The annual Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas will convene as an in-person gathering February 24 - 26, 2022 in San Marcos, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, and hosted by St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio.
Clergy, as well as lay delegates will assemble to hear ministry reports, conduct the annual business of the Diocese, worship together, participate in workshops, and share fellowship. A selection of reports and worship services will be broadcast live on the diocesan Facebook, Vimeo, and website, at dwtx.org/council.
For the second time, online Pre-Council meetings will take place in late January and early February, via Zoom. These meetings will be required for clergy as well as lay delegates and alternates, in order to review and practice the online voting system and to present the usual business items including the proposed diocesan budgets, resolutions, and nominations for elected offices of the Diocese.
Certification and registration for delegates will be completed together for Council 2022. In order to certify lay delegates in accordance with the diocesan Constitution and Canons, the clergy or lay person in charge of each congregation must complete and sign the Council Lay Delegates Certification Form. Each congregation will receive an electronic communication from the diocesan office in December, indicating the number of Lay Delegates to certify and providing registration instructions for Clergy and Lay Delegates. The deadline to submit these forms in January 2022 will be announced.
The diocesan office will host several online Pre-Council meetings for clergy and lay delegates, via Zoom. These meetings will be required for clergy as well as lay delegates and alternates, in order to review and practice the online voting system as well as preview the usual business items including the proposed diocesan budgets, resolutions, and nominations for elected offices of the Diocese.
Each Pre-Council meeting will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Zoom log-in information will be communicated to churches, delegates, and clergy in January 2022. Click here to view a list of the churches in each convocation. See meeting dates below.
A general outline of the Council 2022 Agenda is below; additional details and gatherings may be added as they are finalized.
Council Day 1
10:00 a.m. - Registration opens.
1:00 p.m. - The Rt. Rev. David Reed calls Council to order; Business Session 1 begins.
5:00 p.m. - Council in recess; delegate changes for Day 2 may be submitted.
5:00 p.m. - Sip & Shop event; Friends of Bill W. gathering.
6:30 p.m. - Childcare closes.
Council Day 2
8:00 a.m. - Childcare opens (pre-registration required); Friends of Bill W. gathering.
8:45 a.m. - Bishop Reed reconvenes Council; Business Session 2 begins.
9:00 a.m. - The Bishop's Address to the 118th Council of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.
11:30 a.m. - The Necrology.
12:00 p.m. - Council in recess.
1:45 p.m. - Bishop Reed reconvenes Council; Business Session 3 begins.
5:00 p.m. - Council in recess; delegate changes for Day 3 may be submitted.
5:30 p.m. - Council Eucharist, with livestream available online.
7:30 p.m. - Childcare closes.
Council Day 3
8:00 a.m. - Childcare opens (pre-registration required); Friends of Bill W. gathering.
9:00 a.m. - Bishop Reed reconvenes Council; Business Session 4 begins.
12:45 p.m. - Bishop Reed adjourns Council 2022.
1:00 p.m. - Childcare closes.
Each year, Diocesan Council is the vehicle through which the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas conducts the business of the diocese under its Canons and Constitution. At the 118th Council we will elect diocesan leadership to the Executive Board, the Standing Committee, The Episcopal Church Corporation, the trustees of TMI Episcopal, and trustees of Sewanee: the University of the South. Every three years, Council will also elect deputies and alternates to attend General Convention and any Synod meeting of the Province of the Southwest (Province VII). These positions will not elected in 2022.
As Christian people we are accountable for the right use of the gifts and skills with which our Father has blessed us. We are called to elect leaders who will help the bishops in guiding the diocesan body, to budget the resources we have been given wisely, and to report back to the people.
Council will also receive and adopt diocesan budgets for the upcoming year, hear reports from ministries, and receive the written reports of all diocesan committees, commissions, and departments.
Questions about Diocesan Council may be directed to council2021@dwtx.org.
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