Diocesan Council

What is Diocesan Council?

Diocesan Council is a decision-making body of the Diocese of Maine that is comprised of two elected members (one clergy; one lay person) from each of the diocesan Areas. The Bishop, who presides, is a voting member. The Bishop may also appoint at-large members to help make it a more representative body. The Chair of the Diocesan Council Finance Committee is also a full member. See Canon 15.

In September 11, 2021, Diocesan Council voted to adopt the new proposed area structure by the Task Force formed and charged to “examine the current Area structure and make recommendations to Diocesan Council for updates and adaptations to the current configuration”. Click here to view a map and list of areas or see the list below.

Since the most representative expression of the Diocese of Maine meets only once a year at Diocesan Convention to make decisions about elected offices, the annual budget and resolutions, Diocesan Council serves as “the convention between conventions.”

It generally meets four to five times per year; 1-2 of the meetings are held in-person.

Diocesan Council has fiduciary responsibility and makes mid-year budget adjustments through recommendations of its Finance Committee and evaluates proposals for new ministry initiatives. Each September, they consider and approve a draft budget for the upcoming year for Convention to vote on in October. The Council may also form task forces and study groups to do the work of the Diocese, and they liaison with other groups, ministries, and committees in the Diocese.

Members are elected to serve a term of three (3) years. We’ll be electing Clergy Area Representatives in 2026.

Areas of the Diocese

Acadie

St. Saviour’s, Bar Harbor
St. Francis, Blue Hill
St. Patrick’s, Brewer
St. Anne’s, Calais
Trinity Church, Castine
St. Brendan’s, Deer Isle
Christ Church, Eastport
St. Dunstan’s, Ellsworth
Church of Our Father, Hull’s Cove
St. Aidan’s, Machias
St. Mary/St. Jude, Northeast Harbor
St. Andrew & St. John, Southwest Harbor

Aurora Borealis

St. John the Baptist, Brownville
St. Augustine’s, Dover-Foxcroft
St. Paul’s, Fort Fairfield
Good Shepherd, Houlton
St. Andrew’s, Millinocket
St. James, Old Town
St. Martin’s, Palmyra
St. John’s, Presque Isle
Good Shepherd, Rangeley
St. Barnabas’, Rumford
All Saints’, Skowhegan
St. Luke’s, Wilton
St. Thomas’, Winn

The Heart of Maine

St. Michael’s, Auburn
Emmanuel, Augusta
St. John’s, Bangor
St. Peter’s, Bridgton
Christ Church, Gardiner
St. Giles’, Jefferson
Trinity, Lewiston
St. Matthew’s, Lisbon Falls
Christ Church, Norway
St. Mark’s, Waterville
St. Andrew’s, Winthrop

Midcoast

Grace Church, Bath
St. Margaret’s, Belfast
St. Columba’s, Boothbay
St. Paul’s, Brunswick
St. Thomas’, Camden
St. Andrew’s, Newcastle
St. Peter’s, Rockland
St. John the Baptist, Thomaston
St. Phillip’s, Wiscasset

Presumpscot

Saint Mary’s, Falmouth
Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland
St. Peter’s, Portland
Trinity Church, Portland
St. Ann’s, Windham
St. Bartholomew’s, Yarmouth

The Southern Gateway

St. Alban’s, Cape Elizabeth
St. David’s, Kennebunk
Trinity, Saco
St. George’s, Sanford
St. Nicholas, Scarborough
St George’s, York Harbor

2025 Meeting Schedule

Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. on Zoom

2026 Meeting Schedule

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Martin’s, Palmyra
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m. on Zoom
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Zoom
Thursday, December 9, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m. on Zoom