2026 Positions to be Elected

Positions that will be elected during the 161st Diocesan Convention include the following:

  • 1 Lay Person and 1 Clergy Person on the Standing Committee for a 4 year term. The Standing Committee serves as a council of advice to the Bishop. Please note that Standing Committee members also serve on the Diocesan Council (brief description below).
  • 1 Lay Person for the Board of Trustees for a 3 year term. The Board of Trustees is responsible for all the financial and property resources of the Diocese.
  • 1 Lay Person and 1 Clergy Person for the Committee on Constitution and Canons for a 3 year term. This committee examines diocesan governing document and makes appropriate recommendations for changes as needed.
  • 1 Lay Person and 1 Clergy Person for the Cathedral Chapter for a 3 year term. The Chapter oversees the mission of the Diocesan Cathedral.
  • 1 Person, either Lay or Clergy, for the Commission on Ministry for a 3 year term. COM assists the Bishop in the selection, guidance, care and examination of persons for Holy Orders.
  • 1 Clergy Person for the Regional Disciplinary Board for a 3 year term. This board  adjudicates disciplinary charges against clergy within the 6 participating dioceses.

Positions elected by the Districts at the District convocations during convention include the following:

  • District 1 – 1 Lay Person for the Board of Trustees for a 3 year term.
  • District 2 – 1 Lay Person for Diocesan Council for a 4 year term. Council acts on behalf of Convention when it is not in session.  Please note that you must be a deputy to the 2026 Diocesan Convention to qualify for this office.
  • District 4 – 1 Lay Person for the Board of Trustees for a 3 year term.
  • All Districts – 1 Lay Person or 1 Clergy Person for each of the offices of District Chair and Vice Chair for a 1 year term – please note that you must be a deputy to Convention or clergy within the electing district to qualify for these offices. Newly elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs convene the District meetings at the Convention the following year and facilitate activities and communications which the District chooses to pursue

Descriptions of Diocesan Boards, Committees, and Commissions

Standing Committee

    • Meeting frequency: Once a month on the 2nd Tuesday, 4pm, primarily on Zoom with in-person meetings as needed
    • Main Responsibilities:
      • Provide the Bishop with advice & consent on canonical matters (eg, ordinations, election of bishops outside of the Pittsburgh Diocese, consent to the sale of church property)
      • Fill vacancies in Diocesan bodies or committees
      • In the absence or incapacity of the Bishop, serve as the highest church authority
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of 4 lay persons and 4 clergy
      • 1 Lay person and 1 clergy elected each year
      • No more than 2 people from the same parish can serve at a time
      • Signature of the Rector or Senior Warden is required for lay nominees
    • Term: 4 years, limited to 1 term
    • Governing Documents*: Constitution Article IX, sections 1-7
    • Helpful Skills: Knowledge of Church polity, good judgment and evaluation skills, confidentiality skills

Diocesan Council

    • Meeting frequency: At least 5 meetings per year (Feb, April, June, Sept, Dec) on 2nd Tuesday, 7pm, primarily on Zoom with December meeting is in-person
    • Main Responsibilities:
      • Prepare the budget & assessments
      • Consider requests for assessment relief and parish mission grants
      • Advise the Bishop on programming and policies for the Diocese
      • Approve policies for the Diocese
      • Form committees and recruit members for the work of the Diocese (eg, Nominating Committee, Convention Committee, Budget & Assessment Working Group)
      • Act for Diocesan Convention when Convention is not in session
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of all members of Standing Committee and District Representatives
      • One District lay representative is elected each year, who must be a deputy to Diocesan Convention
      • Signature of Rector or Senior Warden is required for nomination
    • Term: 4 years, limited to 1 term
    • Governing Documents*: Canon V
    • Helpful Skills: Preparation and active participation, good judgment, financial skills helpful but not required

Board of Trustees

    • Meeting frequency: Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday at 3:45pm on Zoom
    • Main Responsibilities:
      • Stewardship of the assets of the Diocese in the form of the Endowment and the Property
      • Participation on subcommittees including the Property Committee, the Audit Committee, the Finance and Investments Committee and the Growth Committee
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of 4 District representatives, 4 at large representatives, and 4 Bishop appointed representatives
      • 1 or 2 lay district representative and 1 or 2 at large representative are elected each year
      • Signature of Rector or Senior Warden is required for nomination
    • Term: 3 years, eligible to serve 2 consecutive terms
    • Governing Documents*: Constitution Article X, sections 1-2
    • Helpful Skills: Good judgment and evaluation skills, financial or property skills helpful but not required

