High Plains Region Convocation

2023 Candidates for Clergy to the High Plains Region Executive Committee

Karen Lajoy Smith – Interim Rector, St. Matthew’s, Parker
Clergy Representative to the HPR Executive Committee

The Reverend Karen LaJoy Smith is originally from Long Island, NY and resided in the mountains of Colorado for almost 40 years.  With a long career as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Spiritual Director, Rev. Karen was ordained in the Episcopal Church in Colorado, having attended Iliff School of Theology in Denver.  Rev. Karen served the Diocese as a trainer for clergy and laity on licensed lay ministry.  She served at Trinity, Kremmling and St. John the Baptist, Breckenridge as vicar and priest. Rev. Karen served as Interim Rector at Ascension and Holy Trinity in Pueblo.  Currently she is serving as transition Priest-in-Charge, time certain at St. Matthew’s, Parker.

Rev. Karen has served in the Diocese of Oregon as facilitator for the clergy group Fresh Start and on the Commission of Poverty and Homelessness. As rector of All Saints in Hillsboro, OR Rev. Karen led and resourced laity in a ministry of love, care and compassion reaching out to neighbors in need.  She helped develop a strong ecumenical clergy group that focused on social justice issues collaborating with many community partners.

Rev. Karen and her husband, Scott have three amazing grown children, and are proud grandparents of five precious grandchildren with one more on the way!

2023 Candidates for Lay Leader to the High Plains Region Executive Committee

Darren Armstrong
Current Member of HPR Executive Committee and President of the Standing Committee
Running for second term
Lay Representative from the HPR Executive Committee to the Standing Committee

I would like the opportunity to continue serving the Church by being elected to serve a second term as a lay member of the Standing Committee representing the High Plains Region. I am currently serving as President of the Standing Committee after serving as its Vice-President.

As a worshipper in the Diocese of Colorado, I am a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and have held a variety of positions and participated in a number of activities, on both a parish and diocesan level in the past.

I was born in England and spent my childhood as a member of a military family, which meant that I lived in quite a few places growing up. I graduated from Cal Poly, Pomona and spent 33 years in California before coming to Colorado in 2011.  While in California, I was active in the Diocese of Los Angeles at Grace Church, Glendora and Holy Trinity, Covina. I served as member of the Diocesan Program on Youth and was a past President of the Diocesan chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians. On a parish level, I served as vestry member, lector and choir member as well as a salaried Youth Minister.

I am a member of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Redeemer, Denver where I have served as the Junior Warden.  I have served two terms on the High Plains Executive Committee and served two terms as a member of the Diocesan Commission on Ministry. In addition, after three years of service as the Vice- Chair, I now served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Episcopal Service Corps, a Diocesan institution.

After a career working in both retail management and employee training and development, I am currently employed as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant at Lutheran Hospice, which has been a true calling.

I am energized by the impactful work that the Standing Committee has undertaken during the past three years, particularly with our work to support Parishes during the COVD outbreak. Our work is not yet done and I look forward to continuing this work with the other members of the Region and Diocese. Thank you for your consideration.