View nominees for election at the 2016 Convention

View nominees for election at the 2016 Convention

Several people in the diocese agreed to be nominated for election to leadership roles in the diocese. Below are descriptions of the positions that will be filled by elections at the 2016 Convention and the names of the nominees for those positions. Click on the names to read biographies of the nominees.

Executive Council Members at Large

The Executive Council carries on the work of the Diocesan Convention during the rest of the year when the Convention is not in session. The new canons passed in 2015 made changes affecting the Executive Council, including how its members are elected. Previously, the members were elected by the deaneries; this year, under the new canons, the Convention will elect nine of the members at large, while the other five members will be elected by the deaneries – one for each deanery. The canons call for staggering members’ terms so that, normally, a third of the committee is elected each year. This will be the first year of at-large elections, however, and the entire committee will be elected in the same year. To transition into a staggered cycle, the 2015 Diocesan Convention also passed Resolution CC-3 providing for a process for the transition from deanery elections to the first at-large election. Immediately after the Convention, those elected at large to the Executive Council will meet briefly to determine which members will serve one-year, two-year, and three-year terms this time so that future elections will be staggered.

Lay (6 open positions)

Dave Shockley withdrew his name.

Clergy (3 open positions)

General Convention Deputies

The Diocesan Convention will elect four lay deputies and four alternates as well as four clergy deputies and four alternates to send to the 2018 General Convention in Austin, Texas. Since this General Convention will be in our area, members of the diocese are encouraged to participate if at all possible in some part of General Convention; there will be numerous opportunities – whether as a deputy, liturgical minister, vendor, or one of many volunteer roles. For those interested in serving as a deputy, read more about what deputies to General Convention do and talk to people who have served previously; our deputies to the 2015 General Convention contributed to a blog about their experiences.

UPDATE: Previously, we listed too small of a number for General Convention Deputies; the correct number of open positions is 8 for clergy and 8 for lay, updated below.

Lay (8 open positions: 4 deputies, 4 alternates)

Clergy (8 open positions: 4 deputies, 4 alternates)

Curt Norman withdrew his name to stand for Disciplinary Board, and Suzi Robertson withdrew her name to stand for Executive Council.

Trustee, University of the South – Sewanee

The length of the term for this position is three years (October 2017-2019). Duties include attending trustee meeting in the fall at the University of the South at Sewanee, TN, which usually involves several weekdays, especially for a new trustee; there is an optional spring meeting also. There may be some expenses related to this responsibility. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is one of the owning dioceses of the University of the South and thus is represented at the primary Trustee meeting.

Lay (1 open position)

Disciplinary Board

Two clergy members and one lay member are to be elected for three-year terms (expiring 2019). In addition, one clergy member is to be elected to a one-year term (expiring in 2017) to replace a member who moved. The Disciplinary Board meets as needed when called by the bishop.

Lay (1 open position)

Clergy (3 open positions: one of these is an unexpired term)

Standing Committee

The Standing Committee is the council of advice for the bishop or the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese if there is no bishop. Three priests and three lay persons serve for three years each (those elected in 2016 will complete their term in 2019) with one priest and one lay member elected each year. No person may serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Standing Committee typically meets monthly.

Lay (1 open position)

Clergy (1 open position)

 

Please let us know if you believe any names are missing from this list who where nominated before the Sept. 12 deadline. Email the committee at nominations.committee@edotn.org, or call the diocesan office at 817-534-1900.

What if I missed the deadline?Requirements
Nominations closed Monday, September 12. Any nominations after the closing date may be made from the floor at diocesan convention. Nominations from the floor will follow all the requirements for candidates. To nominate someone from the floor, bring copies of the nominees’ picture and biographical information for all clergy and convention delegates, plus verification of qualifications to present to the Nominations Committee. The requirements for nominations from the floor of convention are in Canon I.2.8.2.5 “Nominations from the Floor,” which can be found in the Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and in the next tab.

CANON I.2.8.2.5 – NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

“At the meeting of the Diocesan Convention additional nominations may be made from the floor of the Diocesan Convention after the Nomination Committee’s report has been presented. However, no such nomination from the floor may be made while a vote is being taken, counted, or announced.  Persons making nominations from the floor must provide a sufficient number of copies of same written information required for the proposed candidacy of the Elected Position in order for each Member and the Chancellor and Parliamentarian to have a copy. This documentation requirement may be waived only by unanimous consent of the Diocesan Convention.”

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOMINEES

In all cases, a nominee must

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Meet qualifications to hold office nominated
  • Be willing to stand for election and willing to serve if elected
  • Acknowledge fiduciary duty under The Episcopal Church Canon I.17.8: “Any person accepting any office in this Church shall well and faithfully perform the duties of that office in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of this Church and of the Diocese in which the office is being exercised.”
  • Pledge to read the Constitution & Canons of The Episcopal Church and to give faithful performance to duties in accordance with the same
  • Be willing to perform the duties of elected office (i.e., attend all meetings, share responsibility of work, etc.)
  • Provide a brief bio and head shot photo
  • Verify membership in the diocese by the following:
    • Laity – Adult communicant in good standing of a parish within the Diocese of Fort Worth, for approximately one year
    • Clergy – Canonically resident in the Diocese of Fort Worth

Nominations Committee Report

Download the Nominations Committee’s Report.

This is a 16-page pdf that includes all the nominees’ bios in a single document.