THE 40th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION

November 4 & 5, 2022

Post-Convention Wrap-up

As a storm cleared and afternoon sunshine returned, the Opening Eucharist was celebrated at St. Laurence Church in Southlake, highlighted by the music of Thomas Tallis and Herbert Howells, and a sermon from Bishop Emeritus Jack Iker. The evening included a dinner and performance by JIm Cox of St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.

In its meeting Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Westin Southlake Hotel, the Convention heard reports on the progress of the Diocesan Strategic Plan, passed a balanced budget for 2023, and elected Fr. Randall Foster to the Ecclesiastical Trial Court and Fr. Andrew Petta and Catherine Rogers to the Standing Committee.

September 20 memo from the Bishop

To the clergy and elected lay delegates of the Diocese,

This update includes all the information you will need to prepare for your October Deanery Meeting and the Convention itself, including:

       • The slate of Nominees for elective office;

       • The proposed 2023 Budget and Assessment tables;

       • A Draft Agenda for Saturday's business meeting.

No proposed resolutions were submitted for the Convention’s consideration, and there are no proposed changes to the Canons or Constitution. Be sure to take a copy of the materials listed above to your Deanery meeting for reference; bring them with you to the Convention business meeting as well. [Click on the links above to view and download documents.]

Following our Opening Eucharist on Friday, Nov. 4, clergy, delegates, and spouses are invited to enjoy a dinner of New York steak and Cajun shrimp at the Westin Southlake Hotel in celebration of the Diocese’s 40th anniversary. Meal reservations may be made online or by mail using the reservation form under the Forms tab above. Reservations will close on Thursday, Oct. 27.

 

We plan for the Saturday meeting to conclude in time to enjoy a casual lunch back at St. Laurence Church. (Please use the meal reservation link or form to RSVP. ) Food trucks will offer a selection of items for purchase, and diocesan ministry leaders will be on hand to chat about their work and answer questions.

Once again, check the date of your Deanery meeting and consider nominating someone to represent your Deanery on Executive Council. (See below.) Print out a copy of the budget  documents and slate of nominees before the meeting. A representative of the Finance Committee will be present to answer your questions about the proposed budget and assessments.

All ministry reports will be posted online on Monday, Oct. 31. An email link to the reports will be sent on that date.

I look forward to Convention and the opportunity to gather as a Diocese.

Read the Reports to the Convention

August 30 memo from the Bishop

To the clergy and elected lay delegates of the Diocese,

 

The 40th Annual Diocesan Convention will begin with Holy Eucharist at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, at our host parish, St. Laurence Church in Southlake.

I am delighted to announce that our Bishop Emeritus, the Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, will be our preacher. A reception and dinner at the Westin Southlake Hotel will follow the service, from about 6:30 p.m. onward. We will enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar followed by a seated dinner. A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel for those who desire overnight accommodations. (See below.)

Gordon Henry photo

The business meeting will be held Saturday at the hotel. Registration opens at 7:45 a.m., and Morning Prayer will be said at 8:30. The business meeting will be gaveled to order at 9 a.m. After adjournment, you are invited to return to St. Laurence for lunch.

Our Convention theme this year is “True Disciples, Remaining Faithful.” (John 8:31) As part of Saturday’s business, we will hear updates from the leaders of each of the four Pillars of our Strategic Plan:  Revitalization, Church Planting, Multicultural/Immigrant Ministry, and Ministry to the Next Generation. As usual, we will also adopt a budget for the next fiscal year and an assessment formula to fund diocesan programs.

Other Convention business will include the election of members to fill positions of diocesan leadership. Once again, all reports of ministry leaders will be available in text and/or video formats on the diocesan Web site before the Convention begins. You will be able to review them either before or after the business meeting.

At this time nominations are open for the following elective positions:

•  Standing Committee (clerical order) – elect one
    Standing Committee (lay order) – elect one
•  Ecclesiastical Trial Court (clerical order) – elect one

See below for information about Executive Council openings, which will be filled at the October pre-Convention Deanery meetings.

Nomination forms can be found at the link at the top of this page. There is also a form for submitting a proposed Resolution to the Convention, and another for clergy to use when making the annual Necrology Report. Each form includes additional  instructions. It may also be helpful to consult the Standing Rules of Procedure for Conventions. The deadline for submission of nominations and resolutions is Friday, Sept. 9; necrology reports are due Thursday, Oct. 27.

