Bishop Phyllis A. Spiegel
Twelfth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah
Meet Bishop Phyllis A. Spiegel
A pastor, teacher, and companion in God’s mission across the Diocese of Utah.
The Rt. Rev. Phyllis A. Spiegel was consecrated as the 12th Bishop of Utah on September 17, 2022. She is passionate about The Episcopal Church’s work of deepening discipleship through daily practices of faith, believing that drawing near to God in prayer and scripture changes the way we walk in the world. Bishop Spiegel is especially committed to sustainable, compassionate responses for neighbors who are unhoused or living with mental illness, seeking stability, dignity, and hope for all.
Bishop Spiegel was ordained a priest in 2004. She served as Priest-in-Charge and then rector of St. Thomas, Christiansburg, Virginia from 2004–2015. In 2015 she was called as rector of St. Anne, West Chester, Ohio, where she helped nurture a community rooted in prayer, lay leadership, and service beyond the parish walls.
A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (M.Div. 2004), Bishop Spiegel completed her undergraduate studies at Emory & Henry College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. After college she interned with the Southern Empowerment Project in Appalachia, learning the craft of grassroots organizing. She then spent nine months in Kenya teaching Business and Commerce at a secondary school, an experience that deepened her sense of global Church and vocation.
Returning to the United States, she worked as a Field Executive for the Hornet’s Nest Girl Scout Council in Charlotte, North Carolina, before moving back to Virginia to help open a second location of her mother’s birding business, For the Birds. Together they taught birding and conservation classes across the Commonwealth for nearly a decade — a season that wove together creation care, teaching, and joy.
Bishop Spiegel has one daughter, who lives in England with her husband. Her hiking partner is Samson, a ninety-pound Dutch Shepherd mix who has fully embraced his new life among the mountains and deserts of Utah.
The Rt. Rev. Phyllis A. Spiegel Twelfth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah
A traveling bishop’s office for a wide and beautiful diocese
Carrying prayer, presence, and connection across Utah.
The Bishop’s Mobile Ministry RV is a practical response to the geography of the Diocese of Utah. Instead of treating the miles between congregations as empty space, the RV turns that time into an extension of the Bishop’s office and ministry.
Inside, the RV provides a small but well-organized workspace: room for a laptop and prayer books, space to join online meetings, and a quiet corner for sermon drafting and reflection.
The RV also makes room for companions on the journey. Samson, the Bishop’s dog, often travels with her, reminding everyone that this ministry is embodied, grounded, and human.
Wherever it is parked, the RV quietly signals that the Church has arrived to listen, to pray, and to be present. It helps the Bishop spend more time in communities and respond more fully to invitations to show up.
What the RV makes possible
- A quiet place for prayer, reflection, and preparation between visits.
- Reliable space for online meetings and pastoral conversations while traveling.
- Longer, more attentive visits with congregations spread across a wide geography.
- A visible, approachable sign of the Church’s presence at local events.
In the News
Bishop Spiegel in the Public Square
Selected coverage and conversations featuring the Rt. Rev. Phyllis A. Spiegel, from local reporting to church-wide publications.
Episcopal Diocese of Utah Reacts to Shooting of Political Commentator
“When we tolerate rhetoric of division, we erode the bonds of community.”
Utah cathedral opened its doors to shelter ‘No Kings’ rally protesters
“I told them, ‘You’re safe. … Somebody behind you might need help.’”
Ep. 221: How can we say goodbye to our loved ones?
Bishop Spiegel reflects on Christian hope, presence, and tenderness when accompanying people through loss.
Bishop Phyllis Spiegel Honored with Distinguished Achievement Award
“I’m just me.”
Phyllis Spiegel consecrated 12th bishop of Utah
“To God be the glory and may our lives manifest the joy of this day for years to come.”
‘Her joy is infectious’ — Utahns consecrate female Episcopal bishop
“I feel like the Holy Spirit is on the move in Utah.”
Scenes from Bishop Spiegel’s ministry
Moments from worship, pastoral care, public witness, and ministry on the road.
Bishop Spiegel’s Bottle Tab Ministry
Supporting the Ronald McDonald House in honor of a former parish family.
This ministry emerged from Bishop Spiegel’s pastoral experience in a previous parish, where a young member of the congregation faced a long medical journey. During that time, the family received vital support from the Ronald McDonald House, which offers no-cost lodging for families with a child receiving treatment.
When the child died, the community sought a simple but meaningful way to honor the family and to continue supporting the organization that had walked alongside them. Collecting aluminum bottle tabs became an accessible and enduring expression of care.
Bishop Spiegel has carried this practice with her into the Diocese of Utah. Through congregations, camps, diocesan gatherings, and visitations, she continues collecting tabs to help support the Ronald McDonald House near Primary Children’s Hospital, ensuring that families navigating difficult seasons have a place of rest and welcome.
It is a ministry of remembrance, compassion, and solidarity with families whose children require critical medical care.