May 21, 2018
Dear Friends,
The Diocesan Convention for 2018 will be an abbreviated, one-day meeting. You will receive more detailed information about Convention under separate cover, but for now please note that the date of Convention 2018 is Saturday, November 3. We will gather in Pineville at Country Inn and Suites. Quite early that day we will celebrate a simple said Eucharist at Mount Olivet, anticipating a smaller-than-usual attendance.
The reason for an abbreviated meeting is that, starting in 2019, Diocesan Convention will occur each year on the first Friday and Saturday of Lent. There are several reasons for this, but the most important is that it will positively affect congregations’ ability to determine their pledge to the Diocese on the basis of a completed annual fund process in the preceding autumn. Additionally, we will avoid conflicts with football and Mardi Gras celebrations. Alas, no date will avoid all conflicts or fail to impose inconvenience on someone. This is the best imperfect date we could find.
As usual, this summer you will receive notice of elections to be held in November. You will also receive notice that 2019 congregational pledges to the Diocese will be due in early January. The Diocesan Council will vote on a provisional budget to continue Diocesan operations until the Convention votes.
With the 2019 Convention our schedule will return to two days and will once again include a festive Eucharist. Our plan is to hold the 2019 Convention in Alexandria.
Blessings to you all.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD
IV Bishop of Western Louisiana
