The Diocese of North Carolina announces today that Megan Carlson has been appointed to serve as the new secretary of convention and Diocesan Council. She succeeds Chuck Till, who served in the role for nine years before his retirement following the 210th Annual Convention, where he was honored for his service with the Bishop’s Award.
Carlson, a member of St. Stephen’s, Durham, is not new to service at the diocesan level. In 2027, she will serve for the third time as a deputy for the Diocese of North Carolina at the 82nd General Convention of The Episcopal Church. In her previous deputation terms, she worked on the House of Deputies Resolution Review Committee, first as assistant secretary in 2022 and then as secretary in 2024. She served on the diocesan Charter Committee for Campus and Young Adult Ministries from 2016-2022, chairing the committee in her final year.
“We are excited to welcome Megan to this important role in the governance of our diocese,” said Bishop Sam Rodman, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. “She brings an impressive array of experience to the position of secretary, as well as a love for God’s people and a contagious enthusiasm for the importance of administration in the mission of the church.”
Carlson has served her home church in various roles since 2002, when she started as an acolyte, and continues to do so. Most recently, she completed a term as senior warden at St. Stephen’s. In addition, in The Episcopal Church, she served on the General Convention Task Force on Individuals with Mental Illness from 2022-2024, and currently works on the General Convention Task force on AI and Intellectual Property, where she co-chairs one of the task force’s subcommittees.
In her new diocesan role, Carlson will serve as secretary to Annual Convention, which is made up of clergy from across the diocese and elected lay delegates from each diocesan congregation, and conducts the business and implements the vision of the diocese; as well as Diocesan Council, the elected body that conducts the affairs of the diocese between Annual Conventions, like a “convention between conventions.”
“I love a church meeting,” said Carlson. “I was raised in The Episcopal Church hearing the criticism that we have too many committees, too many meetings. But when church meetings are well run and have high engagement, the Holy Spirit has a chance to work and to guide. I can’t wait to share my joy of church meetings with the diocese in the coming year and to see many of you at the biggest church meeting of them all in November!”
Carlson’s term as Secretary of Convention began February 15. She can be reached at secretary@episdionc.org.
