Diocesan Convention 2025
The 154th Diocesan Convention will be held Friday, October 17 & Saturday, October 18, 2025.
View the Special Rules of Order that will be in effect at the Convention.
The convention will be held at:
Hilton Scranton & Conference Center
100 Adams Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
Registration is now open
At this Diocesan Convention the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese Central Pennsylvania will meet on Friday evening to hear about the work that the Transition Leadership Committee and working groups have done over the last year. On Saturday morning we will conduct the work of the Diocesan Convention by voting on Diocesan Council members and General Convention deputies, the Diocesan Budget, and clergy compensation guidelines. The work of Saturday will be wrapped in a Eucharist service to guide us through the last steps of our reunification.
All attendees of convention must register so we have an accurate headcount for the hotel. 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. Scholarships are available upon request and need can be indicated during online registration.
To register for Diocesan Convention on October 17 & 18: click here.
Room blocks are now open and can be reserved at the following locations:
- Hilton Scranton – 100 Adams Ave. Scranton, $165/night click here to book. FULL
- Courtyard Scranton Montage Mtn – 16 Glenmaura National Blvd. Scranton, $125/night click here to book.
- TownePlace Suites Scranton Wilkes-Barre – 19 Radcliffe Dr. Moosic, $129/night click here to book.
- Springhill Suites Scranton Montage Mtn – 19 Radcliffe Dr. Moosic, $129/night click here to book.
All room blocks will close on September 16, or when reservations are full.
Transitional Canons, Constitution, and Canons
At Convention, we will vote to adopt the Transitional Canons, Constitution, and Canons of The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna. These documents were drafted by the Transition Working Group on Constitution and Canons and updated to reflect feedback gained during listening sessions that took place over the summer.
Constitution of The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna
Canons of The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna
Delegates can submit pre-filed amendments to these documents using this form. Pre-filed amendments submitted by October 3 will be presented and discussed at Convention; amendments will not be considered from the floor.
Additional information about the process for creating these documents is available on the reunification website.
Nominations
As the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania prepare for reunification, the Transitional Canons will direct how each of our elected bodies will merge with the corresponding committee in the other diocese. The Transitional Canons indicate elections are needed in two of our bodies for the year 2026: Diocesan Council and General Convention Deputies.
Elections will be held for the following:
The Diocesan Council
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- Three (3) Clergy
- Three (3) Laypersons
Deputies to General Convention
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- Four (4) Clergy
- Four (4) Laypersons
Resolutions
Resolution to Adopt the Budget of The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna
Resolution to Adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger
The Agreement and Plan of Merger (click here) is a legal document outlining exactly how our two dioceses will merge to become The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna. It must be approved at Convention and then submitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for approval.
Additional Resolutions From the 81st General Convention
The following four resolutions, to be considered at Convention, were passed at our 81st General Convention in Louisville in 2024, and are now asked to be affirmed by each diocesan convention in The Episcopal Church. Three of them address changes to the Constitution of The Episcopal Church and one to the Book of Common Prayer:
Resolution to Amend Constitution Article X With Clarifying Amendments
Resolution to Increase by One the Possible Number of Bishops Suffragans in a Diocese
Resolution to Amend Constitution Article VIII Regarding Clergy in Local Ecumenical Partnerships
Resolution to Revise Marriage Rites for Inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer
Pre-Convention Meetings
Pre-Convention meetings to review Diocesan Convention Resolutions for 2026 Clergy Compensation (click here) and the 2026 Diocesan Budget (click here) will be held online on September 16 and 18, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Reunification discussions will be conducted at our in-person Convocation meetings described below in this newsletter.
- Register for Pre-Convention meeting on September 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
- Register for Pre-Convention meeting on September 18, 2025, 6:30 p.m.: click here.
Fall Convocation Meetings with Bishop Kevin
Bishop Kevin will be hosting fall convocation meetings to prepare us for convention (October 17 & 18) and reunification with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Diocesan Convention Representatives are especially encouraged to attend this important gathering.
Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Families
Call for Videos
At the 2025 convention, we will feature a video presentation highlighting children, youth, young adults and families, and we need your contributions! We are collecting short videos that we will compile into this longer presentation. Your videos should be no longer than 60 seconds and can address the following questions:
- What are your hopes for the new Diocese of the Susquehanna?
- What does this reunification mean to you?
- What ideas do you have to offer the new diocese?
- What do you want the people gathered at convention to know?
You can also send us videos of Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, youth group, or other exciting programs at your parish, and we welcome videos in Spanish, French, or other languages. Please ensure you collect signed parental permission for all children under 18 that appear in your video.
Submit horizontal videos here.
Contact Micah Roldan or Canon Micalagh Moritz with any questions.
Youth and Young Adult Panel
Youth and young adults ages 13 through 30 will be featured on a panel at the convention on Friday evening. To apply to participate on the Youth and Young Adult Panel, please fill out this form.
Childcare
Childcare will be available for children ages 0 through 12 at convention. To register your child for childcare, please fill out this form.
For questions about any Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Families convention programming, contact Canon Micalagh Moritz.
Ministry Fair: Explore, Connect, Share
Parishes, diocesan ministries, and Episcopal organizations from both the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Bethlehem are invited to showcase their work and engage with attendees at the Convention’s Ministry Fair. Participants will be given a five-foot table to display their material and are encouraged to host the table to interact with attendees at designated times.
Ministry Fair participants who are not taking part in Convention business as a delegate/alternate or clergy must still register for the Convention. Registration will be at a 50-percent discount, which covers the cost of meals. Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.
Space is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for a table by filling out this form. The deadline for submissions is September 15.
Once your registration is received, you will be contacted by a member of the Ministry Fair Committee with more information. For questions, contact Cathy Bailey.
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 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)