Diocesan Convention 2023

The 152nd Diocesan Convention will be held Friday, October 13 & Saturday, October 14, 2023.

The convention will be held at:

Centennial Conference Center – Homewood Suites by Hilton Center Valley
3350 Center Valley Parkway
Center Valley, PA 18034
610-351-6400

Limited rooms are available and can be reserved with this link: https://group.homewood-suites.com/txswy5.

Pre-Convention Gatherings

We will host two pre-convention gatherings virtually on Zoom. 

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 6:30pm – click here to register.

Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 6:30pm – click here to register.

Registration Now Open

All events will be held at the Centennial Conference Center at the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Center Valley.

Friday, October 13 –

  • Eucharist followed by dinner
  • Doors open at 4:30pm
  • Worship at 5:30pm
  • Dinner at 7pm

Saturday, October 14 –

  • Convention Business
  • Check-in will begin at 9am
  • Convention Called to Order at 10am for morning session
  • Lunch at Noon
  • Afternoon session

Click here to register.  Be sure to check your registration selection before you submit.

Resolutions

The following resolutions have been submitted for the 152nd Diocese of Bethlehem Convention:

  • 2024 Clergy Salary Schedule
  • Budget of the Diocese of Bethlehem
  • Closing of Holy Cross Episcopal Church (Wilkes-Barre)
  • Amendment to the Constitution of the Diocese of Bethlehem (second reading)
  • Resolution Seeking Continued Study of a Potential Reunification of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Bethlehem

To read the full text of the Resolutions please click here.

Elections

Nominations for the 152nd Diocese of Bethlehem Convention are in. Elections will occur for the positions below. Click here to view the list of nominees.

The Standing Committee – for a four-year term

    • Two to be elected
    • One (1) clergy person and one (1) lay person

The Diocesan Council – for a three-year term

    • Four to be elected
    • Two (2) clergy persons and two (2) lay persons

The Commission on Ministry – for a three-year term

    • Two to be elected
    • One (1) clergy person and one (1) lay person

 

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)