171st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago

In Word and Action                                         

The 171st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago met Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the Westin Hotel and Conference Center, 70 Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois. The theme for the program, learning opportuntities and worship was In Word and Action, which addressed how our members, congregations, and organizations and agencies are are engaging the Millennium Development Goals. A special room with MDG stations was open throughout convention and at the end of the closing Eucharist on Saturday the deacons invited the assembly and entire diocesan community to join and support the One to One Malaria Nets campaign which aims to fund 40,000 or more nets for families in need in Africa, one net for every member of the Diocese of Chicago. The convention welcomed Bishop Joseph Garang Atem Zorial, bishop of Renk, Sudan, a companion diocese of Chicago,who in his address to convention said, "And just as you have promised to continue our companion relationship, I hereby commit to do the same.  Together, we will work to spread the Gospel and to care for all of God's children in every place at all times. 

The offering from the Convention Eucharist raised over $22,000 for the support of Bishop Joseph Garang's ministry in Sudan. Bishop Jeffrey Lee offered his vision for our common mission: Grow the Church, Form the Faithful, Change the World, in his convention address. In his sermon at the Convention Eucharist, Bishop Lee called for the people of the diocese to be a people "listening not to our own monologues, but to the cries of the poor, to the lament of the brokenhearted, to the anger of the marginalized, to the weeping of those who mourn." In doing that, he said, we "have a reliable chance of hearing the voice of the One who has made us and is remaking us into the living image of Christ."

The links below include documents and forms relating to registration, certification of delegates, hotel rooms and layout, exhibits, and the learning opportunities workshops and children and youth program.

Convention Booklet

Mission Delegates Certification Form

Parish Delegates Certification Form

Registration.

Westin Hotel in Lombard

Schedule

Llist of exhibitors.

Learning Opportunities

RESOLUTIONS   Eight resolutions were filed for presentation to the 171st Annual Convention. View resolutions. Two other resolutions were received the week of convention.

NOMINATIONS   Nominations were received for Bishop and Trustees, Cathedral Chapter, and Standing Committee. View nominations.

BUDGET  The 2009 Budget was adopted by Bishop and Trustees on October 28 and presented to the 171st Annual Convention November 21. A summary report has been published by the Budget Committee.

EPISCOPAL NOMINATIONS

Appointments to diocesan committees and commissions by the Bishop of Chicago with concurrence of the convention.

REPORTS  Annual reports from the AntiRacism Commission, Audit Review Committee, Bishop and Trustees, Christian Formation Commission, Commission on Ordained Ministry, Diocesan Council, Endowment Fund, Episcopal Charities and Community Services, Episcopal Church Women, and Peace and Justice Commission.

ELECTIONS

Convention elected the candidates presented as nominees by the Nominations Committee. No nominations were presented from the floor. Election results to Standing Committee, Bishop and Trustees, and Cathedral Chapter.

FINAL ACTIONS ON RESOLUTIONS

The convention acted on 11 resolutions, adopting nine of them and tabling two others. Of the nine adopted, three were amended during debate. One of these was the result of a division of Resolution F-171. See the summary of the resolutions and actions, which includes links to the resolution text and explanations. The convention also adopted 13 courtesy resolutions.