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2026 Diocesan Convention

The 2026 Diocesan Convention is the 189th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Friday November 6 | Workshops | Embassy Suites Hotel | 6089 Clarks Creek Road, Plainfield, IN 46168

Saturday, November 7 | Convention | Embassy Suites Event Center | 2353 Perry Rd., Plainfield, IN 46168

Click here for the schedule and click here for a map of the hotel & event center.

Convention Packet

Important Dates & Deadlines:

  • August 31 – Congregation Adult Delegate Submissions Due
  • September 1 – Youth Delegate Applications Due
  • September 6 – Resolutions and Canonical Changes Due
  • September 9 – Registration Opens
  • September 30 – Last Day for Early Bird Registration
  • October 7 – Last Day to Reserve Room in Hotel Block
  • October 16 – Nominations and Reports Due on Formstack
  • October 23 – Last Day to Register for Convention
  • November 6 @ 10:00 a.m. ET – Hearings held by Brendan in person
  • November 6 – Workshops
  • November 7 – Diocesan Convention at Embassy Suites

Convention Materials

Budget

The 2027 budget approved by Executive Council on September 12 will be reviewed and voted on by convention. Click here to view a summary 2027 budget.  Find the 2027 apportionment calculations here. You can find the 2025 audit here.

Constitution and Canons

Click here to read the final draft of the Proposed Revised Constitution and Canons for the Governance of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

Click here to read the proposed amendments of the final draft of the Proposed Revised Constitution and Canons for the Governance of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.

Draft Minutes of the 2025 Diocesan Convention

Click here to view the draft 2025 Diocesan Convention Minutes.

Nominations

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

Reports

Click here to view reports submitted.

Resolutions

Click here to view the resolutions.

Rules for Decorum and Debate

Click here to view the rules for decorum and debate

Convention Details

Workshops

1:00 – 2:10 PM ET

Presenters: 

  • Ms. Elise Shrock, Director of Communications
  • Ms. Lauren Hacker, Communication Coordinator

Room: Hadley 1

Getting your message out doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re clergy, staff, or a volunteer who inherited the parish communications role, this practical workshop covers the essentials: social media best practices, e-newsletters people actually open, website basics that welcome newcomers, and event promotion that gets people through the door. We’ll also talk about editorial planning, so you have a map to follow throughout the year. You’ll leave with simple tools and ideas you can use right away. No communications background required.

Presenter: 

The Rev. Ian Lasch, Missioner for Formation

Room: Hadley 2

Want to learn more about neurodiversity? Eager to welcome neurodivergent individuals to your church community? Unsure of what “neurodiversity” even means? Then this workshop is for you!

Presenters: 

  • Ms. Heather Campbell, Diocesan Youth Minister

Room: Hadley 3

Description: Based on Fuller Youth Institute’s Growing Young research, this interactive workshop will explore the six core strategies shared by congregations that are successfully growing young. Together, participants will consider what these strategies could look like in their own congregations and identify practical ways to put them into action.

2:25 – 3:35 PM ET

Presenters: 

  • Canon Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale, Canon to the Ordinary for Administration and Evangelism
  • Ms. LaShaundra Bridges, Diocesan Accounting Administrator 

Room: Hadley 1

Parishioners and other financial supporters of churches deserve to know that the gifts they entrust to the church are being used well. Congregations whose practices allow donors to see how their gifts are being used and how decisions are made tend to have smoother business operations – enabling the core work of ministry – and position themselves to be recipients of future generosity. Instead of focusing on technical details, this financial leadership workshop will equip church leaders of all kinds with knowledge of the principles of transparent and trustworthy financial practices.

Presenter: 

  • The Rev. Canon Giulianna Cappelletti Gray, Canon to the Ordinary for Congregational Development and Leadership
  • The Rev. Canon Monique Ellison, Canon Vicar at Christ Church Cathedral
  • The Rev. Holly Rankin Zaher, Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Evansville
  • Ms. Michaela Flash, CCD Trainer and Member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Indianapolis

Room: Hadley 3

Join us for an engaging workshop on the College for Congregational Development—an opportunity to learn practical tools for strengthening the life and ministry of your congregation. Whether you’re new to CCD, a graduate of the program, or somewhere in between, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of what this dynamic program is, equipped with a few ideas you can implement this week to more effectively engage newcomers in your community, and connect with others in the diocese who share your passion for supporting vibrant communities of faith.

