What it Means to be a Lay Representative to Convention

Lay delegates are appointed at their congregation’s annual meeting for three years of service to their church. The first year they are alternates to convention and for the following two years are convention delegates.

When you are appointed to represent your congregation your new role as a convention delegate carries with it many responsibilities. First and foremost is the need for you to become aware of current issues that are affecting our diocese during the coming year. As a delegate you will be voting on these issues and the outcome of the convention would be better served if all delegates are knowledgeable prior to placing their vote.

How do you gain this knowledge? The primary source of information is obtained by your attendance at convocation meetings. It is there that the agenda will be set to discuss programs, budget, vision, goals and purposes of your convocation and diocese. This also becomes a platform to propose ideas that may be of value; to hear rebuttal regarding existing issues; to vote on items concerning your convocation. Convocations meet four or five times a year, once your name is forwarded as a delegate representative you will receive information regarding their meetings and agenda.

It now becomes your responsibility to share information pertinent to your congregation at a church meeting or through your church newsletter. This is the way church members gain insight into the workings of our diocese and become aware of new developments that may have an effect on their church. It also becomes a method to receive feedback from members that can be shared at your next convocation meeting. In effect you become the means by which important aspects of our church business are shared in a two way dialogue.

So, when you volunteer to be the representative of your church at convention you will become an envoy between your church and the rest of the diocese. As a delegate you will have greater responsibility than just attending a two day convention in November; you will be expected to share four or five of your Saturdays with the convocation and you will be the lay person in your congregation that is most current concerning diocesan programs and activities.