Meet the Standing Committee

Elizabeth Salamone -President

Christ Episcopal Church- Pittsford

Liz Salamone is the current President of the Standing Committee. She joyfully serves at Christ Church Pittsford as the Director of Children's Ministry and Finance Administrator. Liz studied math at Boston College, worked as an actuary for two different insurance companies, and earned an MBA in finance and international business at the University of Cincinnati. She and her husband Frank returned to Rochester, their hometown, in 2004 and Liz later took time off from the workforce to raise her sons Nicholas and John. She feels blessed to have been recruited by friends to apply for the Children's Ministry position in 2017, and recently took on the Finance Administrator position when it became available. Outside of Christ Church, Liz is the treasurer of Pittsford United Nursery School, is involved with Pittsford PTSA, and enjoys traveling, tennis, and platform tennis. Liz is looking forward to an exciting year for the diocese as we select our 9th bishop.

The Rev. Cameron Miller

Trinity Place, Geneva

The Rev. Cameron Miller is the rector serving part-time at Trinity Place, Geneva. His other profession is as a writer. In addition to three novels, a second a collection of poems and prose will be published in 2024. His website, subversivepreacher.org, also publishes sermons, essays, and commentary. He has served congregations large and small in urban, suburban, rural, and university settings.

The Very Rev. Ruth Ferguson

Christ Church, Rochester

I’ve been rector of Christ Church, Rochester, for 14 years now - a ministry and a parish that have blessed me profoundly. christchurchrochester.org God willing (and God is willing!) I will have served the diocese of Rochester with three consecutive bishops in my four years on the Standing Committee. I am inspired by the faithful ministers of this diocese - those who’ve been here a while and those who are newcomers: God has gifted us all with unique talents to carry the Church forth into the world, and I have seen firsthand how every gift is needed and treasured.

The Rev. Columba Salamony

St. Mark’s Penn Yan

The Rev. Columba Salamony (he/they) is the rector of Saint Mark’s Church in Penn Yan. A native of the Diocese of Maryland, he was ordained in Baltimore on June 18, 2022. He moved to the Diocese of Rochester from Berkeley, CA, where he attended seminary at CDSP. During the search for the IXth Bishop of Rochester, Columba served on the Discernment & Nominating Committee and was then elected to the Standing Committee in October 2023. He is proud to serve the Diocese of Rochester in this capacity and greatly looks forward to welcoming the new bishop in 2024.

Roxanne Gaylord

St. Thomas’, Bath

Roxanne Gaylord is the Director of Music and Office Manager at St. Thomas', Bath. She is a member of St. Thomas' Mission Committee and co-facilitates the parish's adult formation group, "Curious Christians." Prior to election to the Standing Committee, Roxanne served for two years on Diocesan Council as well as multiple terms as a Delegate to Diocesan Convention. She and her husband Bill Arnts have two young adult children and share their home with a tuxedo cat named Thomas.

Rev. Nita Byrd

Nita is the Chaplain and Dean for Spiritual Engagement at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Nita joined the Colleges from Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C. As chaplain there since 2012, she was responsible for campus religious life, from planning services to student programming to pastoral care. In addition to her duties as Religious Studies Program Director at St. Augustine’s, she served on the faculty and as a member of the president’s cabinet and the university’s advancement team.

Floyd Bayley

St. Paul’s, Rochester

Since joining St. Paul’s in the 70s, I have served on many missions of the church and the Diocese. Over the years I have server on the vestry and on Diocesan Council. At St. Paul’s I have served as Sunday school teacher, Crucifer, Usher, Stephen Ministry and on the Long Range Planning Committee. In the Diocese I have served on Diocesan Council where I chaired the Congregational Development Partnership Committee. Being on the Standing Committee for the past three years, I have gained broad experience and knowledge of the Episcopal polity and the inner workings of the Diocese. It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve on the Standing Committee.