Changes to the Constitution and Canons, the Honey Creek Future Fund Resolution, and budgets for the Diocese and Honey Creek were the key actions all overwhelmingly passed by the 197th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia.
2019 Budgets Approved
Diocesan Operations – 2019 Budget
Honey Creek – 2019 Budget
Constitutional Change
A second reading on amendments to the Constitution will have two, three, or four delegates representing a congregation depending on the size of Average Sunday Attendance (ASA). Congregations with 99 or less ASA will receive two delegates, those with 100-199 ASA will be represented by three delegates, while those with an ASA of 200 or more will be entitled to four delegates. With the approval of this second reading of the Constitutional change, the extensive changes to the canons made in 2017 to replace the distinction between parishes and missions with parishes and aided parishes went into effect. A PDF file of the revised Constitution, Canons, and Rules of Order of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia are now online: 2018 Canons
To read the Executive Summary or to view the full package of changes approved in 2017, click here.
To read the Constitutional changes convention approved on a second reading, click here.
Resolution: Amend Canon 12 – Investments
The convention also approved a new Canon 12 on investments which requires all congregations with financial assets in excess of one year’s Normal Operating Income to invest such excess funds with the Board of the Corporation of the Diocese of Georgia or apply for a waiver from the Diocesan Finance Committee. That Committee shall grant waivers to those congregations who have essential investment policies in place and meet the additional criteria established in the canon. While now in place, implementing this canon will be a deliberate step with sufficient time for the diocese and its congregations to prepare for the waiver process. The Finance Committee will work on that process at its December meeting and publish necessary paperwork and steps to the Diocese early in 2019.
To read the full text of the resolution, click here.
Resolution: Honey Creek Debt
The convention also approved a Diocesan Council resolution which will pay off the remainder of the $1.25 million Honey Creek bond debt while creating a maintenance reserve. The debt retirement will be accomplished through ongoing fundraising together with a special additional assessment on each congregation of not more than two percent for not more than three years. The additional assessment will bring the total to not more than 12 percent starting in 2020.
To read the full text of the resolution approved by convention, click here.
For the 2-page explanation of the two-part strategy, click here.
Elections
Church Disciplinary Board (Lay): Sam Colville and Laura Wheaton
Church Disciplinary Board (Clergy): The Very Rev. Tar Drazdowski, the Rev. Kelly Steele and the Rev. Yvette Owens, Deacon
Diocesan Council: The Rev. Nick Roosevelt
Sewanee Trustee: Val Crumpton
Standing Committee (Lay ): Roy M. Lilly
Standing Committee (Priest): The Very Rev. William Willoughby
Actions of the 79th General Convention
In accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church, the General Convention referred some resolutions for either action or consideration to the dioceses of the Episcopal Church and the 2018 Convention received these resolutions. Those resolutions are gathered in a single pdf file online here: resolutions referred to dioceses
In addition, there are nine constitutional changes approved by the General Convention which we will consider in our convention, which are summarized here: Summary of Constitutional Change
The full text of the nine Constitutional changes are online here: Constitutional Changes
Changes to the Constitution require passage in identical form by two successive General Conventions. The 80th General Convention in 2021 will take a second vote on these constitutional changes.
