Diocesan Convention, November 7-8, 2008

Our annual diocesan family gathering, the Diocesan Convention, was held Nov. 7-8 at St. Thomas, Coral Gables.

Guests included bishops from two of our companion dioceses—The Rt. Rev. Julio Holguin of the Dominican Republic and the Rt. Rev. Laish Boyd, bishop coadjutor of Nassau of the Bahamas. Another bishop from a neighboring Anglican diocese, The Rt. Rev. Robert Thompson, bishop of Kingston, Jamaica, was the preacher at the Convention Eucharist, which featured music by St. Thomas Parish Choir and the Chapel Choir of St. Thomas Episcopal School.

As part of the emphasis by the host deanery, South Dade, on the ministries of Episcopal Schools, the convention banquet was held at Palmer Trinity School, one of two Episcopal secondary schools in the diocese.

The convention approved a 2009 budget of $3,117, 454, with an increase of less than one percent over the revised 2008 budget in the total amount congregations will be assessed. As part of the budget presentation the diocesan budget committee included guidelines that will govern any adjustments to the approved budget in the coming months, “should adjustments be required, due to the current volatile financial environment.”

The convention passed five resolutions, including: That congregations and parishioners “reduce their carbon footprints by reducing their consumption of energy and other resources” and “act as role models to the wider community” for reduced energy consumption; that the convention approve the submission to General Convention in 2009 of a resolutions supporting the Clergy Letter Project “and its reconciliatory programs between religion and science;” and that Deanery Youth Coordinators be granted seat and voice in Diocesan Convention.

Resolutions, election results, the approved budget, the report of the Youth Commission, the full text of Bishop Robert Thompson’s sermon at the Eucharist, a photo gallery--and even a few video clips—are posted at http://www.diosef.org/news-events/diocesan-convention.shtml.

Photos from the Clergy Spouses’ Breakfast are posted at http://www.diosef.org/tmp/catalog.php?offset=0&tq=Clergy_Spouses_at_Conv_08.

The complete text of Bishop Leo Frade’s address to convention is on his blog page at http://blog.diosef.org/.

A podcast of the entire Convention Eucharist is at http://stthomasep.org/content/blogcategory/25/97/.