The slate of nominees for positions on the Standing Committee and Trial Court will be published Tuesday, Sept. 20, along with the proposed 2023 budget and assessment materials, and the Report of the Committee on Constitution and Canons. Dinner reservations will open on that date as well.

Together with the diocesan staff, I look forward to gathering with you for this 40th Annual Convention, and I pray for God's blessing on all our preparations.

 

 

HOTEL  ACCOMMODATIONS

DEANERY MEETING DATES

The Westin Southlake Hotel at 1200 E. Highway 114 in Southlake has offered a rate of $199 for any night between Nov. 1 and 8. The hotel is located on the westbound frontage road between Kimball and N. Carroll Avenue. The hotel is the site of Friday’s dinner and the Saturday business meeting.

 

You may make a reservation online.  If making a reservation by phone (817-873-1900), be sure to say you want a room in the block set aside for the diocesan convention. The last day to reserve at this rate is Oct. 4.

Eastern Deanery
        Oct. 17 @ 6:30 p.m., St. Laurence, Southlake

Fort Worth East Deanery
        Oct. 11 @ 7 p.m., St. Andrew's, Fort Worth

Fort Worth West Deanery
        Oct. 4 @ 7 p.m., St. Anne's, Fort Worth

Northern Deanery
       Oct. 6 @ 7 p.m., Ascension/St. Mark, Bridgeport

Southern Deanery
        Oct. 17 @ 6:30 p.m., Holy Comforter, Cleburne

Western Deanery
        Oct. 16 @ 5 p.m., St. Luke’s, Mineral Wells

DEANERY MEETINGS and EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

   As a representative of your parish, it is important that you attend your pre-Convention Deanery Meeting in October. This will be your opportunity to review the proposed 2023 budget and assessments,  discuss proposed changes to the Constitution and Canons, and elect representatives to the Executive Council.

   Elected delegates have seat, voice, and vote in Deanery Meetings. Those elected as alternates should make every effort to attend as well, since they may be called upon to serve at Convention. Visitors do not have voice or vote.  As you prepare, it may be helpful to review Canon 35.

   You are encouraged to participate in the process of nominating qualified persons to represent your Deanery on the Executive Council. The Council meets approximately four times each year, on weekday afternoons. Terms of office are three years; two consecutive terms may be served. You may nominate any qualified person, including yourself.

    A list of openings by Deanery is below. To nominate someone to fill a position in your Deanery, use the Executive Council Nomination Form and submit it to your Dean at least one week prior to your Deanery's October meeting date.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OPENINGS by DEANERY

FORT WORTH EAST DEANERY

Elect one (1) lay person for a three (3) year term.

    Tom Ward, the incumbent, is NOT eligible for re-election

Representatives still in office:

     Paul Prater (2023)

     Fr. Jacob Worley (2024)

 

FORT WORTH WEST DEANERY

Elect one (1) lay person for a three (3) year term.

    Dave Wilson, the incumbent, is NOT eligible for re-election.

Representatives still in office:

    Fr. Chris Culpepper (2023)
    Christine Martin (2024)

 

EASTERN DEANERY

Elect one (1) clergy person for a three (3) year term.

    Fr. Alan Horton, the incumbent, is eligible for re-election.

Representatives still in office:

    Joe Hodges (2023)
    Robert Boyer (2024)

 

NORTHERN DEANERY

Elect one (1) clergy person for a three (3) year term:

    Fr. Keith Roberson, the incumbent, is eligible for re-election.

And elect one (1) lay person to serve out the remainder
     of a term expiring in 2024.

Representative still in office:

    Susan Morris (2023)

 

SOUTHERN DEANERY

Elect one (1) lay person for a three (3) year term.

    Kyle Riley, the incumbent, is eligible for re-election.

Representatives still in office:

    Fr. Michael Mobley (2023)
     Jeff Wallace (2024)

 

WESTERN DEANERY

Elect one (1) lay person for a three (3) year term.

    Larry Mills, the incumbent, is NOT eligible for re-election.

Representatives still in office:

    Paulette Sackett (2023)
    Fr. Bill Estes (2024)

THE 40th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION  †  True Disciples, Remaining Faithful