Diocesan Council

For the first time in my 25+ years of active diocesan participation, I am on Diocesan Council. Diocesan Council is like the Vestry of the diocese. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it, but decided it was time to broaden my understanding of the church by taking a turn as council member. Our Mission Area Council elected me, and I am currently at our organizing retreat. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised. After this weekend we will meet for a half day a month, sometimes on Thursday afternoons and sometimes on Saturdays. Here are some of the things we do:

Financial Oversight
Just like Vestries, the Diocesan Council has some fiduciary responsibilities. Today we will be looking at audit reports and discussing salaries and benefits. The dollar amounts in the diocese are much larger than that in our parish, but the general principles are the same.

Connection with Staff
I didn't realize that diocesan staff attend every Council meeting. This really helps connect the staff to a wider group of folks from the diocese. I will look forward to being able to regularly see all the diocesan staff face to face.

Connection between the Diocese and Mission Area
Some members of council are elected by our Mission Areas, others are elected by Diocesan Convention. Those of us elected by the Mission Area are tasked with being another point of connection between the parishes in our mission area and the diocese. At least quarterly, we are to check in with both the clergy AND the senior warden of each church in our mission area. We are to be conduits both of information from the diocese to the parish as well as from the parishes to the diocese. This is a part of my role of council member that I will especially enjoy.

It's time to get back to our meeting. We begin with prayer and I don't want to be late for that!