Standing Committee

The Standing Committee is an elected body made up of both lay and clergy members. It serves as the council of advice to the bishop and carries several canonical responsibilities, including property matters and offering consent to bishop elections in other dioceses. Title II, Canon 8, Section 1 of our diocesan canons describes these responsibilities in full.

When a bishop is serving, that person consults with the Standing Committee as part of the regular governance of diocesan life. In seasons without a bishop, the Standing Committee assumes the responsibilities of ecclesiastical authority until a bishop is seated. During seasons when a diocese is without a bishop, the Standing Committee becomes the ecclesiastical authority. This role carries real weight. The committee oversees necessary decisions, supports the healthy functioning of diocesan life, and helps guide the wider body with steadiness and care.

Standing Committee members are elected by Diocesan Convention, where clergy and lay delegates from every parish help shape the direction of our shared life. These roles matter. Serving on the Standing Committee, voting at Convention, and engaging with the committee’s updates are meaningful ways to participate in the ongoing discernment of the diocese. The early church listened for the Spirit in community. Your engagement keeps that practice alive. When you take part, you help the whole body hear more clearly.

The Standing Committee meets at least monthly. Summaries of their work are shared with the diocese through the Standing Committee Updates space on our Circle Community, which you can access using the button below.