Church Structure Narrative

Learn more about Church Governance

NARRATIVE ABOUT CHURCH STRUCTURE

YOUR CONGREGATION

1. When you go to church you worship with your congregation.

2. Your congregation together is legally either a parish, separate congregation or mission.

A mission is how a church starts out. Usually, it is the Bishop and the Diocesan Council who see a need for a new or specialized ministry and start it. When a formerly undeveloped area begins growth and development, it makes sense to plant a new place of worship in a central area to give people a convenient church home. Since starting up takes a lot of planning, work and expense, the Diocese helps the congregation with this process and gives financial support until the congregation is strong enough and large enough to become self-sufficient. In this diocese, we also have some missions devoted to special needs, such as St. Barnabas' Church of the Deaf. (See Canon 14 for formation of a mission.)

When a mission is ready to become self-sufficient, it asks (the Diocesan Council and the Convention) for permission to become either a parish or a separate congregation. A parish is basically a church that is a self-sufficient, autonomous member of the Diocese that has a set geographical area (parish bounds). Parish bounds are based on the old model in England in which a church was responsible for the spiritual and physical well-being of all persons who lived within a certain radius. In order to become a parish, the parish in whose bounds the mission resides has to agree to release part of its parish bounds. People being people, sometimes the original parish doesn't want to do that, so the mission asks to become a separate congregation -- a self-sufficient, autonomous member of the Diocese, but without parish bounds. It is a congregation separate from that of the parish church in whose bounds they reside. (See Canons 13 for this process.)

3. The priest who runs things is either a rector, vicar or priest-in-charge.

A rector is the priest who is elected by and called to run a parish or separate congregation. A vicar is the priest appointed by the Bishop (and answerable to him) to run a mission. A priest-in-charge is the priest who is called/hired to tend to the spiritual life of the congregation when they have no permanent rector or vicar. This happens when the old rector/vicar retires or otherwise moves on.

4. There is an annual business meeting of the congregation, generally referred to as the annual meeting.

Certain business does have to be conducted annually, and members of the congregation and vote on certain things. Often the rector/vicar or vestry members (or mission committee members) will summarize the ending year and help kick off the new year. The budget is either reported on or voted on. Members of the vestry/mission committee are elected. The senior warden and junior warden (or vice-chair of the mission committee) are either elected at the annual meeting or by the vestry when they next meet. Delegates to the Diocesan Convention are either elected at the annual meeting or by the vestry. Other business or reporting may be done at this time. [Note: individual by-laws vary as to certain processes, thus the choices listed here.]

5. Between annual meetings, the vestry/mission committee runs a lot of the business for the congregation.

Since it isn't practical to have the whole congregation supervise and make all of the decisions about the budget, finances, building and grounds, etc., the congregation elects people they trust to handle these things on their behalf. Parishes and separate congregations call this body of people a vestry, and the rector presides over it. Missions call this body of people a mission committee (or chapel committee), and although the vicar usually presides over it, the Bishop is an ex officio member and presides if he is present. The vestry/mission committee usually has a finance committee that assists in putting the budget together and in keeping an eye on the financial trends.

There may be other committees, either as sub-committees or that are to some extent supervised by the vestry/mission committee. Examples could be a stewardship committee or an outreach committee.

6. The two head people of the vestry, other than the rector are the wardens/vice-chair of mission committee.

The Senior and Junior Wardens/Vice-Chair of Mission Committee are either elected directly by the congregation at the annual meeting, or are elected from by the vestry/mission committee from among their members. Both wardens are liaisons between the clergy and the congregation, although the Senior Warden is the spokesperson on behalf of the congregation. The Senior Warden is in charge of the congregation (and the vestry) when the rector is absent or there is no rector. Traditionally, the Junior Warden is in charge of the buildings and grounds, but does, of course, work along with the Senior Warden.

7. The rules that govern any congregation are called by-laws.

The by-laws are written by and adopted by the congregation, and determine how certain things are done (i.e., rules around elections, notice of annual meeting, terms of office, etc.). They must conform to the canons (laws) of the Diocese and of the National Church.

YOUR REGION

1. The diocese is divided into six regions.

The regions are made up of congregations within a certain geographical area for the purposes of representation, communication and networking. Each region has approximately the same number of lay delegates and clergy delegates.

