Election Results for Diocesan Leadership Positions
The following individuals were elected to diocesan leadership positions at the 150th Diocesan Convention in 2018.
Commission on Ministry
Canon XV, Sec. 1: “At each Annual Convention of the Diocese, subject to confirmation by the vote of the Convention, the Bishop shall nominate a Commission on Ministry to consist of not less than six nor more than twenty persons, one half of whom shall be of the lay order and one half of whom shall be of the clerical order, who shall hold this office until their successors are nominated and confirmed.”
Bishop Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2018 confirmed:
- The Rev. Dr. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew (Chair)
- The Rev. Shelly Banner
- The Rev. Toppie Bates
- The Rev. Megan Castellan
- The Rev. Paul Frolick
- The Rev. Jeanne Hansknecht
- Ms. Ruthie Koerts
- The Rev. Georgina Hegney
Diocesan Board
The Diocesan Board is the policy-making body of the Diocese and is responsible for articulating and formulating its mission strategy. It has responsibility for all programmatic activities including the preparation, administration, and oversight of the diocesan budget. This group also serves as the Board of Trustees for all Diocesan Corporations.
The Diocesan Board has ten members: the Bishop, four elected members, three appointed members, a Standing Committee representative, and the treasurer. Members must be at least 20 years of age and confirmed communicants of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York. The Diocesan Board typically meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the diocesan office.
Convention 2018 elected:
- One clergyperson for a three-year term: The Rev. Lisa J. Busby
Disciplinary Board
The Disciplinary Board is the body that deals with all matters regarding the ecclesiastical discipline of members of the clergy (other than the bishop diocesan). The Disciplinary Board is governed by the relevant provisions of Title IV of the Canons of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church and detailed in Diocesan Canon XXVII.
The Board consists of five clergy members and four lay members. Clergy members must be canonically and geographically resident in the Diocese, and can be either active or retired. Lay members must be adult communicants in good standing and geographically resident in the Diocese.
The term for Disciplinary Board members is three years. The Disciplinary Board meets as needed.
Convention 2018 elected:
- One clergyperson for a three-year term: The Rev. Shelly Banner
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee consists of eight members: four clergypersons and four laypersons.
Members must be at least 20 years of age and confirmed communicants of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York. The Standing Committee usually meets five times per year, typically on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the diocesan office, and one meeting immediately following Convention.
Responsibilities include:
- Review and consent to all transactions involving the sale, mortgage or lease of church-owned real estate.
- Approval of the election of bishops anywhere in The Episcopal Church, which leads to a concern for the structure and distribution of authority in the Church.
- Approval of persons for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood, which leads to a concern for ministry throughout the Church.
- Acting as a council of advice for the bishop in such matters as she may choose to bring before the Committee; and on matters which the Diocese, through the Standing Committee, wishes to bring before the bishop.
- Acting as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in the case of prolonged absence, disability, or resignation of the diocesan bishop, if there be no other bishop to whom authority has been temporarily given.
- Acting as the investigative body in the process of ecclesiastical discipline as specified in the Canons of The Episcopal Church.
Convention 2018 elected:
- One clergyperson for a four-year term: The Rev. Joell Szachara
- One clergyperson for a two-year term: The Rev. Jon White
- One layperson for a four-year term: Ms. Charlene “Charlie” Fix
- One layperson for a one-year term: Ms. Ruthie Koerts
Treasurer
Canon XI: “The Diocesan Convention shall from time to time elect as Treasurer of the Diocese a person skilled in financial matters, including budgeting, accounting, banking, investment, and financial planning, on nomination of the Bishop with the approval of the Diocesan Board. The Treasurer shall serve at the pleasure of the Bishop and the Board. A vacancy in the office of Treasurer shall be filled by similar election, provided that a vacancy occurring between meetings of the Convention may be filled until the next meeting of the Convention by appointment of the Bishop wit the approval of the Board.”
Bishop Duncan-Probe nominated and Convention 2018 confirmed:
- The Rev. Steve White