The 112th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (2022)

Bishop Provisional

The convention voted to place the Diocese of Olympia under the provisional charge of the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, effective January 1, 2023, or as soon as practical thereafter, until such time as a new Bishop Diocesan is elected and ordained, or until this act is revoked by the convention.

Updates to the Constitution & Canons

Proposals from the Committee on Constitution & Canons were adopted as submitted. These changes will be updated in the Constitution & Canons of the Diocese of Olympia, and a new version will be published in early 2023.

2023 Diocesan Operating Budget

The 2023 diocesan operating budget, adopted by the Diocesan Council, was ratified as presented.

Elections

During the review process, a typographical error was found on General Convention clergy ballot #1. Rather than one clergy being elected on the first ballot, two were elected, with Rachel Taber-Hamilton being elected in the first position (C1) and Malcolm McLaurin in the second position (C2).

• Rachel Taber-Hamilton, Trinity, Everett, received 57 clergy votes (originally reported as 48) and 154 lay votes for a total of 211 votes.
• Malcolm McLaurin, Holy Cross, Redmond, received 68 clergy votes and 113 lay votes for a total of 181 votes.

Our deputation chair will be Judith Andrews, who, on the first lay ballot, received 83 clergy votes and 138 lay votes for a total of 221 votes. This is based on our constitution, Article XII, section 3(e)), which states: On the first ballot from which a Deputy is elected, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in both orders combined shall serve as chair of the diocesan deputation.

Our full deputation to the 2024 General Convention is as follows:

General Convention clergy:

Deputies

C1           Rachel Taber-Hamilton, Trinity, Everett

C2           Malcolm McLaurin, Holy Cross, Redmond

C3           Sabeth Fitzgibbons, Trinity, Seattle

C4           Britt Olson, St. Luke’s, Seattle

Alternates

C5           Jedediah Fox, Redeemer, Kenmore

C6           Elise Johnstone, St. John the Baptist, Seattle

C7           Nic Mather, St. Stephen’s, Longview

C8           Ruth Anne Garcia, St. James, Kent

General Convention lay:

Deputies

L1            Judith Andrews, Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle (Chair)

L2            Sharalyne King, St. Stephen’s, Longview

L3            Tiernan Sweeny-Bender, Epiphany, Seattle

L4            Michael Seewer, Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle

Alternates

L5            April Thomson, Christ Church, Blaine

L6            Karen Sjostrom, St. John’s, Kirkland

L7            Lillian Springer, St. Matthew’s/San Mateo, Auburn

L8            Alisa Johnson, Good Shepherd, Federal Way

Additional Elections

Secretary of Convention: The Rev. Dr. Marda Steedman Sanborn

Commission on Ministry clergy-deacon order: Emily Austin, Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle

Diocesan Council Evergreen Regional Ministry: The Rev. Josh Hosler, Church of the Good Shep., Federal Way

Diocesan Council Holy C Regional Ministry: Emily Meeks, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle

Diocesan Council Mt Baker Regional Ministry: The Rev. Baudelina Paz, Resurreccion, Mount Vernon

Diocesan Council Rainier Regional Ministry: Maitland McKenzie, St. Mary’s, Lakewood

Diocesan Council at-large: Karen Sjostrom, St. John’s, Kirkland

Standing Committee lay order: Carole Loudenback, Church of the Good Shepherd, Federal Way

Standing Committee clergy order: Elise Johnstone, St. John the Baptist, Seattle (four-year term); Jed Fox, Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore (two-year term)

Archivist & Records Manager: Erik Bauer

Treasurer: James Beckwith

Appointments

Chancellor: Judy Andrews

Vice Chancellor: Bryan Krislock

Assistant Chancellor: Rosemarie LeMoine

Board of Directors: The Rev. David Marshall, St. Dunstan’s, Shoreline

Diocesan Council BIPOC: The Rev. Jesus Reyes, St. Luke’s, Vancouver; The Rev. Malcolm McLaurin, Holy Cross, Redmond

Personnel Commission: The Rev. Mike Mayor, Christ Church, Puyallup; Karla Koon, St. Andrew’s, Seattle

Disciplinary Board: The Rev. Marilyn Cornwell, retired; John Hoerster, Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle; The Rev. Jedediah Fox, Redeemer, Kenmore.

Church Attorneys: Marvin L. Gray, Jr., Ascension, Seattle; Douglas Oles, Epiphany, Seattle

For in-person attendees.

The Resolutions Committee has met and considered the six resolutions submitted to by the canonical deadline. In its report are the Committee’s recommendations, as well as the full text of each resolution, including any explanation. Responses from relevant committees to any resolutions requiring their input are in the Appendix. The committee reminds folks that any additional resolutions must be submitted by the 48 hour deadline, which is 2:30 pm on Wednesday, October 18.

2023 Narrative Budget for the diocese.

Constitution and Canons for the governance of the Diocese of Olympia, 2021. This version shows the changes to the articles and canons from the fall 2021 convention. This includes changes made via the C&C report, as well as the resolutions. It notes which changes became effective upon adjournment, as well as the first votes to the constitution noting that the second vote will be taken in 2022.

Constitution and Canons for the governance of the Diocese of Olympia, 2021.

