The 130th Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas is scheduled for November 8, Parish Episcopal School, 4101 Sigma Road in Dallas. 

Convention Booklet

Preview of the convention booklet that contains pertinent information for voting and budget. The convention booklet will be provided at convention. 

Last Year's Convention Minutes

Contains extended meeting minutes from last year's convention and reports 

Clergy Information

In preparation for the 2025 Convention.   Please see below for instructions and information.   If you have questions, please feel free to reach out.

Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and coffee.

CLERGY ATTENDANCE:

“A member of the Clergy may be absent from the Convention only by permission of the Bishop Sumner” (see Canons, Section 3.4, Diocese).

Please be reminded that it is the duty of every member of the Clergy canonically resident in the Diocese of Dallas and entitled to a seat and vote in the Convention to attend all sessions. If you are unable to attend convention, please send me an email to Cassie Roberts to explain your circumstances, if you have not already done so.

CERTIFICATION OF DELEGATES -- AND LATECOMERS

When an alternate takes the place of a regular delegate:

• The alternate will need to be certified - and will only be certified - up until the start of each business session, to establish a quorum prior to the convening of convention.
• Any latecomers on Saturday morning, will, unfortunately, not be seated if they have not been certified before the first session. They will have to wait until the afternoon session to be seated with voice and vote.

LICENSED CLERGY

If you are licensed in this diocese, you may request to be seated with your delegation, and, if approved, you will have voice but no vote.
We have offered several ways this year for you to indicate that you wish to be seated with your church’s delegation.

If you have not done so already, please contact Cassie Roberts ( ) via email requesting that you wish to be seated with the church you serve. Remember, you may not sit on the floor of convention unless the Bishop Sumner invites you to do so!

There is a moment soon after the convention begins when the bishop reads those names of licensed clergy serving in churches that have requested to be seated with their delegations. The convention will be asked if they approve. When that occurs can you move from the guest area to the delegate area.

OPENING EUCHARIST

Remember to bring your vestments for the Eucharist on Saturday morning. Deacons and priests will vest in cassock and surplice with white stoles. 
The liturgical color will be:    White
We meet near the chapel at Parish Episcopal School at 8:00 am. Signage and school ambassadors will direct the way.

Convention Leadership Day 

This event is open to clergy and lay leaders and is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, November 7, at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue in Dallas. 

Speakers are Dr. Lauren L. Whitnah, Dean, Nashotah House Theological Seminary and Dr. Kristen Deed Johnson, Principal and Helliwell Professor of Theology at Wycliffe College, University of Toronoto. 

Register here.

 Clergy Spouse Luncheon

on Saturday, November 8 at 12pm at Parish Episcopal School.

As the Diocese of Dallas prepares to bid farewell to Bishop George and Stephanie at the close of this year, we will also celebrate and give thanks for the faithful and gracious ministry of Stephanie Hodgkins.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Time: 12pm
Location: Parish Episcopal School, 4101 Sigma Road, Dallas, 75244

(follow signage from the Main Entrance to The Kathy Pershern Fellowship Hall)

Click here to RSVP.

 

Contact Haley Rossi ( ) with questions.

 

For more information contact Susan Mills at .

Pre-Convention Meetings

Please join for the annual diocesan Pre-Convention Meetings scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., October 25 at Church of the Annunciation, 602 North Old Orchard Lane in Lewisville; and 2 to 4 p.m., October 25 at San Francisco de Asis, 11540 Ferguson Road in Dallas. 

For more information contact Susan Mills at .

Toys for Christmas Give Away

The Greater Dallas Coalition is collecting toys to give to those in need for Christmas. Please bring an unwrapped, new toy to convention and leave with the Greater Dallas Coalition booth. 

Donations Needed: Gently Used Coats

One Man's Treasure is a ministry that provides new and used clothing for men who have just been released for prison. These men are given clothing to help them re-enter the world with dignity and also so they will have appropriate clothing for job interviews and church. Please bring your gently used mens coats to the diocesan convention beginning at 8 a.m. on November 8, at Parish Episcopal School, 4101 Sigma Road in Dallas. 

Register for Vendor Table at Convention 

We invite you to be part of the Exhibitor Showroom at the diocesan annual convention. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your ministry, organization, or business with clergy, lay leaders and delegates from across North Texas. The convention draws together a vibrant community for worship, fellowship and decision-making, and exhibitors are in the heart of the action.  

Dates and Times:

• Location: Parish Episcopal School, 4101 Sigma Road, Dallas
• Convention Date: November 8 
• Setup: November 7 between 4-6 p.m, or November 8, at 7 a.m.

Exhibitor Details:

• $50 per table, which includes one lunch
• Additional lunches: $10 each
• Electrical access is limited and must be requested in advance. Exhibitors should bring their own long, heavy-duty extension cords
• Registration deadline is October 22

 
Reserve your spot today and connect with leaders and members from across the diocese.
Register here

Contact Information
Exhibitor Manager: Jessica Evans
Call/text: 469-315.7099
Email:

Open Budget Meetings

Pre-Convention Budget Meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m., August 22 on Zoom. This is an opportunity to review the 2026 Diocesan budget draft and ask questions or give input prior to final approval at convention. Please contact Susan Mills at   to get the zoom links. 

Convention Leadership Day

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, November 7, at St. Matthew's Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue in Dallas. 

Speakers are Dr. Lauren L. Whitnah, Dean, Nashotah House Theological Seminary and Dr. Kristen Deed Johnson, Principal and Helliwell Professor of Theology at Wycliffe College, University of Toronoto. 

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Elections

Clergy and Administrators of the Diocese of Dallas: Please copy and distribute to convention delegates/alternates. Also, please make this information available to your Vestry or Bishop’s Committee and other interested parishioners.

