THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL is organized to lead the unification, growth, and advancement of the Church’s mission — particularly in missionary work, church extension, religious education, Christian social service, and other matters entrusted to it by diocesan convention. The bishop is the president of diocesan council. The work of diocesan council is extensive and depends on the committed partnership between its elected members, the mission support staff, and the bishop. Council’s key role is to submit to each annual convention a budget for all the work committed to it. Council organizes its work with several subcommittees. The work of the finance, insurance, and personnel subcommittees is obvious in scope, and the subcommittee for program review undertakes an annual and extensive evaluation of specific diocesan-supported programs. An example of a program is Camp Arrowhead. At present, council is made up of eighteen elected clergy and lay members representing all the geographic regions of the diocese.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 2 clergypersons for a 3-year term each
- 1 layperson, at large
- 1 layperson from Area 2 (view area chart)
- 1 layperson from Area 5 (view area chart)
The Diocesan Council holds six regular meetings each year — two in person and four via Zoom — scheduled from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The months are fixed, but the specific dates are tentative and may change. This schedule is offered to give a sense of the overall flow.
- February 12 (in person)
- April 23 (Zoom)
- June 18 (Zoom)
- September 17 (in person)
- October 22 (Zoom)
- December 17 (Zoom)
In addition: Five tentative contingency meetings are reserved, all on Zoom, and will be held only if needed: January 15, March 12, May 22, July 23, and August 20. Members also have voice at the annual convention and are expected to attend, which will be held November 20–21.
THE STANDING COMMITTEE is the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese in the absence of a bishop. Half of its members are clerical, half lay. It serves as the bishop’s council of advice. Specific responsibilities of the Standing Committee are as follows: to give consent for all bishops elected in the Episcopal Church; to recommend persons for ordination; to give the bishop advice and consent on the purchase, sale, or encumbrance of any property held by a congregation or the diocese; to give the bishop advice and consent as to any judicial sentence given to a clergy person or concurs in allowing a clergy person to cease functioning as a member of the clergy; to investigate and reports to the bishop on the charge that a deacon or priest has abandoned the Episcopal Church. The Standing Committee is the body that receives the bishop’s resignation.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 1 clergyperson for a 4-year term
- 1 layperson for a 4-year term
The Standing Committee holds six regular meetings each year — two in person and four via Zoom — scheduled from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. The months are fixed, but the specific dates are tentative and may change. This schedule is offered to give a sense of the overall flow.
- February 10 (in person),
- April 21 (Zoom),
- June 16 (Zoom),
- September 15 (in person),
- October 20 (Zoom), and
- December 15 (Zoom).
In addition:
Five tentative contingency meetings are reserved, all on Zoom, and will be held only if needed: January 13, March 10, May 19, July 21, and August 18. Members also have voice at the annual convention and are expected to attend, which will be held November 20–21.
The DISCIPLINARY BOARD. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church canons regarding the clergy disciplinary process is governed in the Church’s canon law under Title IV. Each diocese is required by canon law to create a court of not less than seven persons known as the “disciplinary board.” The membership of the board must include lay persons and clergy. In the Episcopal Church in Delaware, the board presently consists of nine persons elected at the convention for terms of four years. Annually the board elects a president from its members. Also, annually a church attorney and a clerk for the board are appointed by the bishop. The Title IV process allows for resolution through whatever means will move those affected toward justice, restitution, amendment of life, repentance, healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This can include a variety of interventions for all involved and, if necessary, the suspension or removal of the cleric from ordained ministry.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 1 clergyperson for a 4-year term
- 1 clergyperson for a 2-year term
- 1 layperson for a 4-year term
Meetings are convened as needed.
