ARTICLE V
The Diocesan Convention
Sec. 1. Creation of Convention. There shall be a Diocesan Convention in which shall be vested the legislative powers of the Diocese.
Sec. 2. Annual Meetings. The Convention shall meet annually, at such time and place as may be designated by the preceding Annual Convention or the Bishop. The Bishop, in consultation with the Diocesan Council, shall have the power to fix or to alter the time and place of the meeting.
Sec. 3. Special Meetings. The Bishop, with the consent of the Standing Committee, may call a special meeting of the Convention at whatever time and place he may deem necessary. Written notice of such a special meeting shall be given to the Clerical members of the Convention and all Congregations entitled to representation therein at least thirty days prior to such meeting.
Sec. 4. Composition of Convention. The membership of the Convention shall consist of such Clergy and such communicant Lay members of the Diocese as may be designated by the Canons.
Sec. 5. Powers of Convention. The Convention shall have the following powers, to be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Constitution and the Canons:
(a). To elect the Bishop of the Diocese; to elect a Bishop Coadjutor; and to elect one or more Suffragan Bishops.
(b). To elect all such officers, boards, committees and delegations of the Diocese as may be provided for in the Canons and in the manner prescribed therein.
(c). To confirm appointments made by the Bishop when so provided by the Canons.
(d). To consider the budgets for each fiscal year presented by the Diocesan Council and to amend and approve them. Except as provided by Canon, no Diocesan budget shall be effective until it has been approved by the Convention.
(e). If they be authorized by Canon, to determine assessments, quotas, apportionments and askings for the Congregations of the Diocese and to adopt policies with respect to financing its activities.
(f). To amend this Constitution and to adopt and amend Canons.
(g). To admit newly organized Missions and Parishes into union with the Church and to determine the status of every Congregation in union with the Church.
(h). To create, to cause to be incorporated and to dissolve such institutions or bodies as it shall see fit.
(i). To pass resolutions, to make declarations of policy, to enact such other legislation as may seem proper, and to act upon all other matters properly to come before the Convention.
Sec. 6. Deliberations as One Body. The Convention shall deliberate as one body, and vote as such, except in the election of a Bishop and when a vote by Order is otherwise required by this Constitution or the Canons of this Diocese, or when a vote by Order is called for in the manner specified in the Canons.
Sec. 7. Bishop to Preside. The Bishop shall be the presiding Officer of the Convention. In the absence of the Bishop the Presiding Officer, in the order named, shall be the Bishop Coadjutor, if any, or the senior Suffragan Bishop in attendance. In the absence of a Bishop, the President of the Standing Committee or a member thereof shall call the Convention to order for the purpose of electing a Presiding Officer in the manner prescribed by Canon.
Sec. 8. Officers of the Convention. Other officers of the Convention shall be prescribed by Canon.
Sec. 9. Quorum of the Convention. One-half of the Clergy entitled to vote, and Lay representatives from at least one-fourth of the Parishes and Missions entitled to representation in the Convention, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Amended as of 11/85
