Delegate Overview

From SCVD

Introduction to DELEGATES and ALTERNATES to convention

As an Episcopal Church, each parish is a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church of the USA and regionally the Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR), which is made up of over 50 parishes and missions. A geographically and culturally diverse Diocese, ECR extends along the central California coast from the home of hi-tech in Santa Clara County in the North to the bountiful agricultural lands and scenic beauty of San Luis Obispo County in the south.

Elected representatives to Diocesan Convention connect us to the larger body of the Episcopal Church by representing us and keeping us informed about the issues and opportunities for mission and ministry beyond our individual parishes. Delegates attend the Annual Convention where they plan for the future of Diocesan programs and are asked to prayerfully consider local and global issues affecting the church and to vote for or against support for them.

Delegates and Alternates are elected at parish Annual Meetings that are held prior to February 15th each year.

We Believe...

As members of the Diocese of El Camino Real and the Santa Clara Valley Deanery and our respective parishes:

• We believe that we are stronger by working together
• We believe that some things are done better by working and sharing together
• We believe working together is an important part of being an Episcopalian online casino

Ministries

Working together as a diocese and in more regional Deanery groups of congregations, we strive to do with our combined resources that we could not accomplish alone. Just a few examples of ministries we support are:

• Santa Maria Urban Ministry (SMUM) which provides food distribution, English language instruction, a career clothes closet and basic first aid to the Burbank community of San Jose;
• Campus Ministry programs at San Jose State, De Anza, UC Santa Cruz and Cal Poly SLO;
• Jail Chaplaincy; and
• Spiritual and educational programs for youth and adults.

Communications

As Delegates and Alternates to Convention and as Deanery Members our role is a key link between our parishes and the larger church and that we are charged to support and fully participate in Diocesan activities.

We are here to facilitate on-going two-way communications, understanding, awareness and involvement between:

• The Diocese and our parish members
• Our parish members and the Dioceses
• The Deanery and our parish members
• Our parish members and the Deanery
• The greater Anglican Communion and our parish members
• Our parish members and greater Anglican Communion
• The parishes in the Deanery

Working together

We are here to find out what we can do together better than we can do as individual parishes for:

• Our community (ex. SMUM, Habitat for Humanity)
• Our Diocese (ex. By electing members from our parish communities to serve on committees)
• The greater Anglican Communion (ex. Support for ERDF, Province XIII)

Representative to the Diocesan Convention

As Delegates, attend Diocesan Convention(s) as a well-informed delegate/alternate representing the interests of both your parish and the deanery. This requires attention to the business of the diocese, attendance at deanery and tri-deanery meetings, review of the Diocesan budget and all resolutions prior to the convention with the vestry and other interested parties within the parish. Communicate with parishes. Be aware of the talents of the people around you and suggest nominations for both offices and committees to the Diocesan Nominating Committee. Be informed about people nominated for Diocesan offices and committees. Be informed about what is happening in the Diocese. Read diocesan communications you receive. Check the diocesan web site www.ecrweb.org on a regular basis.

Representative to the Deanery

• Attend scheduled deanery meetings. The meetings discuss both diocesan, local and parish issues and provide the foundation for learning about and understanding the issues and ongoing business of the diocese.
• Participate in projects as requested by the diocese and projects that the deanery undertakes to improve the work of our parishes.
• Remain current on the activities of diocesan committees and of the deanery and spread the word at your parish. Keep the vestry informed about diocesan news.
• Update the deanery on activities at your parish and always be on the lookout for areas where we can work together.
• Communicate with parishes.
• Encourage your clergy to attend deanery meetings.

And, we have the authority of all baptized Christians and the responsibility to be good stewards of all that we are given.