The 187th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Friday, November 8, and Saturday, November 9
CRG Event Center | 2499 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield, IN 46168

Theme: Sacred Places Sacred Grounds
Keynote: The Rev. James I. Clark III, Managing Director of Mission Real Estate Development at Trinity Church Wall Street (A Parish in the City of New York)

Click for our Convention map, convention schedule and our 2024 Diocesan Convention Packet.

2024 Bishop’s Address to the 187th General Diocesan Convention

2024 Convention Workshops – Friday, November 8

Sacred Places Sacred Grounds

The Diocese of Indianapolis is blessed with beautiful buildings for worship and ministry with abundant properties and land that nurture our communities in body and soul. The workshops of this year’s Convention give us a variety of ways to engage the work of maximizing our buildings and properties for mission. Our workshop leaders bring expertise in congregational development, real estate development, land stewardship, building use policy, racial justice and historical research to help us see our places in new ways. We will also have the opportunity to hear from members of our Diocesan Reunification Discernment team.

I pray that these workshops will be a blessing to you and support you in the many ways you lead in your congregation and our diocese. With an eye to the full future to which God calls us, let us continue to dream and discern what could be as we faithfully serve in Christ’s name.

The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows

Click here to view the workshop schedule.

Speaker: The Rev. James I. Clark III, Managing Director of Mission Real Estate Development at Trinity Church Wall Street (A Parish in the City of New York)

Description: This workshop will address how parishes may advance from the discernment of their missional calling to the formation of mission-aligned, capacity-building development options for church property. It will include an overview of the mission real estate development process, lessons learned from working with churches domestically and internationally, and what it takes to establish readiness to commence planning a mission property development project. If your church property has a lot of land and you are curious about how to maximize it for mission, this workshop is for you!

Speaker: Brian Sellers-Petersen, Consultant & Coach, Faithful Agrarian, Coordinator, Good News Gardens, Co-Host, SpadeSpoonSoul Podcast

Description: Stewarding our Churchyards will explore the many and varied ways faith communities steward the land where they are rooted. From church and community gardens to orchards to apiaries to wildlife habitat to regenerative landscaping to protecting our watersheds. We will use an Asset Based Community Development lens to discover where and how we are called.

Speaker: Lee Little, Author and Historiographer

Description: Lee Little, author and historiographer for the Diocese of Indianapolis, will explore the relationship between Episcopalians and power in Indianapolis. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 has sparked a reevaluation of our faith’s connections to systems in power, and Lee will encourage participants to examine the history and evolution of these power dynamics across the diocese.

Speaker: The Rev. Canon (Hon.) Betsy S. Ivey, Director of the Fund for Black Sacred Places at Partners for Sacred Places

Description: In this workshop churches will explore how they can matter more to their communities by identifying the viable resources of their history; who they are, or could be, serving in their communities; and, how they can become better neighbors in their communities.

Speaker: Karen DiLossi, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Partners for Sacred Places

Description: In this hands-on workshop, we will be discussing the intricacies and practicalities of building Space Use Policies either renovating some current out of date policies or starting from scratch. What content is acceptable in which spaces? Where should visitors be more mindful of the space? How about event decorations, like glitter and balloons? What happens when it snows or there is an emergency in the building? What food and drink policies do you already have in place? At the end of this workshop, you will have the basic framework for space sharing agreements both long and short term.

Speakers: Canon Mariann Scott and Rev. Cathy Scott

Description: The Episcopal Church’s anti-racism formation series, Sacred Ground, is an avenue of grace, challenge, and awakening to the history and consequences of anti-racism in America in its many forms. If you haven’t experienced the gift of Sacred Ground, you are welcome to attend an introductory session, led by Canon Mariann Scott and Deacon Cathy Scott, in which you will have a taste of what hundreds of diocesan parishioners, clergy, and others outside the Episcopal Church have experienced by participating in Sacred Ground. In the Sacred Ground formation, your Baptismal Covenant will come to life in new and powerful ways and your life and faith will be enlightened and enriched. Come and see.

