For Public Nomination

Officers of Convention

Secretary of Convention: The Secretary of Convention oversees all aspects of the legislative life of the Diocese, including our annual Diocesan Convention, working with the support of Diocesan House staff and others in leadership across the Diocese. See Title I, Canon 4

Note: Our 2025 Convention will be the last for Shurley Ray Weddle as our Secretary of Convention

Treasurer: The Treasurer oversees all aspects of the financial health of the Diocese, working with Diocesan House staff, and with the Executive Council and a number of other Diocesan committees. See Title I, Canon 5

Historiographer: The Historiographer oversees the historical records and archives of the Diocese, while also providing support for those doing the same in their congregations. See Title I, Canon 7

Standing Committee

Members of the Standing Committee typically meet each month, in person or by Zoom, to consider requests from congregations regarding their finances and property, to give or not give consent to other dioceses in their elections of bishops, and to serve as a “council of advice” for our Bishop. The Standing Committee also bears significant responsibility for the leadership of a Diocese when that Diocese is without a bishop.

This year, we have five positions open for election:

-One lay member for a three-year term

-One lay member for a two-year term

-One lay member for a one-year term

-One clergy member for a three-year term

-One lay member for a one-year term

Clergy members (priest or deacon) must be clergy of the Diocese, and lay members must be confirmed communicants in good standing, sixteen years of age or older, and residents of the Diocese.

Note: Current members of the Standing Committee will stay in play through the end of this Convention and will oversee our Episcopal Election!

Executive Council

The Executive Council serves as “Convention between Conventions” and oversees the life and ministry of the Diocese in a similar way to what a congregation’s Vestry does between Annual Meetings. Members of the Executive Council typically meet in person about six times per year, with some work done by email or via Zoom meetings.

This year, we have three “at large” positions open for election from across the Diocese:

-Two clergy members (priest or deacon) for a three-year term

-One lay member, for a three-year term. A lay member must be a confirmed communicant in good standing, 16 years of age or older, and a member of a congregation of the Diocese.

Disciplinary Board

To help ensure that our congregations and ministries are safe and welcoming to all people, each Diocese of The Episcopal Church has a Disciplinary Board that is charged with the responsibility of seeking “to resolve conflicts by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation among all involved or affected.” (Title IV, Canon 1 of The Episcopal Church) Members of a Diocese’s Disciplinary Board work together to implement processes developed by The Episcopal Church to hold our clergy accountable to their responsibilities in this regard.

This year, we have nine positions on the Disciplinary Board that we are called to fill by election:

-Two clergy members for a three-year term

-Two clergy members for a two-year term

-Two lay members for a three-year term

-Two lay members for a two-year term

-One lay member for a one-year term

Clergy members must be in good standing, and canonically and geographically resident in the Diocese, and may be priests or deacons. Lay members must be confirmed communicants in good standing, geographically resident in the Diocese, and sixteen years of age or older.

Trustee – University of the South

As one of the founding dioceses of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, we are entitled to send four Trustees to annual and special meetings of the Board of Trustees, including our Bishop, one ordained person and two lay persons. The annual meeting is typically hosted over two or three days in early October. Special meetings, for such things as the election of a Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor or University Chaplain, often include an online option.

This year, we need to elect:

-One lay member, to serve through the summer of 2028

-One clergy member, to serve through the summer of 2029

By Nomination of the Bishop

In addition, this year the Bishop will be nominating and appointing members of the Diocese to serve as

• Chancellor
• with the Trustees of the Diocese
• on the Commission on Ministry
• with the Trinity Center Board of Managers
• with the Foundation Board
• with the Committee on Constitutions and Canons
• the Diocesan Convention Committee
• the Committee on Resolutions
• the Finance Committee
• with the Elections Committee.

Those interested in serving with one of these ministries should email the Bishop directly.