Due to concerns around gathering in the current COVID environment, as a safety precaution the 206th Annual Convention has been restructured.
Convention will meet online on Saturday, November 20, 2021, to conduct business including elections, consideration of resolutions, adoption of the 2022 Mission and Ministry Budget, and adoption of the 2023 Fair Share percentage.
On a weekend in late winter or early spring 2022 (date to be announced soon), we will gather in-person for interactive sessions as we launch the Mission Strategy and celebrate the work happening around the Diocese.
Download the announcement
BUDGET WEBINARS
Two live webinars will be provided on the tentative Mission and Ministry budget of the Diocese for 2022 as developed by Diocesan Council and the staff of the Diocese. All members of Convention are urged to attend a webinar.
Comments to Diocesan Council about the tentative budget should be submitted no later than Friday, October 15. Diocesan Council will adopt a budget for recommendation to Convention at its October 21 meeting. You may submit comments and questions about the budget to Diocesan Council.
PRE-CONVENTION CONVOCATION MEETINGS
- October 18, 7 p.m., via Zoom: Durham Convocation
- October 19, 5:30 p.m., via Zoom: Winston-Salem Convocation
- October 21, 7 p.m., via Zoom: Raleigh Convocation
- October 25, 7 p.m., via Zoom: Rocky Mount Convocation
- October 26, 6 p.m., via Zoom: Charlotte Convocation
- October 28, 7 p.m., via Zoom: Sandhills Convocation
You will receive Zoom links either directly from the dean of your Convocation or in one of the regular email updates to delegates from the Diocese.
ELECTIONS
Submit a nomination
The deadline for nominations is 12:00 noon, Monday, October 11.
The following positions will be filled by open election:
- Standing Committee - 2 Clergy (3 years), 1 Lay (3 years)
- Diocesan Council - 2 Clergy (3 years), 3 Lay (3 years)
- Trustee, University of the South - 1 Clergy (2 years 10 months, to fill a vacancy [the 205th “Parking Lot” Convention did not fill this position]), 1 Lay (3 years)
The principal functions of the Standing Committee are (1) to consent to the election and consecration of bishops throughout The Episcopal Church, (2) to approve candidates for Holy Orders at each stage of the ordination process beginning with admission to candidacy, (3) to consent to the sale or encumbrance of real property by any church or diocesan institution, (4) to act as a council of advice to the Bishop and (5) to act as the Ecclesiastical Authority in extraordinary circumstances.
The Diocesan Council is responsible for the development and implementation of the Diocesan program and budget. Between Diocesan Conventions, the Council functions much like the vestry of a church, establishing policies, planning the work of the Diocese and overseeing its administration and finances.
The University of the South, located in Sewanee, Tennessee, is governed by the Episcopal dioceses of Province IV (the southeastern U.S.) Each diocese elects two lay persons and one member of the clergy to the University’s Board of Trustees. The Trustees meet once each year for two days. Between annual meetings, trustees serve the University by promoting its mission, encouraging enrollment and supporting it financially.
Current membership of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, as well as the current Trustees of the University of the South, may be found on the website of the Diocese.
Please note the following:
- Nominators must be members of the clergy in the Diocese or lay communicants in good standing of a church of the Diocese. A lay person need not be confirmed or a delegate of Convention to submit a nomination.
- Consent of the nominee is required.
- Nominees for Standing Committee and Diocesan Council in the clergy order must be entitled to seat in Convention.
- Nominees for Standing Committee and Diocesan Council in the lay order must be confirmed adult communicants in good standing who are enrolled at a church in the Diocese.
- Persons desiring to nominate for re-election individuals whose terms on Standing Committee or Diocesan Council will end on December 31, 2021 should heed the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese (Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution and Canon 15, Section 1 respectively).
The deadline for nominations to be received at Diocesan House is 12:00 noon, Monday, October 11. Nominations are submitted through an online form found on the website of the Diocese. The names of persons nominated by the deadline will be included in Convention materials. Shortly after the deadline has passed, the online form will be disabled and its link removed from the website of the Diocese.
Detailed rules for nominations and elections are found in Rule of Order XXII. The Constitution, Canons, and Rules of Order are posted on the diocesan website.
Elections at Convention will be conducted electronically. Read the revised Handbook or watch the pre-Convention webinar from the Secretary for further information.
RESOLUTIONS
Submit a resolution
The deadline to submit resolutions is 12:00 noon, Monday, October 11.
Members of the clergy entitled to seat at Convention, lay delegates to Convention, constitutional or canonical officers, and constitutional or canonical bodies may submit resolutions for consideration by Convention.
Authors must phrase resolutions in such a way that Convention can resolve the question by a direct Yes or No vote. “Whereas” clauses are not allowed. An explanation clearly marked “Comment” may be appended to the text for the convenience of Convention; it will be included in Convention materials, but it will not be debated or published as part of the final resolution if adopted. The Secretary may contact authors to propose edits for clarity or consistent style.
Canon 12 prescribes special procedures to amend the Constitution, Canons of the Diocese, or Rules of Order of Convention. Authors of such resolutions are urged to consult the Chancellor of the Diocese,
Mr. Edward L. Embree, III, prior to submitting them.
Send resolutions in plaintext or Microsoft Word format by email to the Secretary of Convention. Each resolution submitted on time will be posted on the website of the Diocese shortly after the Secretary has assigned it a descriptive title and a number.
The deadline to submit resolutions is 12 noon, Monday, October 11. The Secretary will return without action any resolution received after the deadline.
Detailed rules for introduction and consideration of resolutions are found in Rules of Order IV(a) and (b), XXIII(a), and XXIV. The Constitution, Canons, and Rules of Order are posted on the website of the Diocese.
RESOURCES
Certificate of Change in Lay Delegation Form
Certificate of Election - Church
Certificate of Election - Convocational Youth Delegation
Delegate Strength Table
Notice of the 206th Annual Convention
Roster of Clergy Order with Seat and Voice
Roster of Clergy Order with Seat, Voice and Vote
Rule III Waiver Application
Submit a Nomination for Diocesan Council, Standing Committee or Trustee, University of the South
Submit a Report to Convention
Timeline of Convention
ORIGINAL RESOURCES (SUPERSEDED)
Annual Convention mailing
Notice of Convention
Secretary of Convention
