Convention Report

This year’s convention theme was “Faith, Hope, and Charity Abide,” but it might just as well have been “Faith, Hope, and Charity Are Alive!” Three offerings were taken during the convention, and all received a generous response. The offering at Friday’s Eucharist, earmarked for typhoon relief in the Philippines, came to $1,595, and additional checks are still being counted. A “pass the hat” collection for support of La Gran Familia, taken during the dinner hour Friday, brought in over $700 in cash, which was matched by two parishes, bringing the total outpouring of support of the boys and girls in Mexico to over $2,100. On Saturday, clergy and delegates responded to a call for non-perishable food with similar charity. The food items, piled to overflowing on a table in the convention hall, go directly into the pantry at St. Peter & St. Paul, our host church, which distributes them to needy neighbors.

Faith and Hope were alive in Bishop Iker’s call to plant a new church and to take youth ministry and discipleship to new levels. He reported that two congregations have moved to larger and more agreeable locations in the past year, and he introduced Philip Craig, the new Executive Director of Camp Crucis. The Bishop also announced a new arrangement for parishes to receive matching funds that should encourage more Habitat for Humanity work days around the diocese.

Bishop Ray Sutton was guest preacher at the Eucharist, making evangelism and discipleship his theme in a rousing sermon. [Hear the audio at the link below.] Bishop and Mrs. Sutton were special guests at the dinner following.

The convention gave thanks for the Aug. 30 ruling from the Texas Supreme Court, which upheld our legal position and pointed to a resolution of the litigation against us. Bishop Iker paid tribute to three priests who accepted calls in the diocese before that date, noting that a negative ruling would have cost them not only their church buildings but their church-owned family homes as well.

Dean Ryan Reed reported on October’s gathering of Anglicans from 20 provinces at GAFCON 2 in Kenya, sharing his conviction that the future of orthodox Anglicanism lies with that robust fellowship. [His text is linked below.]

The World Mission Committee presented a Friday evening program on La Gran Familia, with guest Goretty Lerma, and produced three “mission moment” videos which the convention enjoyed on Saturday. 

The convention elected Larry Votto and Dean Scott Wooten to their second terms on the Standing Committee. Fr. Andrew Powell was elected to the Ecclesiastical Trial Court. An amendment to Canon 43, on Holy Matrimony, was passed, and a proposed budget of nearly $1.6 million was approved. The proposed 2014 assessment plan, which carries a one percent reduction for income over $50,000, was adopted to fund diocesan programs. 

Listen to

Bishop Sutton’s Sermon to the Convention Eucharist (MP3)

Read the text of

Bishop Iker’s Annual Address to the Convention

Dean Reed’s report on the GAFCON meeting

Convention Planning Update

Dear Clergy and Convention Delegates:

Today we are publishing additional information that you will need for the upcoming Pre-Convention Deanery meetings and the Convention itself. Added at this time are:

• Proposed 2014 Budget and Assessment documents

• Proposed changes to Canon 43, on Holy Matrimony

• A slate of candidates for diocesan offices

Please download and print all these materials and take them with you to your Deanery Meeting and to the Convention itself.

In addition, on the forms and reference page you will find the Bishop’s Policies for convention and

• A tool for making your meal reservations

As a reminder, the opening Eucharist will be held at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Arlington at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. Our preacher will be the Rt. Rev. Ray Sutton. All clergy are to vest and process at the service in cassock, surplice, and white stole. Since this is the opening session of Convention, all clergy and delegates should be in attendance at the opening Eucharist and the dinner following Mass.

The evening will continue in the parish's Great Hall, with hospitality beginning at 6:30 p.m. and dinner following. Please make reservations for the dinner and for the lunch on Saturday. Reservations for overnight accommodations must be made by Oct. 15 to secure the reduced room rate. Please pay strict attention to reservation deadlines.

Registration will take place beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning in the Great Hall. A continental breakfast will be available during registration. Morning Prayer begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Church. Bishop Iker will gavel the Convention to order at 9 a.m. Our lunch time will give you an opportunity visit the exhibitor displays, located upstairs, if you have not had an opportunity before the business meeting begins.

All Deans and Deanery Representatives to Executive Council will conduct Pre-Convention Deanery meetings during the month of October. Nominations and elections for Executive Council Representation from your deanery will be transacted at each Pre-Convention Deanery meeting. The Sub-Deans for 2014 should also be chosen.

This year’s theme for Convention is “Faith, Hope, & Charity Abide,” and I am looking forward to seeing each of you as we celebrate our 31st year of mission.

Faithfully in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth

Memo to Convention Delegates

The opening Eucharist of our 31st Annual Diocesan Convention will take place on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, 3900 Morris Lane, Arlington, beginning at 5 p.m. Our guest preacher will be the Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton, Bishop Co-Adjutor of the Diocese of Mid-America (REC). Based in Dallas, Bishop Sutton is the ecumenical officer of the ACNA, by appointment of Archbishop Duncan.

Following the service, there will be a reception and dinner in the Great Hall. This will be a festive evening for all of our clergy, delegates, and visitors.

Please note the following pertinent information regarding the convention.

• Saturday, registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Great Hall and includes continental breakfast

• Morning Prayer begins at 8:30 a.m. in the church.

• The plenary business meeting convenes at 9 a.m., beginning with the Bishop’s Annual Address

• Lunch is provided at noon

Please refer to the list at left to see what steps to take at this time.

The following positions will be elected at this year’s Convention.

Standing Committee:               1 Clerical member        1 Lay member
Ecclesiastical Court:                 1 Clerical member                                                                               
(The Executive Council positions are filled with elections that take place at the Pre-Convention Deanery meetings in October.)

The Pre-Convention deanery meetings will be held in October. Dates and times are in the calendar at right. Canon 35 offers guidelines regarding Deaneries. Elected Council members will have seat, voice, and vote in the deanery meetings. For your convenience, you will find the names of the lay and clerical representatives to the Executive Council from each Deanery on the Forms & Reference page. If you choose to nominate someone, please forward the enclosed Nomination Form to your Dean at least one week prior to the meeting. Visitors who attend do not have voice or vote.

All proposed resolutions are due in the diocesan office by Monday, Sept. 16.This allows the Resolutions Committee adequate time to place written copies of the Resolutions in the hands of the convention delegates and clergy no later than twenty (20) days before the opening day of the Convention. Any resolution, which shows on its face that it deals with matters arising after the deadline date, shall be exempt from this requirement.  All other resolutions delivered to the Secretary after the deadline are governed by Rule 27.

In addition to the above, the Constitution and Canons Committee will provide each delegate and clergy member with any proposed changes to the Constitution and Canons in written form. Articles 18 and 19 of the diocesan Constitution govern amendments. Any proposed changes will be published on Oct. 1.

Pictures and biographies of the nominees for each open position will be posted here on Oct. 1, along with the proposed 2014 diocesan budget and assessment information.