Mr. Bob Buchanan, Secretary of Convention gives the following instructions for nominations to committees, and resolution proposals. 

Nominations:
The Nominating Committee, chaired by the Rev. James Detrich, will receive nominations for the following open positions:

• Secretary of Convention: 1 Clergy or Lay
• Standing Committee Members: 1 Clergy and 1 Lay   
• Executive Council Members: 2 Clergy and 4 Lay
• University of the South Trustee: 1 Lay
• General Convention Deputies/Alternates: 4 Clergy and 4 Lay

 
It is important that the Nominating Committee receives suggestions and nominations representing the full breadth of our diocese; please prayerfully consider those you know who might be of good service to the Diocese in one of these areas.
 
You can easily nominate an individual using both links below:
 
Nominator
Nominee 
 
If you have questions or have difficulties using the online access, please contact Amy Maceo at  .
 
The deadline for consideration of your nomination is 4 p.m., Friday, August 8
 
Nominations received after the deadline date, noted above, will not be printed in the convention booklet, and it will be the responsibility of the nominator to provide copies of the completed nomination biography to all delegates of the Convention.

Secretary of the Diocesan Convention (see Canon 7)
The Secretary for the Convention serves a one-year term and is responsible for the official record of the proceedings of the Diocesan Convention and other duties as stated in the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Dallas.
 
The Standing Committee (see Article 10 and Canon 6)
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Dallas consists of three priests (entitled to seats in the Convention) and three lay communicants (in good standing within their churches) from the diocese, elected by Convention for three-year terms. It functions as a committee of advice to the bishop and is called at the bishop’s discretion, or it may meet of its own accord. The Standing Committee gives consent for persons to become candidates for Holy Orders, consent for ordinations, and consent to elections of bishops in other dioceses. When there is no bishop, bishop coadjutor, or bishop suffragan, the Standing Committee becomes the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month.
 
The Executive Council (see Canon 5)
There shall be eighteen elected members of the Executive Council to be chosen at the annual convention by a concurrent vote of a majority of each order from the following categories: six members of the clergy, entitled to seats in the Convention, and twelve lay persons, who are confirmed communicants in good standing of Parishes and Missions in union with the Convention. Two members of the clergy and four lay persons shall be elected at each Convention for a term of three years. No member who has served three consecutive years shall be eligible for reelection until the lapse of one year after the expiration of his last period of service. The Executive Council of the Diocese of Dallas has as its purpose the administration of the missionary, educational, and social service work of the diocese. The Bishop is the executive head of this work. The Executive Council carries on the work of the Convention between meetings. The Executive Council submits the Proposed Budget to the Convention. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month.
 
The Trustee for the University of the South (see Canon 23)
There shall be elected by the Diocesan Convention three Trustees of the University of the South, consisting of one clerical and two lay persons. One trustee is to be elected each year for a three-year term. Trustees to the University of the South are elected for a three-year term and may serve for two consecutive terms. A trustee who has served two consecutive terms may not serve again until at least one year after the expiration of the second term. Trustees meet for a mandatory meeting each year in October and an optional meeting each May at Sewanee, TN. The Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing the policies of the university and for the concurrence to the election of the vice-chancellor. Travel costs to attend the meeting(s) are generally the responsibility of the trustee, unless the trustee is unable to pay, and the Diocese may provide assistance. The pattern of election is one year lay, next year lay, and following year clergy.
 
Deputies to the Provincial Synod and the General Convention of the Episcopal Church
(see Article 11 and Canon 27)
The Annual Convention in the second year preceding a stated meeting of the General Convention shall elect by ballot four (4) Priests or Deacons and four (4) Lay persons to act as Deputies from this Diocese to the General Convention, a concurrent vote of a majority of both orders being necessary to elect. Following the election of the last Deputy chosen, the floor shall be opened for nomination of Alternate Deputies in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and one (1) ballot shall be taken (unless further voting shall be necessary because of a tie) upon those then nominated and those who had been nominated as Deputies (including those who withdrew), and the four (4) in each order receiving the most votes (both orders voting together) shall be declared elected as Alternate Deputies. Deputies and Alternates shall take office immediately upon election and shall hold office until their successors are chosen.
 
The persons elected as Deputies to General Convention and Alternative Deputies to General Convention, while serving in such capacity, shall also serve as the representatives of this Diocese to the Provincial Synod.

Constitution and Canons, Resolutions

The Constitution requires that proposed new canons or alterations or amendments to the Constitution and Canons be submitted in writing to the Secretary of Convention no later than sixty (60) days before the meeting of the Convention. No new amendments or alterations to the canons may be considered at the Diocesan Convention except by unanimous consent of the Convention.
 
Submission of proposals for new canons and for proposals to alter, amend, or repeal existing Canons of the Diocese of Dallas must be delivered either by email at  , mail, or by hand no later than the deadline date, noted below. 
 
Likewise, Resolutions (see format example below) are requested no later than the deadline so that they may be included in the pre-convention materials that are distributed to all parishes and missions in advance of the Convention. For resolutions received after the deadline, it will be the responsibility of the presenter to provide copies for all delegates of the Convention.
 
Deadline:
4 p.m., Tuesday, September 9, for all Proposed New Canons, Alterations or Amendments to the Constitution and Canons and Resolutions
 
Your proposals should be addressed and submitted to:
 
Secretary of Convention
Diocese of Dallas c/o Amy Maceo

Call 214-826-8310 for mailing instructions, if necessary
 
Format for Submitting Resolutions
 
In order to simplify debate on resolutions during the annual convention, please use the following guidelines:

• Descriptive Title
• “Resolved” paragraph
• Heading “Rationale”
• Explanatory information
• Submitted by
• Please do not use “Whereas” clauses
• Sample below in green