2. Each region has three representatives: clerical member of Diocesan Council, lay member of Diocesan Council, Regional Convener.

In any given year, each region will elect one of three positions for a 3-year term. The terms are staggered so that no region will have more than 1/3 new representatives, the Regional Conveners will have no more than 1/3 new representatives, the Diocesan Council will have no more than 1/3 new representatives. This gives as much continuity as possible.

3. The leader of each region is called the Regional Convener.

The Regional Convener calls and presides over meetings of the steering committee for each region. The Convener maintains contact with the two regional Council representatives, and meets several times each year with the Bishop and the Assistant for Convention for the purpose of communication and for planning of the annual Regional Assemblies. The Convener is responsible for making the arrangements and helping to plan the Regional Assembly, for coordinating the details of nomination, election and resolutions. The Convener may be either a member of the clergy or laity and serves for a three-year term.

4. Each region must hold an annual Regional Assembly.

The Regional Assembly is the annual meeting of the region with the Bishop. Currently, we have two regions meet together. They have a chance to worship together, listen to the Bishop(s) about what's new, go over points about the next year's diocesan budget, discuss and ask questions about whatever topics are important in that given year. They then separate into their regions to hold their business meeting, which includes election of their regional representatives and nominations to the Diocesan Convention for other offices, any regional resolutions, catch-up time, etc.

5. The Regional Assembly has delegates who may vote on their regional business.

The voting members (delegates) of each region include more lay people than the Diocesan Convention. The idea is to have fair representation from each congregation in the Region. The voting members in each region are: parish clergy, other interested clergy connected to the region, delegates to the Diocesan Convention, all wardens/vice-chairs, Regional Convener, Regional Representatives to the Diocesan Council. These last thee categories may not vote at the Convention.

YOUR DIOCESE

1. Each congregation is a member of a Diocese.

A diocese is a geographical area that has a bishop and is an administrative unit. Each diocese belongs to a province (a larger geographical area) and together form the Episcopal Church in America . The Diocese of Washington has a total of 97 congregations, located in the District of Columbia and four counties in Maryland: Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles', St. Mary's.

2. Each diocese has a bishop.

The diocesan bishop is the chief sacramental officer of the church. The bishop is the chief pastor of the diocese; responsible for ensuring that the faith proclaimed in parishes is the faith of the church. Bishops ordain priests and deacons, perform confirmations, visit all the congregations at regular intervals, preside at diocesan conventions and have administrative responsibility for diocesan activities. The bishop is elected by the clergy and lay delegates of the diocese, and a majority of bishops and standing committees in the rest of the Church must agree to the election. A diocesan bishop may ask for the election of a suffragan bishop or otherwise call (hire) another bishop to assist in diocesan duties. When a bishop is ready to retire, there is either a call for the election of a bishop coadjutor, which means that the new bishop will succeed the one in place, or there is the election directly of the next diocesan. In the Diocese of Washington, we have a diocesan bishop (Bishop Chane) and an assisting bishop (Bishop Harris).

Although the duties are somewhat different, the office of bishop is to a diocese roughly as the office of rector is to a parish.

3. A diocese is required to meet together once a year for a Convention.

The Diocesan Convention is roughly like the annual meeting of a congregation. In our diocese, the annual meeting of the Diocesan Convention is presently held the last full weekend in January. Convention conducts elections; votes on the budget, resolutions, changes to the diocesan Constitution and Canons, any other actions presented; hears reports, etc. It includes the clergy of the Diocese and elected lay representatives from each of the 95 congregations in the Diocese, as well as ex-officio members of Convention (who are entitled to seat and voice, but not vote) and many visitors (who may observe only). Approximately 500 people attend the Convention. There may be special conventions at other times, generally held for the purpose of electing a bishop, though it may be held for some other purpose.

4. Between annual meetings, the Diocesan Council runs a lot of the business for the Diocese.

Just as a vestry/mission committee functions for a congregation, the Diocesan Council is like a governing board for the Diocese, which is empowered to act on behalf of the Convention while the Convention is not in session (the other 363 days of the year). It has "charge of the development and promotion of Church extension and management of aided parishes, college work, education, social service, city missions, information services, ministry to the aging, and such other work as may be committed to it by the Convention, and shall also be charged with responsibility for the development of work between sessions of the Convention." The Council is ultimately responsible for presenting a budget to Convention (with the assistance of the Finance Committee) and for the spending of monies.