Committee on Constitution & Canons

    • Meeting frequency: 6 times a year, first Monday of February, April, June, August, October, December (if needed), alternating between noon and 6pm, on Google Meet (similar to Zoom)
    • Main Responsibilities:
      • Review and revise the Diocesan governing documents
      • Work within subcommittees on specific issues to write specific governance proposals
      • Refer proposed changes, amendments, or resolutions to Diocesan Convention for consideration
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of 3 Clergy and 3 Lay persons
      • 1 Clergy and 1 Lay person elected each year
    • Term: 3 years, eligible to serve 2 consecutive terms
    • Governing Documents*: Canon X
    • Helpful Skills: Ability to read and understand legal documents, Organization skills, Basic computer skills

Cathedral Chapter – Diocesan Representation

    • Meeting frequency: Quarterly, Thursday 5:30pm, on Zoom or in-person at Cathedral with hybrid option
    • Main Responsibilities:
      • Serve as the Convention’s voice on the Trinity Cathedral Chapter
      • Assists in overseeing the mission and availability of the Cathedral to the entire diocese
      • Serve on a Cathedral subcommittee – Outreach, Finance, Buildings, Personnel or others as needed
      • Support the Cathedral
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of 3 Clergy and 3 Lay persons
      • 1 Clergy and 1 Lay person elected each year
    • Term: 3 years, no term limits
    • Governing Documents*: Canon XIV
    • Helpful Skills: No specific skills – listening, good judgment, active participation helpful

Commission on Ministry

    • Meeting frequency: Monthly, on the fourth Tuesday, at 6pm, in-person or via Zoom
    • Main Responsibilities: To assist the Bishop in the following
      • The enlistment and selection of persons for Ministry
      • Shepherding of candidates for Holy Orders as they discern their call
      • The examination of persons for Holy Orders
    • Eligibility:
      • Composed of 3 members, either clergy or lay plus members appointed by the Bishop
      • 1 member, either clergy or lay, elected each year
      • Other members as needed are appointed by the Bishop
    • Term: 3 years, limited to 6 consecutive years
    • Governing Documents*: Canon XXX
    • Helpful Skills: Listening, interview and evaluation skills, knowledge of ministry training is helpful but not required

Regional Disciplinary Board

    • Meeting frequency: As needed
    • Main Responsibility:
      • Tries cases brought against priests or deacons charged with an actionable offense requiring possible ecclesial discipline
    • Eligibility:
      • Comprised of 13 members from six participating Dioceses
      • Diocese of Pittsburgh elects 2 members
      • 1 clergy or 1 lay member elected according to term schedule
      • Signature of Rector or Senior Warden required for lay nominees
    • Term: 3 years, eligible for 2 consecutive terms
    • Governing Documents*: Canon XIX-B
    • Helpful Skills: Review of Title IV of the Episcopal Church (TEC) on Ecclesial Discipline highly recommended

 District Chairs and Vice Chairs

    • Meeting frequency: as needed
    • Main responsibility:
      • To preside at the District annual meeting at Diocesan Convention
      • To assist in the nomination process
      • To convene District meetings as needed for the purposes of discussion of District interests, matters coming before Diocesan Convention, fellowship or other purposes as determined necessary
    • Eligibility:
      • Nominees may be lay persons or clergy
      • Lay nominees must be deputies to Convention
      • All nominees must be members of a parish within the District in which they are seeking nomination
      • Nomination forms are not required
    • Term: 1 year, no term limits
    • Governing Documents*: Canon XVIII
    • Helpful Skills: No specific skills required – organizational and interpersonal skills helpful

Notes:

  •  Meeting times, dates and formats may change based on the committee’s decision each year
  • Signature of the Rector or Senior Warden is required where indicated
  • Nominee must be a lay deputy to Convention where indicated

* Our governing documents can be found here: https://www.episcopalpgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Governing-Documents-2026.pdf