The 205th Convention of the Diocese of Maine
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Inn by the Bay & Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland
Gather at the Holiday Inn by the Bay for check-in, coffee, and snacks. We’ll move to a conference room where we will elect new leaders, vote on resolutions, consider the 2025 budget, and reflect back on the year. We will head (a short walk or shuttle) to the Cathedral of St. Luke for Convention Eucharist mid-day. Lunch will be served when we return to the Holiday Inn. After lunch, we’ll resume business.
Registration for convention (required for anyone attending) will be released in September. Watch your email and/or check this page.
Please note the important deadlines and dates below:
October 1
Certificate of Lay Delegates Due
October 7
Nominations & Resolutions Due
October 14
Reports to Convention Due
October 21
Preconvention Journal Released
November 1
Registration Due
November 7 & November 12
Preconvention Meeting on Zoom, 5:30-7 p.m.
Preconvention Meeting on Zoom, 7-8:30 p.m.
Lay Delegates
Has your congregation elected lay delegates to convention?
The priest-in-charge, rector, or vicar should complete a Certificate of Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) and Lay Delegates for 2024. If your church doesn’t have a priest, then a warden or clerk of the vestry or bishop’s committee should certify the lay delegation.
CERTIFICATE OF ASA & LAY DELEGATES TO CONVENTION
The ASA should be the same as you reported (or plan to report) on your Parochial Report for the year 2023. Here’s a report showing all reported ASAs. Delegates per church are allotted based on these ASA ranges:
0-50 (two delegates)
51-100 (three delegates)
101-150 (four delegates)
>151 or more (five delegates)
Resolutions
It is not too early to submit your resolution to convention!
Read through the instructions here.
Then use this form to send it to the resolutions committee who will begin to make sure it is in good order before being presented to the entire body.
Diocesan Elections in 2024
Nominations are now being accepted! Please use this form to nominate yourself or another person to run for one of the following offices.
Secretary of the Diocese
Need to elect one; one-year term
Theodore G. Fletcher (current; eligible for re-election)
Treasurer of the Diocese
Need to elect one; one-year term
Julian Sheffield (current; eligible for re-election)
Standing Committee
Clergy Need to elect one; three-year term
The Rev. Kerry Mansir (current; eligible for re-election)
Lay Need to elect one; three-year term
Mark Spahr (current; eligible for re-election)
Disciplinary Board Representatives
Clergy Need to elect one; three-year term
The Rev. Shirley Bowen (current; eligible for re-election)
Clergy Need to elect one to fill two years of three-year term
The Rev. Nathan Ferrell (no longer eligible; moving to another diocese)
Provincial Conference Deputies
Clergy Need to elect one; two-year term
Vacant (current The Rev. Lisa Fry ex officio General Convention Deputy)
Lay Need to elect one; two-year term
Vacant (current John Hennessy ex officio General Convention Deputy)
General Convention Deputies
Clergy Need to elect four to serve GC82 (2027)
Lay Need to elect four to serve GC82 (2027)
General Convention Alternate Deputies
Clergy Need to elect four to serve GC82 (2027)
Lay Need to elect four to serve GC82 (2027)
Trustees of Diocesan Funds
Trustees are elected by Diocesan Convention to four-year terms. Beginning with the 2023 election, Trustees are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. None of the Trustees’ terms will be up in 2024. Your chance to run will happen again in 2025!
Diocesan Council
None of the Diocesan Council Representatives’ three-year terms (limited to two consecutive terms) will be ending in 2024. There are clergy and lay reps from each Area. In 2025, we will elect lay reps.
A Prayer for Convention
Please pray for the entire convention, your bishop and staff, for all delegates and the decisions they have made, and those who have offered themselves for leadership roles. We thank all for their service and faithfulness.
Prayer for a Church Convention
Article
Special Commission to Study Diocesan Investments (SCSDI)
Article
Treasurer’s Responsibilities
Article
Responsibilities of the Secretary of the Diocese
Document
2024 Guidelines for Writing a Resolution
Document
Deacons Day adopted by the 203rd Convention
Article
Mission Priority Requests
Document
Special Laws of Maine