Presenter: 

The Rev. Traci Smith, Director, Family Faith Every Day and Author/Founder Faithful Families™  

Room: Jessup 2

Praygrounds are meant to be spaces in a worship space that help people of all ages experience worship through play, wonder, and age-appropriate learning. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore what makes praygrounds welcoming to children with a wide range of ages, needs, and abilities, while learning best practices and common challenges.

3:50 – 5:00 PM ET

Presenters: 

  • Canon Mariann Scott, Canon for the Circle at Christ Church Cathedral
  • The Rev. Deacon Cathy Scott, Deacon of the Diocese

Room: Hadley 1

In this workshop, we will explore social justice topics in light of our current social and political context. This workshop will take place after the midterm election, so you can expect an opportunity to be educated about the landscape as it is today, delve into related social justice topics, and reflect together on how the baptismal covenant. 

Presenters: 

  • Dr. Brian Steensland, Professor of Sociology at IU Indianapolis
  • The Rev. Ian Lasch, Missioner for Formation

Room: Hadley 2

This just in: parents and teens find it tough to talk about faith. Come hear the findings of Dr. Brian Steensland’s research about where parents struggle and could use the church’s help, as well as some suggestions and brainstorming with Ian Lasch, Missioner for Formation, about how we as worshiping communities and as a diocese can better support parents and teens.

Presenter: 

The Rev. Traci Smith, Director, Family Faith Every Day and Author/Founder Faithful Families™ 

Room: Hadley 3

Intergenerational (all-age) ministry is not just placing people of different ages in the same room, but rather the forming of intentional, reciprocal relationships in which people of all ages strengthen, challenge, and transform one another. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn simple, repeatable, and adaptable ideas about how churches can move beyond age-segregated programming toward a genuine culture of “all ages together.”

Convention Submissions

Resolutions
to Convention

Click to submit your 2026 Resolutions
to Convention

Deadline: September 6

Nomination Form

Click to submit your 2026 Nomination Form for Convention

Deadline: October 16

Floor Amendment Form

Click to submit your 2026 Floor Amendment Form for Convention

Proposed Constitution
& Canon Changes

Click to submit your 2026 Proposed Constitution & Canon changes

Deadline: September 6

Convention Committee/ Commission Report

Click to submit your 2026 Convention Committee/Commission Report

Deadline: October 16

Registration

This year’s Diocesan Convention will be November 6-7 and held at the Embassy Suites in Plainfield. Early-bird regEarly-bird registration for adults and youth for the 2026 diocesan convention will open September 10.

  • Registration will be $85 for adults through September 30.
  • From October 1 – October 23, registration will be $145 for adults.
  • Online registration will close on October 23.

The registration fee includes full access to convention and workshop materials, dinner and dance party Friday and lunch Saturday.

We’re offering both childcare and a children’s program this year, with more details available through convention registration.

Diocesan convention is our diocese’s largest event of the year, and volunteers make it happen! If you can volunteer at convention, please call the diocesan office at 317-926-5454 or email Julie Eledah to receive free convention registration.

Register

Convention Lodging

We have a block of hotel rooms at Embassy Suites by Hilton a discounted rate. The hotel is connected to the event center by a very long hall. The hotel block closes on October 7th. Our group code is: 905

Embassy Suites by Hilton

6089 Clarks Creek Rd.,
Plainfield, IN 46168
$179
Hotel Block Closes October 7

Reservation

Delegation Submission

Diocesan
Convention Delegate

Click to submit your 2026 Diocesan Convention Delegates

Deadline: August 31

Youth Diocesan
Convention Delegate

Click to submit your 2026 Youth Diocesan Convention Delegate

Deadline: September 1

125 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 926-5454  /  fax: (317) 926-5456

© 2025 Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis