoring the youth. He has authored several theological works: Theological Anthropology: A Dialectic Study of the African and Liberation Traditions; 50 Things Your Pastor Forgot to Tell You - about God, the Bible and You; Grasshoppers No Longer: critical essays in western cultural history, theology and philosophy;  Know Your Church: the many ways to serve the Episcopal Church of Liberia, and  African Traditional Theology – a political critique; Co-edited Passion for Critique: Essays in honour of JF Laishley, and published several articles. 

Herman is married to Trokon Chea, and they have three children:  Hermalisa, Hermalyn and Herman II. Herman began his work at Trinity in November, and we are delighted that he has chosen to join us in the Diocese of Arkansas!

Rector and Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock, AR 

We are delighted to announce that The Reverend Canon Andrea McMillin returns to the Diocese of Arkansas as the Rector and Dean of Trinity Cathedral.  A native of Little Rock, Andrea was ordained at Trinity Cathedral and served previously as its curate.  She currently serves as Priest-in-Charge of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills, where she has guided the parish through a long period of healing, growth, and revitalization. Previously, she served as Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Northern California, managing the diocesean staff and overseeing more than sixty congregations in clergy transitions, leadership development, and disaster recovery. She also taught and directed the College for Congregational Development. Andrea delights in planning beautiful worship and cherishes the depth of Anglican choral and liturgical music. She finds joy in connecting scripture to daily life and inspiring spiritual growth through preaching and teaching.  Her ministry centers on forming leaders, nurturing vibrant worship, and helping congregations embody the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Her young adult daughters live and work in the Denver area and spend all of their free time skiing and climbing.

Andrea has shared the following: “Returning to my home diocese and beloved Trinity Cathedral feels like both a homecoming and a fresh beginning, familiar yet new, and filled with promise and the joy of the Spirit at work.”  She will begin her work at Trinity Cathedral on Sunday, February 1, 2026 where she will preach and Bishop Harmon will preside.  Please, keep Andrea and the staff and people of Trinity Cathedral in your prayers as they begin this new season together. 

The Reverend Dr. Jason Alexander called as Rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Conway, Arkansas.

The vestry has called the Reverend Dr. Jason Alexander to serve as the next rector of St. Peter’s, and he has accepted. After a year of shared ministry and discernment, this call marks a joyful milestone at St. Peter’s.

Thank you to the Reverend Brenda Krall and the Reverend Darrell Stayton, who have accepted the bishop’s appointment as our new diocesan intake officers for our Title IV process. Brenda and Darrell bring a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to this work. Title IV is the process designated by our Episcopal Church Canons which upholds and regulates the professional conduct of our clergy. Its goals are to promote healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life, and reconciliation. Intake Officers are a key component in this process, and they are available via phone call or email with their information posted on the diocesan website under our staff contact section (even though they are not technically diocesan staff). 

With the exciting addition of several new staff members to our Diocesan Staff, we have created an organizational chart to show what the primary responsibilities are for each staff member. 

In addition to the organizational chart, we have also added brief lists of responsibilities of each staff member on our diocesan website with direct contact information for each. You can view that here. 

Thank you for your generous welcome to our new staff members and for your willingness to bear with us as we continue to grow into a diocesan staff and our new roles together.