A template for an Offer/Confirmation of Employment letter for lay employees has been developed. A Word version is available by contacting Canon Dede Moore.

Este es el calendario de compensación del clero parroquial de 2022 aprobado en la convención. Este documento describe la compensación del clero según el grado congregacional.

Haz clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

The list of workshop offerings for the 2021 Diocesan Convention is now available! Join early and discover vital ministries across the diocese and gain tools you'll be able to use in your own congregations and ministries. Workshops are open to everyone, so come and join us for this time of learning and community. Links to join the workshops via zoom will be posted to the Convention website.

This year the Resolutions Committee, with the encouragement of Bishop Rickel, initiated a two-stage process for review of resolutions. In the first stage, submitters of resolutions were invited to an “early-bird” deadline, if they so chose, in order to engage with the Resolutions Committee in hearings designed to offer the opportunity to refine or perfect the resolutions ahead of the canonical deadline for submission, which was September 14 (45 days in advance of the Convention).

Hearings on Resolutions of Policy

With support from the Bishop’s Staff, especially the Canon for Diocesan Networking & Connections, the Committee met with those intending to submit resolutions in three sessions on Zoom. Those sessions were held Wednesday, August 18 from 7:00–8:00 pm; Monday, August 23 from 7:00–8:00 pm; and Wednesday, August 25 from 11:00 am–12:00 pm.  The invitation to attend was extended to all members of the Diocese.

Meeting of Resolutions Committee after Canonical Deadline

The Resolutions Committee met Wednesday, September 22, from 7:00 pm–8:00 pm to consider the nine resolutions submitted to us by the canonical deadline of September 14. Included in this report are the Committee’s recommendations, as well as the full text of each resolution, including any explanation.

New for 2021
Diocesan Convention Resolutions Hearing Process

Convention resolutions are statements that reflect the mind of the diocese on a host of matters from social and justice issues to ministry and business practices. Hearings provide an opportunity for convention members to meet with the Resolutions Committee and sponsors of resolutions to ask questions, express concerns, suggest changes, or make comments on resolutions well in advance of our fall convention.

Resolutions are adopted through the legislative process. This year, groups and ministries considering resolutions for consideration at the fall convention were invited to submit resolutions early to allow for a hearings process, which provides the opportunity to discuss and comment on resolutions before the legislative process begins once resolutions are submitted at the canonical deadline in September.

Hearings are hosted by the Resolutions Committee and attended by the sponsors of the resolutions. Following the hearings, resolution sponsors have an opportunity to perfect the resolution, submitting a final version before the canonical deadline in September.

Four resolutions were submitted by the August 11 Early Bird deadline. Hearings will focus on resolutions from specific sponsors as shown below. The text of each resolution is linked below and posted on the Convention page.

These hearings are scheduled on Zoom for the dates and times below. Pre-registration is required to attend each session.

• Wednesday, August 18, 7-8 pm: Bishop's Committee for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land (Register Here)
• Justice and Peace in the Holy Land - Our Call to Action

• Monday, August 23, 7-8 pm: Circles of Color (Register Here)
  
  • Supporting and Conducting Research on Indigenous Boarding Schools
• Posting and Updating Current Membership Lists of Diocesan/Bishop Committees, Commissions, and Appointed Bodies on the Diocesan Website

• Wednesday, August 25, 11 am-12 pm: Circles of Color (Register Here)
  • Additional Congregational Grade for Clergy Pay Scale

This document outlines the process, timeline, hearing schedule, and requirements for submission of proposed resolutions to the 2021 diocesan convention.

Constitution and Canons for the governance of the Diocese of Olympia, 2020. This version shows the changes to the articles and canons from the fall 2020 convention. This includes changes made via the C&C report, as well as the resolutions. It notes which changes became effective upon adjournment, as well as the first votes to the constitution noting that the second vote will be taken in 2021.

Join us for Friday pre-convention workshops.

List of canonically resident clergy of the Diocese of Olympia as of October 15, 2020.

Clergy and staff transitions within the diocese since the last convention.

The Resolutions Committee Report to Convention includes resolutions received by the September 8, 45-day-before-convention, canonical deadline.

This document provides names and pictures of the nominees for the open positions for 2020.

Video introductions of the nominees are available at https://vimeo.com/showcase/7624737.

The Vision Statement for the Diocese of Olympia.

The Bishop’s Committee for the Environment (BCE) is offering small green grants to support churches in this work. Perhaps replacing worn insulation around doors and windows would save energy or drip irrigation would save water in a garden area. Green Grants will match church costs up to $750 for successful applicants.

The mission of the BCE is to celebrate and heal creation by working together. The pandemic has limited our opportunities to celebrate together. So for this round of grants, the BCE will consider applications for changes to the church facility that will make gathering together safer once the pandemic closures end.

Complete the simple application and submit by October 30, 2020.

This document provides information on the open positions for 2020, along with job descriptions, and an overview of the work of the Nominations Committee.

The draft schedule is posted below. The final schedule will be made available on the Clergy Conference app. Details to come.

Register here: https://clergy-conference-2020.eventbrite.com

List of delegates and alternates from each church.

A simple tool to keep track of the election process at Diocesan Convention.

Summary of the referred resolutions to dioceses from the 79th General Convention