Each annual diocesan convention elects leaders for the diocese, and descriptions of responsibilities are listed below. Positions rotate terms, however, so not every position is available each year. For complete information, look on the diocese's home page for the next convention as well as in the East Tennessee Episcopalian beginning in the fall before the next winter's convention.

Bishop and Council

The Bishop and Council comprises the bishop plus eight lay and eight clerical members who represent each of the three geographical areas of the diocese - three of each from the populous South East and Middle East areas and two of each from the Upper East Area. Each term is three years. Clergy and lay members may not be from the same parish, and members must be 18 years old or more. Bishop and Council members may not serve simultaneously on the Standing Committee or the Ecclesiastical Trial Court. Members gather four to six times a year for meetings at the Diocesan House in Knoxville, and an overnight retreat is conducted annually.

"B&C" carries out the work of the Diocesan Convention between its annual meetings and oversees the program of the diocese. Among its responsibilities, B&C prepares the diocesan budget to be approved by Diocesan Convention and approves grants and loans recommended by the Opportunity Fund Committee. Members serve on the Opportunity Fund and other council committees: Anti-racism, Appalachian Ministries, Bio-Ethics, Budget and Finance, