Diocesan Convention 2024

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

Click here to view the schedule.

The convention will be held at:

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

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/

Resolutions

Resolutions Submitted to the 153rd convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem include:

2025 Clergy Salary Schedule (PDF)

2025 Budget of the Diocese of Bethlehem (PDF)

Closing of Calvary Episcopal Church (Tamaqua) (PDF)

Closing of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Reading) (PDF)

Resolution Consenting to the Reunification of the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania (PDF)

Nominations

Nominations for the 153rd Diocese of Bethlehem Convention are available.

Click here to view the list of nominees. (PDF)

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)