Diocesan Convention 2024

The 153rd Diocesan Convention will be held Friday, October 18 & Saturday, October 19, 2024.

The convention will be held at:

The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center
215 Innovation Blvd.
State College, PA 16803
814-863-5000

Participants should make hotel reservations as early as possible as hotels will fill quickly. Discounted hotel rooms are available at the following hotels and discounts expire on 9/17/24.

Registration is Open

At this Diocesan Convention we will meet jointly with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania on Friday evening to learn more about the final recommendation of the Reunification Discernment Committee about possible reunifcation with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. On Saturday morning we will conduct our normal Diocesan Convention (voting on new diocesan committee and commission members, Diocesan Budget, clergy compensation guidelines) and will vote on a resolution to reunify with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Saturday afternoon we will again meet jointly with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to discover the results of the reunification vote and close with a joint Eucharist worship service.

For more details on the reunification please visit the join website: https://reunificationdiobethdiocpa.org/

All Diocesan Convention delegates and any canonically resident clergy who plan to participate in the Diocesan Convention must register and attend both days. The cost for Diocesan Convention is $115, which helps defray the food and meeting hall expenses.  Scholarships available upon request and need can be indicated in registration.

To register for Diocesan Convention on October 18 & 19: click here.

Resolutions

Resolutions for the 153rd convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem are being accepted through August 15, 2024.

Resolutions can be submitted by:

  • A Diocesan Committee or Commission
  • Three (3) delegates to convention

Resolutions must submitted in the following format:

  • Title of the Resolution
  • The full text of the resolution beginning with “Be it Resolved”
  • The explanation of the resoltuion
  • The name of the committee or commission or names of the delegates submitting the resolution

For more details on how to write a resolution click here.

Resolutions must be received by August 15,2024, via email to Paula Lapinski, fax:610-691-1682, or mail: 333 Wyandotte St, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

Nominations

Nominations for the 153rd Diocese of Bethlehem Convention are due by August 15, 2024.

Download the nomination form Word or PDF. The following positions are to be elected:

The Commission on Ministry Two (2) to be elected

One (1) clergy person and one (1) lay person for a three-year term.

The Diocesan Council Four (4) to be elected.

Two (2) clergy persons and two (2) lay persons for a three-year term.

The Standing Committee Two (2) to be elected.

One (1) clergy person and one (1) lay person for a four-year term.

Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention

Based on Title I Canon 1 Section 2 of the Canons of the Diocese of Bethlehem. Each Parish and each Mission shall elect one or more Lay Delegates based on the number of lay members as reported on the annual Parochial Report for the year ending December 31 preceding to represent said Parish and Mission in the Convention; and may also elect Alternates, equal in number to the Delegates to which the Parish or Mission is entitled, to take the place of the regular Delegates in case of absence.

Lay Members on                Number of Lay
Parochial Report                Delegates

Less than 100        1 (one) Lay Delegate
100 – 299               2 (two) Lay Delegates
300 – 499               3 (three) Lay Delegates
500 – 699               4 (four) Lay Delegates

Parishes or Missions reporting 700 or more lay members in the Parochial Report shall have an additional delegate for each additional 199 lay members reported above 700. Download the Certificate of Election of Lay Delegates as a Word document or PDF.

    Convention Journals

    2022 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2021 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2020 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2019 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2018 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2017 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2016 Convention Journal (PDF) and 2016 Journal Addendum Canonical and Constitutional Resolutions (PDF)
    2015 Convention Journal (PDF)
    2014 Convention Journal (PDF)