ANNUAL CONVENTION
The 211th Annual Convention will take place November 20-21 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem.
The theme of this year’s convention is “Go make disciples!” and comes from Matthew 28:16-20: “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”
Registration for clergy and delegates will open in late June. Clergy and senior wardens of vestries should watch their email for updates in the coming months.
Please note the Thursday night program, while not officially a part of convention, will provide valuable grounding in the work of the gathering. Clergy and delegates are encouraged to attend.
REGISTER
The deadline to register congregational delegations was August 3. If you have not yet registered your congregation, please do so ASAP.
Everyone–elected delegates, voting and nonvoting clergy, and guests–uses the same form to register. Note that congregational delegates and their clergy are all registered together, usually by a parish administrator or clerk of the vestry.
An Evening of Beauty and Joy: How the Arts Form Us
This Thursday evening program, while optional, will frame the work of convention and introduce the theme, Go Make Disciples, with a joyful evening of art and beauty. Everyone is encouraged to attend. The option to register for Thursday night is included on the convention registration.
Not a delegate? You’re still invited to Thursday night! Details will be available later this summer.
Convention Youth Delegates
If you know a confirmed youth who is at least 16 years old and would like to serve as a youth delegate representing their Convocation, please encourage them to apply for this opportunity. If you have more than one interested youth, an additional youth may serve as an alternate, with voice and opportunities for active leadership throughout Convention. Convocations will meet in September to select their youth delegate. Questions? Contact Lisa Aycock, missioner for youth discipleship.
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Install on your mobile device
- On your smartphone, visit my.yapp.us/DIONC211 or scan the QR code.
- Follow the instructions on screen. (It’s a quick, two step process.)
Already have the Yapp App installed?
- Tap “Add an Existing Yapp” or the green “+” button (top right).
- When asked for the Yapp ID, enter: DIONC211.
- Press the device keyboard’s enter button, or tap “Next.”
NOMINATIONS
Nominations for Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Trustees of the University of the South are now open. All positions will be voted on during the 211th Annual Convention in November.
Nominators must be members of the clergy in the Diocese of North Carolina or lay communicants in good standing of a church of the diocese. A lay person does not need to be confirmed or a delegate of convention to submit a nomination.
Nominees in the lay order must be confirmed adult communicants in good standing who are enrolled at a church in the diocese. Consent of the nominee is required. Practically, most nominees fill out this form for themselves after they have been nominated by another person.
Learn more about each position on the form.
RESOLUTIONS
Members of convention, constitutional and canonical officers, and constitutional or canonical bodies may submit resolutions for consideration by convention.
The secretary may contact authors to propose edits for clarity or consistent style or to resolve situations when multiple resolutions are submitted on the same topic.
The bishop will refer each timely resolution to a legislative committee, which will hold a hearing a few weeks before convention. Each legislative committee assigned at least one resolution will report its recommendations to convention during a legislative session on Friday or Saturday.
Canon D-III.7, Section 2 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, Martin Brinkley, prior to submitting them.
You may submit resolutions by emailing Megan Carlson, the secretary of convention. The secretary may contact authors to propose edits for clarity or consistent style or to resolve situations when multiple resolutions are submitted on the same topic.
PRE-CONVENTION CONVOCATION MEETINGS
The first action of Annual Convention is the pre-convention convocation meetings. These meetings are a chance to get to know other delegates from your area and to ease into the business of convention. This year, we have moved up the dates of these meetings to assist in the nomination and resolution submittal process. The secretary has worked with the deans to create a pre-convention convocation meeting that is meaningful and impactful–and certainly not to be missed.
Please be sure to attend your convocation meeting. If you cannot attend your convocation meeting, you may attend one of the other six meetings.
Dates and calendar links below. Add these to your calendar today!
- LOCATION CHANGED: Raleigh: Saturday, September 19, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., St. Timothy’s, Raleigh. Add to my calendar
- Winston-Salem: Monday, September 21, 7-9 p.m., St. Paul’s, Winston-Salem. Add to my calendar
- Sandhills: Tuesday, September 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Emmanuel, Southern Pines. Add to my calendar
- Durham: Wednesday, September 23, 6-8 p.m., St. Stephen’s, Durham. Add to my calendar
- Greensboro: Thursday, September 24, 6-8 p.m., St. Francis, Greensboro. Add to my calendar
- Charlotte: Sunday, September 27, 5-7 p.m., St. Martin’s, Charlotte. Add to my calendar
- MOVED ONLINE: Rocky Mount: Monday, September 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., on Zoom. Registration is required. Add to my calendar
LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS
Following the pre-convention convocation meetings, we hold legislative committee hearings to discuss any submitted resolutions.
Legislative committees are staffed by delegates and clergy who volunteer to assist in the resolution review process. You do not need any special training to be a member of a legislative committee. The only requirements are that you are available on the date of the scheduled Zoom hearing and you are a member of convention.
- National and International Affairs: October 25 | Register
- Social Concerns: October 26 | Register
- Faith and Morals: October 27 | Register
- Constitution and Canons: October 28 | Register
- Administration of the Diocese: October 29 | Register
This year, we are also seeking volunteers to assist our elections and credentials team as additional technology support to delegates during convention.
If you are interested in being appointed to one of these committees, please let us know. The deadline to submit interest is October 1. Registration to attend hearings will formally open at the start of the convocation meetings.
TOM DROPPERS AWARD
Deadline: November 1
Each year during convention, the Chartered Committee on Environmental Ministry recognizes one congregation for its deep commitment to Creation Care in honor of the late Rev. Thomas Droppers, an Episcopal priest and long-time advocate for environmental stewardship in the Diocese of North Carolina. The award recognizes a congregation within the diocese that embodies Droppers’ passion for environmental ministry, reflected his life’s mission: protecting God’s creation, promoting sustainability and integrating environmental care into the church’s mission.
CONVENTION MATERIALS
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05/31/26
Delegate Strength Table
Number of delegates to be elected by each church
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07/23/26
Clergy Roster
Roster of clergy entitled to seat and voice. Tab 1 includes clergy with voting rights; tab 2 includes clergy with only seat and voice. Questions about your voting status? Contact Elizabeth Dawkins.
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08/21/26
Lay Delegate Roster
Roster of elected lay delegates and alternate delegates
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09/01/26
Certificate of Change in Lay Delegation
Complete this form when a delegate on the official roll of convention has resigned or is unable to serve. Please submit one change form per person.
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09/01/26
Nomination for Election at the 211th Annual Convention
Submit nominations for Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Trustees, University of the South, to be elected at the 211th Annual Convention.
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09/01/26
Report to the 211th Annual Convention
TIMELINE
August 23 (90 days): Roster of registered delegates publishes; big convention email sent
September 2: Call for nominations, resolutions and legislative committee volunteers; report submission portal opens
September 19-30: Convocation meetings
October 12 (40 days): Deadline for resolutions, nominations, legislative committee volunteers and reports
October 21-30: Legislative committee hearings (online)
November 8: Budget webinar
November 11 (10 days): Last date the convocations can meet
November 20: Thursday night gathering
November 21: Start of the 211th Annual Convention
