DIOCESAN Convention

The Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago meets in the fall each year to elect officers, address resolutions and legislation, hear reports from agencies and organizations, participate in learning opportunities, enjoy fellowshiip, and gather for common worship in daily prayer and the Convention Eucharist. Contact:  Juleigh Ruby 312-751-4214 or Barbara Rasero 312-751-4206 Co-Registrars

Become and Believe              

— Engaging God's Mission         

   The 172nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago gathered at the Westin Hotel and Conference Center in Lombard on Friday, November 20 and Saturday November 21 to worship, learn, listen, act and celebrate as the Episcopal Church in Northern Illinois. Over 1,000 clergy, delegates, church members and guests participated.

Read or download Bishop Lee's Address and Sermon

View the tralier for the diocesan video, Become and Believe

More links:  Resolutions    Reports    Elections

  The convention opened with the recognition and seating of three new mission congregations: First Asian Church of Bloomingdale; Our Lady of Guadalupe of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood; and Sagrada Familia-Holy Family of Lake Villa. Together the three congregations bring over 800 members into the Diocese of Chicago. In his address to convention Friday afternoon, Bishop Jeffrey Lee said he hadn't expected his challange at the previous convention to grow the church to be met quite so quickly and dramatically.

   "But that just shows how strong the sense of mission and love for God is throughout our community—people are being drawn to us," he said. "And if it is God's will, and let us pray together that it is, I have no doubt that there will be more of these celebrations in the future."

   The bishop referenced the challenge facing many mainline churches facing membership decline, saying it should serve as motivation "to rediscover our passion for the Gospel." He highlighted many of the achievements in mission and ministry over the past year and new work underway. These include the award of a $1 million grant from the Lily Endowment Inc. to continue the Making Excellent Disciples clergy mentoring program; the Waukegan to College college preparatory program launched this fall by Episcopal Charities and Community Services; the renaming of the Episcopal Church Center and St. James Cathedral campus as St. James Commons to reflect the growing partnership of the diocesan offices, the cathedral and Seabury-Western Seminary; and the appointment of Dr. Rosemary Gooden to lead the research and report project on how the Episcopal Church in Northern Illinois has benefited from the legacy of racism.

   He also highlighted the encouraging work underway by the new Bishop's Task Force on Sustainability which is addressing an issue that he noted " is going to dwarf everything else in very short order." The bishop also noted the ongoing discussions and planning by the Commission on Ministry dealing with formation of both lay and ordained ministry leaders, and the Total Common Ministry task force's study of how total ministry might work in the Chicago diocese.

  Citing the Episcopal Identity project study and its accompanying video "Who Are We?", Bishop Lee said Episcopalians are called by God to be a sign of hope in the world. "Let's be the hope we preach. And let us always be ready to give a reason for hope that is in us. And you know what it is. Christ has died.  Christ is risen. Christ will come again."

  In the convention business sessions, clergy and delegates adopted seven of the nine resolutions under consideration: Amendment of the diocesan constitution to bring it into agreement with the national canons dealing with clergy discipline; Amendment to diocesan Canon 39 dealing with audit guidelines; Maintaining minimum clergy compensation for fulltime clergy at the 2009 level; Establishing the minimum medical and dental insurance premium for clergy as equal to the EPO 80 paln or the High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account (including the out of pocket difference between the EPO 80 and HDHP); Calling for the President and Congress to pressure Israel to end the blockaged of the Gaza Strip; Creation of a task force to study the complicity of the Diocese of Chicago and predecessor, the Diocese of Illinois, in the institution of slavery and historic and current practices of segregation and discrimination; Commendation of the Boy Scouts of America on its 100th anniversary; and Continuation of the Youth Ministry Task Force. Two resolutions were defeated:  Reaffirmation of the tithe as the minimum standard of giving for Episcopalians; and Establishment and enforcement of clergy continuing education requirement.

   The Budget Committee presented the 2010 comprehensive budget approved by Diocesan Council and adopted by Bishop and Trustees, the budget authority for the Diocese of Chicago. For the second consecutive year the budget includes all revenue sources—event fees, grants, pledges, investments, and contributions from agencies and boards. Income totals $8.515 million, while expenditures are budgeted at $7.2 million. The net balance of $1.312 million allocated to Bishop and Trustees. With pledges projected to shrink by $210,000 and reductions in contributions from Bishop Funds and the Bishop Appeal, the Council and Trustees have approved reductions in communication (moving Anglican Advance from six issues to four issues); in the health insurance plan (establishing the High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account as the coverage for diocesan staff); in staff level by eliminating two parttime staff positions; in reducing computer consulting and meeting costs; and in maintaining staff compensation at the 2009 level. These reductions provide funding for new work including the new Committee on Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence and the restored Committee to Promote Recovery and Prevention of Alcoholism; and support for the three new congregations.

Read or download the Bishop's Address, and Bishop's Sermon.

Exhibits  A list of organizations, offices, committees and ministries, and businesses that hosted displays at the convention exhibit hall. For display locations see the Exhibit Hall Map.

Learning Opportunities were offered at three sessions on Friday and one on Saturday morning.

Nominations/Elections  The report on candidates nominated for election to Bishop and Trustees, Cathedral Chapter, and Standing Committee. Results of elections.

Resolutions   Resolutions and legislation filed for consideration at the Diocesan Convention. Six of the nine resolutions submitted were adopted by Convention. Hearings on the proposed resolutions were held Friday late afternoon.

Bishop Lee's letter announcing Convention.

VIDEO   BECOME AND BELIEVE: ENGAGING GOD'S MISSION  (trailer)

To order the full length video on DVD (41 minutes), contact David Skidmore, Canon for Communication, (312) 751-4207.  There is a $3 charge to cover shipping and handling for each order.

Special Events

Friday evening November 20 reception and presentation on the diocesan identity project. Showing of video on how God's mission is being lived out in the Diocese of Chicago. Reception is $25 per person.

Saturday, November 21, noon. Clergy Spouse/Partner Luncheon hosted by Lisa Lee and Marcia Scantlebury.  Contact Anne Cothran (312) 751-4217.

Saturday, November 21, noon. "Ecumenism: Searching for the Meaning of Unity." ECW Luncheon presentation by the Rev. Cynthia Hallas, diocesan ecumenical officer, on contemporary issues in ecumenism and The Episcopal Church. Lunches available for purchase at hotel stations.

The Convention Planning Committee, chaired by the Cathe McEnerney, is responsible for planning and coordinating all facets of convention through its working groups: Communication, Exhibits, Formation, Liturgy, Logistics, Meals and Entertainment, Nominations and Elections, Registration, Resolutions, and Volunteers.   The Planning Committee meets once a month at the Diocesan Center.

PREVIOUS CONVENTIONS                                                                                                                                                                          

Visit the Convention Archives page for actions, reports and presentations at previous annual conventions of the Diocese of Chicago.

171st Annual Convention  November 21 and 22, 2008