Disciple: The 206th Annual Convention: It’s Happening (Online)!

[Editor's note: This article has been updated from the print edition to reflect changes to the Convention plan announced after the print edition mailed.]

The 206th Annual Convention will meet online on Saturday, November 20, 2021, to conduct business including elections, consideration of resolutions, adoption of the 2022 Mission and Ministry Budget, and adoption of the 2023 Fair Share percentage.

On a weekend in late winter or early spring 2022 (date to be announced soon), we will gather in person for interactive sessions as we launch the Mission Strategy and celebrate the work happening around the Diocese.

The theme of the gatherings is “Then Were We Like Those Who Dream.”

WHAT IS NOT CHANGING

• Budget webinars will be held as usual.
• Convocations will meet as usual.
• Youth delegates and campus ministry delegates will be elected as usual.
• The Rule III process in regards to churches that did not file a timely parochial report or a timely audit remains the same.
• The deadline to submit nominations for Diocesan Council (two clergy, three lay), Standing Committee (two clergy, one lay), and trustees to Sewanee, The University of the South (one clergy, one lay) remains October 11 at noon. The mechanism to submit nominations by the deadline remains the same. Submit a nomination.
• The deadline to submit resolutions remains October 11 at noon. The mechanism to submit resolutions by the deadline remains the same. Email resolutions to Chuck Till, secretary of Convention.
• The canonical requirement to be current on payment of Fair Share in order to retain voting rights at Convention is still in effect.
• Worship will be fundamental to Convention.
• Legislative committees will conduct hearings.
• The usual parliamentary process, such as motions to amend, will be followed.
• Convention will be livestreamed to the public at large. However, this is a non-interactive, one-way stream. Clergy and lay delegates will use a different system to enter the Convention.

At this time, no decision on late nominations and late resolutions submitted after the October 11 deadline has been reached. We urge you to submit everything by the deadline, including any resolutions to be submitted from our Diocese to next year’s General Convention.

The window to submit resolutions and nominations is now open; the submission deadline is October 11. All resolutions and nominations submitted by the deadline will be available on the Convention app and in the pre-Convention materials on the Annual Convention page at episdionc.org. Note that all newly introduced amendments to the constitution require affirmative votes in consecutive conventions in order to pass.

THE BUDGET

The projected 2022 mission and ministry budget continues to reflect diocesan priorities the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman first outlined in 2019. These include engaging in deeper dialogue and multi-layered conversations around the dynamics of difference with particular attention to race, political tensions between left and right, and the economic divide; support for congregational vitality; missional collaboratives and new communities; lifelong Christian formation and creation care.

The proposed 2022 budget will be shared during the fall budget webinars. The fair share for 2022 remains at 10.65%. This was adopted by Diocesan Council in October 2020 and affirmed by the 205th Annual Convention. These fair share assessments account for the majority of the diocesan budget.

Two webinars will provide an overview of the proposed budget:

• Sunday, October 3 at 3 p.m.: Register
• Tuesday, October 5 at 7 p.m.: Register
  

GET THE APP

The 206th Annual Convention has its own app on Yapp, and it has everything you’ll need to prepare for and navigate Convention, either on-site or from home.

On the app you’ll find schedules; nominations, resolutions, reports and more; menus, including options for those with dietary restrictions; maps; a list of things to do and places to eat; a place to share your pictures and a regularly updated news feed.

To get Yapp via mobile device, download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Click “Add an existing app” or “+” (depending on your device) to search, and type “DioNC206” when prompted to enter the Yapp ID. To access the app via desktop, go to https://my.yapp.us/DIONC206 and follow the download instruction.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact the communications department.

FOLLOW LIVE

Convention will stream live on the diocesan homepage at episdionc.org, or you can follow Convention on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #DIONC206.

STAY CONNECTED

• The Annual Convention page on the diocesan website.
• The Convention app (aka “the Yapp app”): All information shared on the diocesan website can also be found on the Convention app. See the “Get the App” section for instructions on adding it to your mobile device or desktop.
• Delegate updates: All delegates to Convention receive regular email updates on the details of Convention; these updates started in late August and continue right through the days prior to Convention’s start. If you are a delegate and have not yet received an update, contact the communications department.
• Please Note: Highlights and announcements related to Annual Convention are regularly shared in Please Note, the weekly diocesan e-newsletter. Subscribe to receive the newsletter every Wednesday.