Diocesan Convention 2024

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

Click here to view the schedule.

The convention was held at:

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

At our joint diocesan convention on Saturday, October 19, 2024, the Diocese of Bethlehem, and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania voted to reunify and become the Diocese of the Susquehanna, effective January 1, 2026.

Within the Diocese of Bethlehem, 104 individuals voted, while 155 individuals voted in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. The voting outcome was 86.54% in favor and 13.46 % against in the Diocese of Bethlehem, and 84.5% in favor and 15.5% against in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

We will now enter a Year of Transition. A Leadership Team, selected by the Standing Committees of each diocese will populate Working Groups in several areas to support the two diocesan staffs in effecting the transition to one diocese. If you would like to apply to serve on the Leadership Team and/or to volunteer for one of the Working Groups, please follow this link for an online application: https://reunificationdiobethdiocpa.org/volunteer-application/.

Resolutions

Resolutions Accepted at the 153rd convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem included:

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

Nominees Elected at the 153rd Diocese of Bethlehem Convention:

The Commission on Ministry Two (2) to be elected

Clergy – The Rev. Dr. Sidnie White Crawford

Lay – Vacant

The Diocesan Council Four (4) to be elected.

Clergy – Vacant

Lay – Wayne D. Evans (Second term)

The Standing Committee Two (2) to be elected.

Clergy – The Rev. Rodney C. Conn (Second term)

Lay – Vacant

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)