TRUSTEES is a corporate entity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Delaware responsible for advancing the religious and educational work of the Episcopal Church by serving as the custodian and trustee of the property and funds of, and as the fiscal agent of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Episcopal Church in Delaware, and by providing financial, custodial, trust and investment services, and advice for the diocese and all of its institutions, by aiding, supporting, and maintaining the bishop and necessitous ministers and missionaries of the diocese, and by fulfilling such duties as are authorized and required by the convention of the diocese. The role of the trustees includes: endowment oversight, stewardship for trustee property, holding funds in trust for others, supporting A&D when needed, and setting broad constraints on funds when sent to council. All funds held by the Trustees are invested in Master Fund A and managed by the investment committee with set guidelines. The interest, revenue, from MFA is used to support council and others, cover trustee property and operations, and maintain reserves. Trustees have “unrestricted,” “designated” and “restricted” funds.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 1 clergyperson OR 1 layperson for a 6-year term
The Trustees hold six regular meetings each year — two in person and four via Zoom — scheduled from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The months are fixed, but the specific dates are tentative and may change. This schedule is offered to give a sense of the overall flow.
- February 12 (in person),
- April 23 (Zoom),
- June 18 (Zoom),
- September 17 (in person),
- October 22 (Zoom), and
- December 17 (Zoom).
In addition:
Five tentative contingency meetings are reserved, all on Zoom, and will be held only if needed: January 15, March 12, May 21, July 23, and August 20. Members also have voice at the annual convention and are expected to attend, which will be held November 20–21.
The CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS COMMITTEE has responsibility for all matters relating to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in Delaware. This includes reviewing resolutions for diocesan convention.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 1 clergyperson OR 1 layperson for a 5-year term
Meetings are held as needed and by Zoom.
DEPUTY TO THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The General Convention is the highest governing body of The Episcopal Church and meets every three years. It is a bicameral legislature (a legislature that has two houses) that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. It sets policy for our denomination, including in worship, discipline, mission, finance, and vision. In preparation for this summer’s General Convention, over 20 legislative committees have received legislation that spans the gamut. Every item proposes to tweak our polity, perspective, or policy to strengthen our Christian witness, and every item must be given an open hearing in which any Episcopalian can have their voice heard before they are put forward for a vote. The last Convention was held in 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky where the House of Bishops electing, and the House of Deputies affirming, Bishop Sean W. Rowe as the 28th Presiding Bishop. The next convention is scheduled for July 3-8, 2027, in Phoenix Arizona. The diocese provides funds for deputies to attend the convention.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 4 clergypersons for a 3-year term
- 4 laypersons for a 3-year term.
Those clergy elected over the number needed will serve as clergy alternates in the event that a clergy deputy is unable to attend. The same applies to laypersons elected above the number of lay deputies needed.
DEPUTY TO THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The General Convention is the highest governing body of The Episcopal Church and meets every three years. It is a bicameral legislature (a legislature that has two houses) that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. It sets policy for our denomination, including in worship, discipline, mission, finance, and vision. In preparation for this summer’s General Convention, over 20 legislative committees have received legislation that spans the gamut. Every item proposes to tweak our polity, perspective, or policy to strengthen our Christian witness, and every item must be given an open hearing in which any Episcopalian can have their voice heard before they are put forward for a vote. The last Convention was held in 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky where the House of Bishops electing, and the House of Deputies affirming, Bishop Sean W. Rowe as the 28th Presiding Bishop. The next convention is scheduled for July 3-8, 2027, in Phoenix Arizona. The diocese provides funds for deputies to attend the convention.
Positions to be filled by Convention:
- 4 clergypersons for a 3-year term
- 4 laypersons for a 3-year term.
Those clergy elected over the number needed will serve as clergy alternates in the event that a clergy deputy is unable to attend. The same applies to laypersons elected above the number of lay deputies needed.
You may submit yourself or someone else for any of the open positions by completing and submitting the Nominations Form, here.
Nominations must be received no later than September 22, 2025 for publication in the annual convention guidebook.
If you have questions, please contact Fr. Ted Olson, chair of the Nominations Committee at frted79@gmail.com
You may submit yourself or someone else for any of the open positions by completing and submitting the Nominations Form, here.
Nominations must be received no later than September 22, 2025 for publication in the annual convention guidebook.
If you have questions, please contact Fr. Ted Olson, chair of the Nominations Committee at frted79@gmail.com