The Council is composed of the Bishops, one clerical and one lay member elected from each of the six regions, two clerical and two lay at-large members elected by Convention, three members appointed by the Bishop, and several ex officio members. One clergy and one lay as At-Large Members of Council will be elected for a three-year term at Convention. Regional representatives are elected at the Regional Assemblies following the set schedule. They communicate with the Regional Convener and attend any steering committee meetings for their region. See Diocesan Canon 10 for a full explanation of the Council. Diocesan Council generally meets second Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. at various churches around the Diocese.

5. Other offices elected by Convention (and nominated by the regions) are: Standing Committee, General Convention Deputies, Deputies to Provincial Synod, Ecclesiastical Trial Court.

The Standing Committee serves as an advisory group to the Bishop, recommends candidates for Ordination, is involved in the issuing of presentments against the clergy, makes recommendations on requests from congregations concerning alienation of property, and consents to the elections of all bishops in this country. Two clergy and two lay members (half of the Committee) are elected for a two-year term at Convention.

Deputies and Alternate Deputies to General Convention: Just as the Diocese has a regularly scheduled Convention to conduct business, the National Church holds the General Convention every three years to conduct business. The bishops form the House of Bishops, and the elected deputies (both clergy and lay) form the House of Deputies. The year before General Convention, four clerical and four lay deputies are elected. An equal number of alternates are elected the next year.

Deputies and Alternate Deputies to Provincial Synod: Just as our Diocese is divided into regions, the National Church is divided into Provinces. Province III generally meets once a year (in June), do some committee work, and may forward nominations and resolutions to the General Convention. Once every three years, 1 clerical and 2 lay deputies are elected, with the runners-up becoming alternates.

The Ecclesiastical Trial Court tries charges that may be preferred against any Priest or Deacon of the Diocese. It is composed of four clergy and three lay members (not members of the Standing Committee), each of whom serve for a five-year term. See Diocesan Canon 42 for a full explanation.

6. Each diocese has its own constitution and canons.

The constitution and canons are the ecclesiastical laws of the diocese, and set forth the rules and procedures that govern its members. This is similar to the by-laws of each congregation. The diocesan canons must conform to the canons of the National Church. The Diocesan Convention must vote to change the constitution or the canons.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, USA

1. Each diocese is part of the Episcopal Church.

Each diocese is part of a province (we're in Province III), roughly equivalent to a region on the diocesan level, and together they make up the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, known as "PECUSA" or "ECUSA" or just "the Episcopal Church."

2. The Episcopal Church has a Presiding Bishop .

In the early days of the church, the Presiding Bishop was the senior bishop present, but as the church grew and the demands on the Presiding Bishop increased, a new system was developed. Now the Presiding Bishop is elected at General Convention and presides at meetings of the House of Bishops and the Executive Council. The Presiding Bishop serves as chief pastor to the other bishops and oversees the administrative work carried on by the staff of the Executive Council.

3. The Episcopal Church is required to meet together once every three years for a General Convention.

The General Convention is roughly like a diocesan Convention, but on a much larger scale. It meets in the summer for about 10 days every three years. The General Convention conducts elections; votes on the budget, resolutions, changes to the national Constitution and Canons, any other actions presented; hears reports, etc. Not unlike the government of the United States, the General Convention is bicameral B it consists of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. The House of Deputies is made up of clergy and lay deputies elected by each diocese. Legislation can originate in either house and must be passed by both houses. Approximately 15,000-20,000 people attend General Convention. The House of Bishops also meets on an annual or semi-annual basis.

4. Between meetings, the Executive Council runs a lot of the business for the church at large.

The Executive Council consists of bishops, priests, and lay people elected by the General Convention and by the provinces. The Council meets at regular intervals to deal with policy matters that arise between conventions. The Executive Council staff serves as a resource to the church and carries out the decisions made by the Convention and Council.

5. The General Convention has its own Constitution and Canons.

The Constitution and Canons of the General Convention (often referred to as the National Canons) are the ecclesiastical laws of the Episcopal Church, and set forth the rules and procedures that govern its members.

Rev. 4/05