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"Go Baptize and Make Disciples" (Matthew 28:19)

119th Council of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas: February 16 - 18, 2023

Council Video Showcase

Click here or use the video player above to view video recordings of the 2023 Bishop's Address by the Rt. Rev. David M. Reed; the Rev. Dr. David G. Read, bishop coadjutor elect, speaking to Council following the election; and the full recordings of each Council Business sessions.

Reports by Title

Click here to open an online folder of reports by title and presenter scripts submitted to Dispatch of Business prior to Council.

Event Details

Dates & Deadlines | Registration | Pre-Council Meetings | Agenda | Business | Reports

Council 2023 will convene in-person February 16 - 18, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX. 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. On February 18, the clergy and Council delegates will participate in the Bishop Coadjutor Election.

A selection of reports and worship services will be broadcast live on the diocesan Facebook, Vimeo, and website, at dwtx.org/council.

Council 2023 Booklet

No printed copies of the Booklet will be provided at Council. Click here to save the 2023 Council Booklet to print and bring to Corpus Christi (70 pages).

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • November 4, 2022: Nomination forms for communicants willing to serve in elected offices of the Diocese due. (Click here to complete the Council 2023 Nomination Form online.)
  • December 31, 2022: Resolutions for consideration are due to Canon Caroline Mowen.
  • January 15, 2023: Online Certification forms due. Exhibitor registration closes, and hotel reservations close.
  • January 2023: Pre-Council Convocational Meetings hosted online on the 18th, 19th, 23rd, and 24th.
  • February 1, 2023: Parochial Report due to The Episcopal Church; End of Year Diocesan Supplemental Reports due. Guest and childcare registration closes.
  • February 16 - 18, 2023: 119th Diocesan Council of the Diocese of West Texas.

Registration

Delegate and Clergy Certification and Registration: Certification and registration for lay delegates, alternates, clergy, and clergy spouses must be completed by January 15, using the online forms sent to church offices in November.

Church offices will be invoiced by the office for their group of clergy, clergy spouse(s), alternates, and delegates after certification is submitted. Contact council@dwtx.org or (210) 824-5387 with questions regarding certification or registration.

While some clergy who are not canonically resident may have a seat and voice at Council 2023, only canonically resident clergy will be able to vote in the Bishop Election. Certification for clergy, clergy spouses, lay delegates, and alternates is due by Sunday, January 15.

Guest Registration: Two guest registration options are available. Guest registration for all or most of Council ($130) includes a Sip'n'Shop reception with hors d'oeuvres, hospitality snack offerings, and the Bishop's luncheon with guest speaker. Guests may also choose to attend Saturday only ($25) for the Bishop Coadjutor election. Guest registration closed February 1.

Childcare Registration: Onsite childcare is available for infants through ten years old children of lay delegates, alternates, clergy, and Council volunteers during Council Business sessions and activities. Each day will include activities and snacks/meals. Pre-registration for each day is required, so the hosts can plan appropriately. Childcare registration closed February 1.

Exhibitor RegistrationExhibitor Registration is open online, with several booth options available. Thursday evening, a Sip 'n Shop social event will highlight the many vendors in the Exhibit Hall with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, cash bar, and featuring the Gold Sponsor Exhibitors. Exhibitor registration closed January 15.

Parochial & Year-End Reports

The Parochial Reports and Diocesan Year-End Reports will be made available in December and due by February 1, 2023. It is very important that all churches complete all five reports listed below, regardless of whether they have new information to submit.  

  • The Episcopal Church Parochial Report
  • Necrology from 2022
  • Audit Documentation for Workers Compensation from Church and School
  • Confirmation and Changes to Leadership and Staff
  • 2022 Financial Audit (due May 1)

More information and instructions for each report is available on the Reporting to the Diocese page.

Hotels

The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas will reserve a two-night block of rooms (Thursday and Friday nights, Feb. 16 and 17) in the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel for clergy, delegates, and alternates attending Council 2023. Guest room reservations must be completed by Sunday, January 15, 2023 by calling the Omni Reservations Team, at 1-800-843-6664, or by using the Omni's Council 2023 reservation website.

Click here to visit the reservation website. Please adjust the reservation start and end dates to reflect your travel preferences before making your reservation. Council 2023 will begin Thursday, February 16 and conclude Saturday, February 18. The default website reservation dates extend beyond the two nights necessary for Council 2023. Also, be advised that a one-night deposit per room will be required at the time of making the reservation.

Questions regarding Council hotel reservations may be directed to council@dwtx.org.

Pre-Council Meetings

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 2023. Lay delegates, alternates, or clergy who cannot attend their assigned meeting may contact council@dwtx.org to receive the Zoom Meeting link for a different date and be added to the voting practice group for that night.

Click here to save a list of the churches in each convocation.

A recording of the final Pre-Council Meeting on January 24 is available online now. Click here to view the meeting.

Council Agenda

Live Spanish translation will be available for clergy and lay delegates.

Day One: Thursday, February 16

10:00 a.m. Council Check-in/Registration opens
Lay Delegates & Alternates: Check-in/register at your delegation's table in Exhibit Hall B.
Clergy: Check-in/register with the Diocesan Secretary in the Atrium, outside the Exhibit Halls.
Guests: Check-in with Council Hosts in the Atrium, outside the Exhibit Halls.

