What's a Standing Committee?
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One of the most important functions of the Standing Committee, a body of clergy and laity elected by delegates to the Diocesan Convention, is to be the "Ecclesiastical Authority" of the diocese when the office of the Bishop is vacant. It also oversees the election of bishop for the diocese which is no small task!
At most times, there is a Bishop serving and during those times the Standing Committee serves as the bishop's Council of Advice. It also has other duties assigned through the Constitution and Canons of the diocese and national church and by resolution of the Diocesan Convention. Some of these are giving or withholding consent to the election of bishops for another diocese, participating in the ordination process, giving or withholding approval to any mortgage or conveyance of property, and participating in any Ecclesiastical Trial. The Standing Committee meets a number of times during the year, sometimes in person and sometimes via conference call. |
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