LEADERSHIP NEWS 
                                                                              June 1, 2016
In This Issue
Diocesan Convention Is October 7-8 in Reading
The 145th Diocesan Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem will take place October 7-8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading. 

This year's convention will be hosted by the southern region of the diocese and will include a convention Holy Eucharist at Christ Church, Reading. The convention will be the culmination of the diocesan pilgrimage that began at the 144th Convention in 2015. Find the draft schedule on the website.

Online registration will open on August 1 and close on September 15. Learn more about registration and group rate room reservations at the DoubleTree, which are available now.

Call for Resolutions
Resolutions for the 145th Diocese of Bethlehem Convention are being accepted through August 2. Find the resolution format and submission instructions on the website.

Call for Nominations
The Diocesan Convention will consider a number of changes to the canons that could alter the governance structure and the offices to which persons will be elected.  We will have, therefore, two parallel nomination processes; one process to meet the current canonical requirements and one process in anticipation of the amended canons. This dual process means that we will follow our canons as they are now written and, at the same time, will allow us to be flexible and respond to the will of the convention.

The proposed canonical changes, which will be distributed later this summer and discussed in detail at the pre-convention hearings, will be voted on by the convention on Friday, October 7, and elections for diocesan bodies will be held on Saturday, October 8.

If the proposed changes to the canons are approved, the positions described in this document will be elected.

If the proposed changes to the canons are not approved, the positions described in this document will be elected.

Leaders are welcome to submit nominations for positions defined in the current canons and the positions anticipated in the proposed canonical changes.

Download the nominations form. (MS Word). Nominations for any position can be submitted using this form.

Certificates for Lay Delegates to the 145th Diocesan Convention
The 145th Diocesan Convention will take place October 7-8. The number of lay delegates each parish may elect is determined by the number of baptized members (as reported in 2015 Parochial Reports), as indicated in the chart below:

Baptized MembersLay DelegatesAlternate 
Delegates
<10011
100-30022
300-60033
500-70044

The certificate must be completed four months prior to the convention (June 7, 2016) and sent to the diocesan office through mail, fax or email.


Pre-Convention Hearings
Delegates to diocesan convention and other interested members of the diocese can attend one of three pre-convention hearings in September to review resolutions submitted to convention. Bishop Sean will be present at all of the pre-convention hearings to discuss proposed canonical and constitutional changes that will be posted for review later this summer.



Wear Orange on June 2
Thursday, June 2 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and Bishop Sean and the other members of Bishops United Against Gun Violence are asking Episcopalians to wear orange as a symbol of their commitment to work for an end to gun violence. The bishops ask everyone who does wear orange to post a photo of themselves on Facebook or Twitter using the the hashtags "#WearOrange and #Episcopal so that other Episcopalians and supporters of the Wear Orange movement can find it and share it.

Some Episcopal clergy are also planning to wear orange stoles during services on Sunday, and their initiative has caught the attention of Religion News Service.

Three members of Bishops United have written columns about why they will be wearing orange tomorrow.

Bishop Ian Douglas:  Why I'm wearing orange on June 2Christian Century

Bishop Alan Scarfe:  Wear orange to honor victims of gun violence, Des Moines Register 

Bishop Thomas Breidenthal:  Wear orange to stand against gun violenceCincinnati Enquirer
Clergy Day on June 7
The next clergy day will be Tuesday, June 7, 9:30 am-3 pm at Cathedral Church of the Nativity. Canon Scott Slater of the Diocese of Maryland will discuss "Boundaries, Responsibility, and Accountability: Pastoral and Practical Issues." Learn more and register online
High School Mission Trip
June 26 - July 2, 2016

This summer, Diocese of Bethlehem youth who have completed grades 6-12 will travel together to Grace House on the Mountain, a ministry of the Diocese of Southwest Virginia that serves people who live in the coalfields of Appalachia. Youth will meet new people, assist in repairing homes, gain valuable skills and help people in need. 
 
Learn more and register.

Pilgrimage Resources for Congregations
The Diocese of Bethlehem's pilgrimage began on January 6. In his video pilgrimage message, Bishop Sean says, "The Diocese of Bethlehem has been bold in conceiving its future ... This planning process is deeply rooted in both what is personal to us, and what is good for our entire diocese and our entire region."


Staying Connected to the Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage page on the website is updated regularly--you can find it under "Congregational Resources" on the menu--and our newsletters will feature pilgrimage information and news each month. 

Anyone can sign up to receive our monthly email newsletter and/or our monthly Leadership News, and back issues are available on the website. Please share these links with members of your congregation, encourage them to visit the website and sign up for the newsletter list, and share pilgrimage news and articles in your congregation's newsletter and bulletin.

The Bethlehem Episcopalians Facebook group will also be home to ongoing pilgrimage discussion. Find the group on Facebook and request membership to join the conversation.
Safeguarding God's Children 
All clergy, lay employees, and lay people who work with children are required to complete the Safeguarding God's Children training program offered by the Church Pension Group. Those who need to receive this training may register by following a link at the bottom of the Safe Church page on the diocesan website, where you can also find diocesan policies and a field guide to their application.
People of Bethlehem
Trinity, West Pittston took part in the community's Memorial Day parade. 

Resources and Reminders
The Diocese of Bethlehem newSpin Blog
newSpin is Bill Lewellis' eclectic sampling of religion news from around the Episcopal Church and beyond. Read the May 12 issue.
Prayers of the People and Jubilate Online
The Rev. Canon Cliff Carr, priest associate at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, writes Prayers of the People for each week and prepares a list of hymn selections by season. Find those resources on the new Trinity Bethlehem website.
eFormation Conference Webinar
The 2016 e-Formation Conference will take place June 6-8 at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. Registration for in-person attendance is now closed, but plenty of space is still available via webinar access. Read more.
Upcoming Diocesan Events
Ordination of Dale Grandfield to the Transitional Diaconate
Saturday, June 4, 11 am, Trinity Church, Easton

Tuesday, June 7, 9:30 am-3 pm, Cathedral Church of the Nativity
"Boundaries, Responsibility, and Accountability: Pastoral and Practical Issues" with Canon Scott Slater from the Diocese of Maryland.

Stay Connected