The 207th Convention of the Diocese of Maine
Cherishing the Wondrous Works of God
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine gathers together annually to conduct the business of our diocese and worship together. The clergy of the diocese along with elected lay delegates from each congregation in Maine are the voting body. In 2026, the 207th Diocesan Convention will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Abromson Community Education Center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Certificate of Delegates
Priests (or senior wardens or clerks in congregations without a priest): please use the certificate below to let us know the names and email addresses of those elected to serve as lay delegates to convention.
Delegates should be comfortable using technology. In addition to pre-convention meetings on Zoom, they will need to be able to cast a vote via smartphone or computer during convention. Read more about the responsibilities of lay delegates here. Find sections of our constitution and canons relevant to delegates here.
Not sure whether your congregation has already certified delegates? There are two ways to check:
- Look at the dropdown menu listing congregations on the form itself. If you’ve already submitted the form, your church won’t be listed.
- Check your email! A confirmation copy of the certificate is emailed immediately after the form is submitted.
The form will ask for the Average Sunday Attendance as provided on the church’s 2025 Parochial Report. Although that report asked churches to report online attendance, the ASA statistic continues to be defined as in-person attendance. Find your ASA number on the first column of this report.
Certificate of ASA and Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention
Please note that “certification” of delegates is not the same as “registration”. Certification is a canonical requirement of each congregation. Registration is an individual RSVP. and will open at a later date. It will include a registration fee and place for you to let us know if you have dietary restrictions or accessiblity needs.
If you have any questions, please email Wendy Kopera.
Prepare for Diocesan Convention by Attending One of Two Meetings
We’ll hold two pre-convention meetings on Zoom in October. Delegates and clergy should plan to attend one of these meetings. This will be an opportunity to discuss the budget and resolutions with the same information will be presented at each. Registration will be required for these online meetings.
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, 7-8:30 p.m.
The agenda will cover the following:
- 2027 Proposed Budget
- Proposed Resolutions
- Check-in and Voting Procedures
Submit a Resolution by Sept. 25
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine is now accepting proposed resolutions for the 2026 Diocesan Convention. Proposed resolutions may be submitted at any time by any parish or individual before the deadline of Sept. 25, 2026.
What is a diocesan resolution? It’s a proposed action or decision that is to be considered by a legislative body at diocesan convention. The legislative vote is taken only on the substance of the resolution, which follows the word “Resolved” in the working or body of the resolution. Reasons, intentions, and justifications for resolutions may be included in a statement of explanation that follows the resolution in a separate section. This information provides legislative history for future interpretation, but it is not included in the formal resolution.
This brief guide along with the online submission form below will help those submitting resolutions consider important questions and formulate the resolution into language suitable for debate.
Elections for Diocesan Leaders
Nominations are due by Sept. 25.
2027 Diocesan Budget
The 2027 Draft Assessment/Episcopate Worksheet for the Diocese of Maine is provided now to help your congregation with 2027 budget planning. The figures are not final—they remain subject to review and will not be official until approved at Convention. The full proposed budget for 2027 will be available following the Diocesan Council meeting on Sept. 26.
The Diocese of Maine calculates each congregation’s Central Diocesan Fund Assessment using Net Operating Income (NOI) as reported on the Supplemental Financial Report included in your parish’s Parochial Report. The first $10,000 of NOI is assessed at 5 percent and the balance is assessed at 15 percent. The Episcopate assessment is calculated separately at $1.75 per Communicant in Good Standing (CIGS). Learn more via the button below.
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