Speaker(s): Members of the Reunification Discernment Team

Description: A group of leaders from both the Diocese of Indianapolis and the Diocese of Northern Indiana have been faithfully meeting as part of the Diocesan Reunification Discernment team. During this workshop session, representatives from this team will provide updates and respond to questions.

Speaker: Sampson Levingston, Walk & Talk leader at Through2Eyes

Description: Sampson Levingston is an Indiana history lover and Walk & Talk historical walking tour leader in Indianapolis. During his workshop, Sampson will present content from his walking tours in an interactive discussion with participants; resources such as online maps, aerial views, and green book images will showcase Indianapolis Black history and the impacts of redlining in central Indiana.

Speaker: Sampson Levingston, Walk & Talk leader at Through2Eyes and Lee Little, Author and Historiographer

Description: This session investigates and compares the locations of Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Indianapolis with the locations of businesses and other establishments included in the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” which listed safe accommodation for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. The session will center on the politics of this geography and a discussion of the wheres and whys.

Convention Materials

Amendments to the Constitution and/or Book of Common Prayer

Click here to view the amendments to the Constitution and/or Book of Common Prayer. These amendments to the Constitution of The Episcopal Church” were passed at the 2024 General Convention. The Secretary of General Convention is required to inform each Diocesan Convention of all such changes. No action by the Diocesan Convention is required. These amendments will not be brought up for a vote.

Budget

The 2025 budget approved by Executive Council on September 14 will be reviewed and voted on by convention. Find the 2025 apportionment calculations here.

Constitution and Canons

This year there were no proposed Constitution and Canon change submissions by the deadline.

Minutes of the 2023 Diocesan Convention

Click here to view the 2023 Diocesan Convention Minutes.

Nominations

Click here to view the nominations submitted.
Click here to view the pre-filed floor nominations.

Convention Hearing

Click here to watch the 187th Convention Hearing

Reports

Click here to view reports submitted.

Resolutions

This year there were no proposed Resolution submissions by the deadline.

Rules for Decorum and Debate

Click here to view the rules for decorum and debate

Important Dates & Deadlines:

August 31 – Parish Adult Delegate Submissions Due
September 1 – Youth Delegate Applications Due
September 3 – Registration Opens
September 9 – Resolutions and Canonical Changes Due
September 30 – Last Day for Early Bird Registration
October 9 – Last Day to Reserve Room in Hotel Block
October 25 – Last Day to Register for Convention
October 27 – Nominations and Committee/Commission Reports Due on Formstack
November 3 @ 2pm – Hearings held on Zoom by Brendan
November 8-9 – Diocesan Convention at Cunningham Event Center

Convention Details

Hotel Options

Residence Inn

2585 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield, IN 46168
$199 & up per night
Continental Breakfast included
Hotel Block Closes October 9

Reservation

Courtyard by Marriott

450 Marketplace Mile,
Plainfield, IN 46168
$194
Hotel Block Closes October 9

Reservation

Registration

This year’s Diocesan Convention registration is open! Diocesan Convention will be November 8-9 and held at the Cunningham Event Center in Plainfield.

Registration will be $85 for adults through September 30.
From October 1-October 25, registration will be $125 for adults.
Online registration will close on October 25.

The registration fee includes full access to all programming, workshops and convention materials, Friday night banquet and Saturday lunch.

Delegation Submission

Diocesan
Convention Delegate

Submit your 2024 Diocesan Convention Delegates

Deadline: August 31

Youth Diocesan
Convention Delegate

Submit your 2024 Youth Diocesan Convention Delegate

Deadline: Sept 9

Convention Submissions

Resolutions
to Convention

Submit your 2024 Resolutions
to Convention

Deadline: Sept. 9

Proposed Constitution
& Canon Changes

Submit your 2024 Proposed Constitution & Canon changes

Deadline: Sept. 9

Nomination Form
for Convention

Submit your 2024 Nomination Form for Convention

Deadline: Oct. 27

Convention Committee/ Commission Report

Submit your 2024 Convention Committee/Commission Report

Deadline: Oct. 27

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2024 Diocesan Convention