About Our Bishop

Pastor, Teacher, & Companion

Meet Bishop Phyllis A. Spiegel

The Right Reverend Phyllis A. Spiegel is the Twelfth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. She leads the diocese with a vision rooted in joyful discipleship, spiritual formation, congregational vitality, and the conviction that God is continually at work in the world around us. Her ministry is guided by a simple but profound belief: the Church exists not merely to gather people for worship, but to form disciples who recognize God's presence in everyday life and join God's work of healing, hope, and reconciliation.

Throughout her ministry, Bishop Spiegel has encouraged congregations to understand the difference between being churchgoers and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. She is passionate about helping churches imagine how their buildings and surrounding land can become expressions of God's abundance, creating places of welcome, respite, and service for the communities they are called to love. She believes that worship and community life are not separate callings, but a single expression of the Church's vocation to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed.

Her preaching often draws upon the beauty of creation, inviting people to discover that God is already present and active in the ordinary moments of daily life. She believes one of the Church's greatest gifts is helping people learn to see—with fresh eyes—the grace, beauty, and possibility that God is continually placing before us.

Whether preaching in a parish, traveling Utah's highways, watching an American Dipper navigate a mountain stream, or sharing a conversation over coffee, Bishop Spiegel delights in helping people recognize that God is already present—calling each of us to lives of joyful discipleship, generous love, and hopeful service.

Samson, her faithful canine companion, is a familiar presence throughout the Diocese of Utah. Whether accompanying Bishop Spiegel on parish visits in the Bishop's RV or greeting worshipers at church, Samson has become known for his gentle hospitality. He has an uncanny instinct for making his way first to those arriving in wheelchairs or using walkers, offering a warm welcome in exchange for the occasional belly rub. In his own way, Samson embodies the Diocese's commitment to ensuring that everyone knows they are seen, loved, and welcome.

Bishop Spiegel is the youngest of three close siblings and mother of Holland, who lives in the Midlands of England with her husband, Alex. Bishop Spiegel earned a Bachelor of Arts in French, International Studies, and Business Management from Emory & Henry College and received her Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Whether preaching in a parish, watching birds along Utah's rivers and mountains, tending roses, or sharing conversation over a cup of coffee, Bishop Spiegel delights in helping others recognize God's presence and discover the abundant joy of following Jesus Christ.

Under her leadership, the Diocese of Utah has embraced a vision of being rooted in Jesus, joyous in discipleship, and abundant in the Spirit, encouraging congregations to deepen their faith while discovering new ways to serve their communities.

Record of Bishop's Visitation Form 2026

Ministry in Motion

Mobile Ministry RV

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.

“When I imagined being a more visible bishop, I did not picture highway miles and an RV — but I am grateful for the way it helps us show up for one another.”
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 in Utah landscape.The Mobile Ministry RV among Utah’s redrock.
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