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Governance

Canons

Convention

The Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago meets in the fall each year to elect officers, consider legislation, hear reports from agencies and organizations, participate in learning opportunities, enjoy fellowship, and gather for common worship in daily prayer and the Convention Eucharist. For more information, please talk with Crystal Plummer, 312.751.4206.

Learn more about the 2011 Diocesan Convention here.

Standing Committee

The Standing Committee serves as the bishop's Council of Advice and functions as the ecclesiastical authority in the diocese in the absence or incapacity of the bishop. The Standing Committee's other duties include concuring in the election of other bishops in the Episcopal Church, recommending candidates for ordination, and issuing presentments in the ecclesiastical disciplinary process. It consists of three priests or deacons and three lay persons serving three-year terms.

2011 Standing Committee

Meeting Schedule

All meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month from 12:30-2:00 pm at the Episcopal Church Center, Chicago unless otherwise indicated.

Bishop and Trustees

The Bishop and Trustees hold title to and oversee the use of the real property used by the missions of the Diocese. They approve purchases, sales, construction projects involving mortgages and real estate and the diocesan budget. The Bishops and Trustees also hold title to the St. James Commons.

Twelve trustees serve three-year terms; each year's class includes one clergy and three laypeople.

Meeting Schedule

The Bishops and Trustees meet bimonthly on the third Tuesday of the month. The July meeting is held on the third Saturday of the month at one of the diocese's mission properties.

Diocesan Council

The Diocesan Council administers and carries on the missionary, educational and social work of the diocese. The Council receives and administers funds for diocesan program and administration, implements work assigned by Diocesan Convention and initiates new work between annual meetings of Diocesan Convention. The Council has charge of preparing a proposed budget for the administration and program of the diocese and submitting it to Bishop and Trustees for review and approval.

The council includes one priest or deacon and one lay person from each of the diocese's ten deaneries. The bishop and chairs of diocesan commissions serve as members ex officio.

Members are nominated by their deaneries for three-year terms and elected by Diocesan Convention. The Council meets at least four times a year between September 1 and June 30, usually on the second Saturday of the month.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings are held the second Saturday of the month from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm at different locations throughout the diocese.