GOVERNANCE

Section 1.

When the office of the Bishop Diocesan becomes vacant or when the Bishop Diocesan announces an intent to resign or calls for a Bishop Coadjutor, the Standing Committee will announce, within the ensuing sixty (60) days, a time for Diocesan Council to convene for an election.

Section 2. 

(a).The Standing Committee will initiate the canonical process to obtain the required consents to hold the election.
(b). The Standing Committee will act as an oversight committee and establish a process and time line for the election.

Section 3.

The Secretary of the Standing Committee will send notice of the convening of the Council session to (i) all Parish Vestries, (ii) all Clergy Members entitled to vote at such session and (iii) all Lay Delegates to Council entitled to vote at such session and their Alternates at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the session.

Section 4.

A Committee for Nominations will be formed consisting of one clerical and one lay representative elected from each Convocation and one person elected by the Standing Committee from among its members. The Standing Committee will appoint a Chair or Co-Chairs from among the members of the Committee for Nominations.

Section 5.

The Committee for Nominations, in consultation with the Standing Committee and the Executive Board, will produce a profile of the Diocese. The Committee for Nominations will seek out and receive names of persons for consideration of election. The Committee for Nominations will report to the Standing Committee the names of not fewer than three (3) persons who (i) have consented to stand as proposed nominees for election, (ii) have passed the background checks and (iii) meet the criteria developed in the profile.

Section 6.

The Standing Committee will send data about each proposed nominee to all (i) Clergy Members and (ii) Lay Delegates to Council entitled to vote in the election and their Alternates at least forty-five (45) days prior to the convening of the session for an election. Not later than thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the session for an election other persons may become proposed nominees upon nomination of five (5) Clergy Members of Council and ten (10) Lay Delegates to Council representing in total at least three (3) Parishes of the Diocese. The names of those so nominated shall be sent to the Committee for Nominations, which will report to the Standing Committee the names of those persons who (i) have consented to stand for nomination and (ii) have passed the background check. All proposed nominees will be invited for interviews with the Clergy Members and Lay Delegates to Council.

Section 7.

The Standing Committee will send the Rules of Order for Election of a Bishop to all (i) Clergy Members and (ii) Lay Delegates to Council entitled to vote in the election and their Alternates at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the session for election.

Section 8.

At the time for balloting, the Secretary of the Council will call for a vote by orders. Votes will be cast as directed by the Rules of Order and by the Chief Teller and will be counted separately and reported. The election will require a majority of votes cast in each order on a concurrent ballot.