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Dear Friends in Christ,
I write to confirm with you that the opening date of the 233rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania has been set for the evening of Friday, November 4th and continues on Saturday, November 5, 2016. The Convention will be held at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 38th Street between Market and Chestnut. Eucharist and seating of our new Bishop will begin on Friday, November 4th at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception serving heavy Hors D' Oeuvres. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, November 5th, gathering music at 8:15 a.m. with Morning Prayer beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The theme of this year's Convention is:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable is perfect"
(Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Lay and Clerical delegates are asked to register online beforehand through the DIOPA Convention website (
http://www.diopaconvention.org
) any time after September 15, 2016. The registration fee is $75.00 per delegate. The fee may be mailed to J.D. Lafrance (Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, 3717 Chestnut Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19104) or brought with you on the day of Convention. If you have any questions or need help with registration, please contact J.D. at
[email protected]
or 215-627-6434 x151.
I also write to remind you that according to our canons, the following items are due from each parish Vestry no later than the opening of convention if they have not already been submitted:
The Annual Parochial Report for the Calendar year 2015
An audit of parish finances for the Calendar year 2015
A commitment to pay the canonical assessment and a voluntary pledge
If your Vestry is unable to submit these items prior to Convention, a written explanation is requested so that the Convention may have a greater understanding for its consideration regarding seat, voice and vote for the parish delegation to Convention. This letter is a reminder of our common discipline and accountability to one another, which we are called to as Episcopalians of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. We belong to one another. We make one another stronger.
As we prepare to gather at convention on November 4th and 5th, I call us to daily prayer for our Diocese and its Convention. In our prayers for our world and one another, let us give thanks that God continues to sustain the Church out of the abundance of divine love and forgiveness. Let us pray to be energized by the Holy Spirit to look forward with eager expectation to the mission God lays before us. Let us celebrate the promise of hope and redemption God has made to the Church and the world.
God bless our Diocesan family. God bless you in your ministries. Godspeed in your labors on behalf of God's mission in our world.
Faithfully, your Bishop,
The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez
#diopacomeandsee
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EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA