Diocesan Council

Diocesan Council is an elected body which conducts the affairs of the diocese between conventions. Duties of the Diocesan Council, outlined in D-III.3, are:

(a) Assist the Bishop and Bishop Coadjutor, if there be one, in planning and developing the work of the Church in the Diocese.

(b) Assist the Bishop and Bishop Coadjutor, if there be one, in administering the work of the Church in the Diocese through whatever departments, divisions, commissions, or other agencies may be established from time to time for that purpose.

(c) Supervise, coordinate, and review the work of all departments, agencies, and diocesan officers charged with holding title to property; be responsible for maintaining such property; and be responsible for designating qualifying church buildings as "Historic Churches."

(d) Direct, coordinate, and administer the financial affairs of the Diocese not vested by canon in other officers or agencies.

(e) Directly or through agents under its direction and control, fix all compensation except that fixed by the Convention.

(f) Supervise and coordinate all departments, agencies, and diocesan officers charged with record-keeping, maintenance of archives, and preserving and writing the history of the Diocese, its departments, agencies, and congregations.

(g) As deemed desirable, adopt by-laws, rules, and regulations for its government and for the government of its officials, agents, employees, departments, and agencies.

(h) Make and preserve a full record of its acts and of the work of each of its departments and furnish to each annual Convention a full report of all its actions and all moneys expended under its direction during the preceding year, including a report from each department of the Council with respect to the work done by such department.

The council is comprised of six members of clergy eligible to vote in the Convention and nine members of the laity (who are enrolled confirmed adult communicants in good standing of the Church in the Diocese) who are elected for terms of three years, staggered so that one-third of the 15 are elected each year.

Watch members of Standing Committee and Diocesan Council discuss their work

Actions of Diocesan Council since the 208th Annual Convention

• Met at Diocesan House, Raleigh.
• Approved a Mission Endowment Grant for Christ Church, Albemarle.
• Approved in principle the creation of a multi-congregational parish consisting of All Saints, Roanoke Rapids, and St Mark's, Halifax.
• Amended the bylaws of Diocesan Council to specify the Departments of Council.
• Removed the Preserved Historic Church designation from Holy Trinity, Townsville, and authorized transfer of ownership of its property to the Taylor family.
• Met at St. Francis Springs retreat center, Stoneville, following a retreat with the Standing Committee and representatives of the Trustees.
• Accepted the resignation of Abby Van Noppen and elected Bill Drake to complete the term.
• Authorized a housing allowance for the Rev Hershey Mallette Stephens.
• Approved an adjusted apportionment of net proceeds from selling the former Diocesan House.
• Authorized financial support to complete the 2021 audit of St Augustine's University. (Subsequently, The Episcopal Church provided this support instead of the Diocese.)
• Met at Grace Church, Lexington.
• Received an update on renovation and use of the former St Mark's, Raleigh property.
• Discussed the racist incident at Bishops' Ball.
• Received a statistical analysis of parochial report data from the Secretary.
• Formed a working group jointly with the Convention Committee on Dispatch of Business to study possible changes to the agenda and structure of Convention.