General Convention

What values and priorities will guide the Episcopal Church in the days and years ahead?

Up to four elected lay deputies and up to four elected clerical deputies from each of the more than 100 dioceses in the U.S. and overseas, along with our bishops will meet in Louisville, Kentucky, in the summer of 2024 to shape the policies, practices, and budget of the Episcopal Church through voting on resolutions and through elections. Their work is done in the context of prayer and worship. Passionately held values meet Rules of Order.

Reporting from General Convention

Deputies, several Episcopalians from Colorado attending in various capacities, and the Communications Department from the Episcopal Church in Colorado will be sharing:

Why should I care about General Convention?

The basic reason is that we’re all in this together. We’re a hierarchical church that together makes a common witness to the world. Local is essential, and, it’s part of something bigger. Decisions will likely have an impact on local parish staff, priests and deacons, and bishops. It will have an impact on the way The Episcopal Church engages the world.

There are a lot of internal issues of the institutional church that General Convention addresses. That’s because this is the time and place, and these are the people, to do that. Who are we as Episcopalians? What do we care about? What should we be doing, and how, when, and with whom?

Who are our deputies & alternates?

At our annual convention in 2022, we elected members to the deputation. They will be joining Bishop Lucas in Louisville as voting members of General Convention.

Lay Deputies
Zoe Cole
Chuck Theobald
Erica Pomerenk
Lawrence Hitt II

Clergy Deputies
Brian Winter
Melissa Adzima
Tory Moir

Lay Alternates
Scott Michael Pomerenk

Clergy Alternates
Anne Richter
Debra Shew

How will our deputation be serving at this General Convention?

All bishops and some deputies are appointed to serve on the 26 legislative committees. These committees hold hearings on their respective resolutions, inviting testimonies to understand various perspectives, and fine tune the resolutions before the matter comes before the Houses for deliberation. Unassigned deputies volunteer to follow committees, so as the deputation caucuses throughout convention, the team can stay informed of the whole.

Four of our 8 Deputies are officers or members of General Convention legislative committees:

  • The Rev. Brian Winter; Member, Congregational & Diocesan Vitality
  • Ms. Erica Pomerenk; Member, Committees & Commissions
  • Ms. Zoe Cole; Vice-Chair, Christian Formation & Discipleship
  • Chancellor Larry Hitt; Vice-Chair, Constitution and Canons

In addition, in February 2022, Bishop Kym Lucas was elected President of Province VI (the Dioceses of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa) and Chancellor Lawrence Hitt II was elected to a 6-year term as the Lay Member of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church from Province VI.

How do resolutions move through General Convention?

When our bishops and deputies (elected lay persons, priests, and deacons) gather at General Convention, they pray, worship, and take counsel together through a legislative process. This process begins when resolutions are proposed by authorized committees, commissions, and task forces that meet between sessions of General Convention, and by Deputies, Bishops, Provinces, or Dioceses of the Episcopal Church.

Participate from Colorado

  • Follow along on Twitter with hashtags #GC81 and tag @EpiscopalCO
  • Follow The Episcopal Church in Colorado on Facebook for updates from our General Convention Deputation!
  • General Convention website with legislative info, worship material, schedules, and more.
  • Virtual Binder of all resolutions to date (both English and Spanish).
  • Blue Book – two volume PDF with reports from all of the official committees, commissions, and task forces that have been at work since the last General Convention in 2015, with all 173 proposed resolutions (“A” resolutions).

At General Convention

Events

Save the date for 2024 churchwide revival
Mark your calendar to join other Episcopalians at a churchwide revival Saturday, June 22, at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The GC81 Revival is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. the evening before the start of the 81st General Convention. The event is free and open to the public.

Updates

View GC81 draft schedule

Read updates from the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop

Interested in volunteering at GC81? Learn more and fill out an interest form.

Newsletters

Office of the General Convention: Read monthly newsletters
House of Deputies: Read monthly newsletters

Prayer for General Convention

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church gathered in Baltimore, MD, for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.