Council 2022 will now convene virtually Friday and Saturday, February 25 - 26. Clergy, as well as lay delegates will assemble online 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 Council business items including the proposed diocesan budgets, resolutions, and nominations for elected offices of the Diocese.
Delegate certification and registration will be completed at the same time by each congregation for Council 2022, using the link sent to clergy and church offices via email in January. For assistance, contact council@dwtx.org.
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 the Council Lay Delegate Certification Form, provided as an online form this year. Each congregation will receive an electronic communication from the diocesan secretary in December, indicating the number of Lay Delegates to certify and providing registration instructions for Clergy, Clergy Spouses, and Lay Delegates.
Certification will be due no later than Friday, January 25, so that clergy, delegates, and alternates may receive the necessary instructions and log-in information for their convocation's online Pre-Council Meeting. Registration for lay delegates and alternates, clergy, and clergy spouse will be completed by the church using the Certification Forms sent to clergy and church offices via email.
The Parochial Reports and Diocesan Year-End Reports are available now and due by February 1, 2022. It is very important that all churches complete all five reports listed below, regardless of whether they have new information to submit.
More information and instructions for each report is available on the Reporting to the Diocese page.
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas had reserved a two-night block of rooms (Thursday and Friday nights, Feb. 24-25, 2022) in two San Marcos hotels for clergy, delegates, and alternates attending Council 2022. All Hotel Reservations made to the Diocesan Room Block have been cancelled. If an individual or church's reservation was not within the Diocesan Room Block, you must call to cancel your reservation.
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. Click here to view a recording of the final Pre-Council Meeting, held February 2, 2022.
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 save a list of the churches in each convocation.
Live Spanish translation is available for clergy and lay delegates, using a dedicated Zoom link.
9:00 a.m. Certified clergy and lay delegates may begin joining the Council 2022 Day One Zoom.
10:00 a.m. Bishop David Reed calls Council 2022 to order; Opening Prayers and Announcements; Friday Morning Business and Ministry Reports.
12:15 p.m. Noonday Prayers and Necrology.
12:35 p.m. Council in recess for lunch.
1:30 p.m. Council reconvenes, still using the Council 2022 Day One Zoom; Friday Afternoon Business and Ministry Reports.
4:15 p.m. Council in recess until Saturday morning.
4:15 p.m. Council Evensong begins, with a homily from the Rt. Rev. Rayford High and hosted by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio
8:30 a.m. Certified clergy and lay delegates may begin joining the Council 2022 Day Two Zoom.
9:00 a.m. Council reconvenes; Bishop Rayford High leads Morning Prayer.
9:20 a.m. Announcements and a Ballot.
9:25 a.m. The Bishop's Address, by Bishop David Reed; followed by a short break.
10:45 a.m. Saturday Morning Business and Ministry Reports
12:00 p.m. Council adjourns.
*Certified clergy and lay delegates will participate in closed, secure sessions hosted on Zoom and receive a unique Simply Voting ID via email. If a delegate cannot be present, they may be replaced by an alternate only during the following times:
Lay alternates and all other members of the Diocese are invited to view Council in its entirety and engage online through the live broadcast streamed on the diocesan Facebook, Vimeo, and at dwtx.org/council.
Thank you for your commitment to help fight food insecurities in our Diocese and broader community.
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.
The 2022 Council Booklet includes important dates and deadlines, the Proposed Diocesan Budgets, Report of the Nominations Committee, 2022 Resolutions, and other event details.
Questions about Diocesan Council may be directed to council@dwtx.org.
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