12:30p.m. Childcare opens, Watergarden A&B, Second Level
1:00 p.m.  Call to Order, Council Business starts, Exhibit Hall B
5:00 p.m.  Council in recess
5:00 p.m.  Sip’n’Shop Event, Exhibit Hall A
6:30 p.m.  Childcare closes Watergarden A&B, Second Level

Day Two: Friday, February 17

8:00 a.m.  Friends of Bill Meeting, Rm. 104
8:30 a.m.  Childcare opens, Watergarden A&B, Second Level
8:45 a.m.   Council reconvenes Exhibit Hall B
Morning Prayer led by the Ven. Mike Besson; The Bishop’s Address 2023; Morning Business continues
11:10 a.m. Necrology and Noonday Prayers,Exhibit Hall B, Ground Level
11:45 a.m. Council in recess
12:00 p.m. Bishop’s Luncheon, Corpus Christi Room of The Omni Hotel, Third Floor; Clergy Spouses Luncheon, Nueces Room of The Omni Hotel, Third Floor

1:45 p.m. Council reconvenes, Exhibit Hall B; Ministry Reports and Council Business continue
5:00 p.m. Council in recess
Vesting Rooms open on the Second Level: Henry Garrett Ballroom C for Priests and D for Bishops.
5:30 p.m.   Council Eucharist, Henry Garret Ballroom A&B, Second Level
7:30 p.m.    Small Church, Big Mission Dinner
7:30p.m.    Childcare closes Watergarden A&B, Second Level

Day Three: Saturday, February 18

8:00 a.m.  Friends of Bill Meeting, Rm. 104
8:30 a.m. Childcare opens Watergarden A&B, Second Level
9:00 a.m. Council reconvenes Exhibit Hall B; Morning Prayer led by the Rt. Rev. Rayford High with a homily from the Rt. Rev. David Reed
9:30 a.m  The Election of a Bishop Coadjutor begins, Exhibit Hall B

All other members of the Diocese are invited to view Council in its entirety through the live broadcast streamed on the diocesan Facebook, Vimeo, and at dwtx.org/council.

Council in Action

Council in Action is an opportunity for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas and Council participants to serve the community where Council takes place. In 2023, Council In Action will collect supplies for Agape Ranch through CarePortal, “providing care and guidance for foster children and families in South Texas.”

As part of Council in Action, congregations are invited to bring the following items with them to Council 2023 in support of Agape Ranch:

  • Twin bedding sets including sheets and comforters
  • Johnson’s Bath Discovery Baby Gift sets
  • Hygiene kits for older children and teens (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, shower gel, combs and hairbrushes in a container)
  • Waterproof twin mattress protectors
  • Pack and plays
  • Monetary donations by check or online to help fund the next bed build and other needs for foster care.

A booth will be set up in Exhibit Hall A to receive in-kind donations. Agape Ranch is the managing administrative partner for CarePortal. Please visit agaperanch.org to learn more.

Click here to download the Council in Action Flyer.

Business

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 119th Council we will elect diocesan leadership to the Executive Board, the Standing Committee, he Episcopal Church Corporation, the TMI Episcopal Board of Governors, and trustees of Sewanee: the University of the South. This year, Council will also elect deputies and alternates to attend General Convention and any Synod meeting of the Province of the Southwest (Province VII).

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.

Documents

The 2023 Council Booklet is available online now. Click here to view.
No printed copies of the Council Booklet will be provided at Council. Use the links below to save a printable version to your browser's Downloads folder and print from home or your church's office.

  • Click here to save the 2023 Council Booklet to print and bring to Corpus Christi (70 pages).
  • Click here to save the Proposed Budgets section of the 2023 Council Booklet (18 pages).
  • Click here to save the Report of the Nominating Committee from the 2023 Council Booklet (34 pages).

The 2023 Council Booklet will include Council event information, the Proposed Diocesan Budgets, Report of the Nominations Committee, 2023 Resolutions, and other event details.

Reports by Title

Click here to view a folder of the Reports by Title submitted to Dispatch of Business.

Elected Offices to be Filled
  • Offices to be filled by election at Diocesan Council include: Secretary, Treasurer, Chancellor, and more as Officers of the Diocese; Members of the Standing Committee; Members of the Executive Board; Trustees of the Episcopal Church Corporation of West Texas; Trustees of Sewanee: the University of the South; and Members of TMI Episcopal Board of Governors. Council will also elect deputies and alternates to attend General Convention and any Synod meeting of the Province of the Southwest (Province VII).
  • Nominations of communicants willing to serve in elected offices to be filled at Diocesan Council are due on Tuesday, November 4, 2022.
Resolutions
  • The full resolution text and explanations are included in the Council Booklet.
  • All resolutions to be presented at council are to be submitted before Dec. 31 to Canon Caroline Mowen at caroline.mowen@dwtx.org. Submissions are reviewed by the Committee on Constitution and Canons.
Voting
  • All voting for diocesan council will be accomplished through an online voting application, called Simply Voting. Pre-Council meetings will provide an opportunity for delegates and alternates to Council to practice online voting using Simply Voting.
  • In order to vote during Council, clergy and lay delegates will need an email address and an individual mobile device (e.g. a smart phone, iPad, Tablet, or laptop) to open their email and submit votes from their delegation's table on the Council floor. All ballots for voting will be sent to the email address provided during registration.
  • Alternates and delegates may not rotate while Council is in session. Instructions for exchanging an alternate for a delegate will be shared during each Pre-Council Meeting.

Contact

Questions about Diocesan Council may be directed to council@dwtx.org.

Communications and Reports

Council Events

Contact

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