Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
I invite you to attend the 232nd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut on Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, 2016. Please note the days scheduled for this year's Convention. They represent a new approach to our annual convention, allowing us to gather together as a people in common worship on Sunday morning. In order to accommodate this change in schedule and to make space for any who wish to attend, this year's Convention will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT.
Below are some important details to help you and your parish prepare for Convention in the November. Please share this information with your elected lay delegates.
|
All clergy, delegates, and alternates are encouraged to sign up for the Convention eNewsletters as regular updates, new information, links to material, reminders, resources, and reports will be sent electronically--information on how to sign up for the Convention eNewsletters as well as all other Convention materials is on the 2016 Convention webpage.
|
Our time together on Saturday will consist primarily of legislative business as we hear reports and take action on resolutions put before us for our common work. The business will wrap up in time for a reception for all attendees, followed by an optional banquet dinner for an additional fee. (More information below)
All Convention delegates and guests are required to register online using Eventbrite. Parish offices can register a group and make a single payment or individuals may register and pay on their own.
- $65 Early Registration - ends June 15
- $85 Regular Registration - ends November 15
- $100 Walk-in Registration - during Convention
When you register, you will be presented with a choice for lunch on Saturday (included in the cost of registration). Your choices will be: a) Pork Prime Rib b) North Atlantic Salmon c) Food Allergy Option*. All meal choices are gluten free.
|
Sunday - Celebration of the Spirit
Convention continues on Sunday with a Celebration of the Spirit, starting with a gathered service at 10:30 a.m. Come worship with your sisters and brothers across Connecticut at the Connecticut Convention Center, and hear the Good News as proclaimed the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Our venue this year allows us the unique opportunity to hold a worship service where all are welcome to attend and take part in our sacramental life.
Following worship, there will be a social coffee hour and then an opportunity to help you expand your faith and follow Jesus into the neighborhood. We are inviting Ministry Networks to offer workshops on site, or lead activities off site, on Sunday afternoon after the social coffee hour.
Registration for Sunday is free and included in your registration for Convention. In addition, a separate, Sunday-only registration for the Celebration of the Spirit is also available for members of your parish or worshiping community who wish to attend. Sunday-only attendance is also free, and due to limitations on space, we are asking that all attendees register in advance. To accommodate your participation in the activities of Sunday afternoon, a variety of lunch options will be available for purchase from onsite concession vendors.
We encourage each parish to send at least 12 members to our gathered worship on Sunday. In addition, information is available for clergy who wish to organize lay-led Morning Prayer at their parish for those not attending.
 |
You may register to participate in a banquet dinner on Friday evening for $45. You will also have the opportunity to choose your dinner option (Gluten Free Options are marked GF):
- Chicken Scarborough (GF)
- Nantucket Cod
- Special Dietary Restriction Option* (GF)
*For food allergies, and those who are vegetarian/vegan
|
We have negotiated a discounted room rate of $119/night with the Hartford Marriott, conveniently located adjacent to the Convention Center for this year's Annual Convention. We encourage you to reserve the room before October 20, 2016 to ensure a space. To receive this discounted rate, you may:
|
We request that all parishes report their delegates and alternates to Convention using our online form, linked below. Please forward the link to your Parish Clerk and have them fill it out as soon as possible. All parishes must submit this form annually, even if delegates were elected at a previous annual meeting and are still serving as delegates.
Each Parish and Worshiping Community is entitled to two (2) lay delegates and the same number of alternates. If none of your delegates or alternates can attend the Diocesan Convention, the vestry may appoint new delegates and notify the Secretary of Convention of the change.
|
Youth Delegates
We are inviting parishes to identify youth, aged 13-17, to send to Convention, where they will be able to observe and participate in the activities of Convention (they will have voice, but no vote). The cost for a youth delegate is $30 and registration will close by November 15, 2016. More information about this new opportunity will follow.
|
The 232nd Convention will hold multiple elections for positions on the Standing Committee, Provincial Synod, and for General Convention-details about each election are on the 2016 Annual Convention page. All individuals wishing to run for one of these elected seats must complete an electronic nominee biographical form, which is found online. As per the Canons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, the Secretary of Convention must receive all nominations for elected positions no fewer than six weeks before Convention. This year's deadline for nominations is Friday, October 7, 2016.
Learn more about this year's elections and to access the electronic nomination form.
Please note that per Resolution 4 of the 231st Annual Convention, endorsement signatures are no longer required for nomination to an elected position.
|
Members of the Diocese are invited to submit resolutions for consideration at the 232nd Annual Convention. These must follow the format and guidelines posted on the convention page of the website. The Secretary of Convention must receive all resolutions no later than Friday, October 7, 2016.
|
Ministry Network Expo & Workshops
We are excited to be offering a Ministry Expo following worship on Sunday. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the great variety of ministry networks at work in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. In addition, we are hosting a small number of engaging and participatory workshops/learning experiences with a few of our ministry networks.
If you are interested in learning more or reserving a spot at the Expo for your ministry network, please visit the page below and be in contact with us soon!
Ministry Network Expo & Workshops
|
If you anticipate needing childcare at this year's Annual Convention, please indicate it on your registration form. We will follow up with you about arrangements for childcare.
|
|
|
|
|
