Standing Committee

Beginning with her foundation in 1785, Standing Committees have played an important role in the operation of the Episcopal Church. In effect, the Standing Committee serves as a link between the people of the Diocese and the Diocesan Bishop and as a link between this Diocese and the other Dioceses in the Episcopal Church. In East Carolina, the Standing Committee consists of three priests and three laypersons, elected for three-year terms by the Convention of the Diocese. The general duties of the Standing Committee include providing consents for a parish, mission, or Diocesan entity to acquire, dispose of, or encumber the real property of the Diocese; the ordination of individuals to the diaconate or priesthood; and elections and proposed consecrations of bishops in The Episcopal Church. Also, in the event that there is no Bishop the Standing Committee acts as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese.

Title I, Article IX: Standing Committee

Click the arrow icon to read the Canon text

Section 1. The Standing Committee shall consist of three Clergy of the Diocese and three lay persons, confirmed communicants in good standing sixteen years or older and residents of the Diocese. The members of the Standing Committee shall be elected by the Convention for three year terms, with one Clergy and one lay person elected annually; provided that the number elected and the terms may be varied initially to produce such staggered terms. No member who has served on the Committee shall be eligible for reelection, or appointment to fill a vacancy, until one year after the expiration of that term. The Committee shall elect its President and Secretary annually and shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur on the Committee until the next annual Convention. However, a person otherwise qualified to serve on the Standing Committee who is appointed to fill a vacancy until the next Annual Convention may be elected to complete any remaining time on that term or to a full term immediately.

Section 2. In case of the absence or inability of the Bishop, the duties assigned to the Bishop by this Constitution shall be performed by the Bishop-Coadjutor (if there be one), in so far as it is not inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention.

Section 3. When there is no Bishop authorized to act, the Standing Committee shall be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese. The Standing Committee acting as Ecclesiastical Authority may invite the temporary services of other Bishops and, for due cause, may change the time or place of the Annual Convention, and may also summon Special Conventions, and shall do so upon the call of one-third of the Clergy of the Diocese, or of one-third of the Parishes in union with the Convention, as appearing upon the lists of the Journal last before published.

Section 4. No Vestry, Trustee, Board of Directors or other Body authorized by Civil or Canon law to hold, manage, or administer real property for any Parish, Mission, Congregation, or Institution of this Diocese shall purchase, mortgage, incumber or alienate, enter into a deed of trust or accept donation of the same or any part thereof without the written consent of the Bishop and the Standing Committee of this Diocese

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Meetings

The Standing Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month as needed. If you have information that needs to be submitted or considered for the Standing Committee’s Agenda, please submit it at least three weeks in advance of the meeting. Anything submitted later, will be considered for the following meeting’s agenda.

If you have questions, please email the President of the Standing Committee.

Bishop Search

The Standing Committee is currently leading the search for the 9th Bishop of East Carolina. Visit our East Carolina’s Bishop Search pages to learn more and see all news.

Documents

Parish Indebtedness Requirements: Guidelines for Transactions Requiring Standing Committee Approval

Minutes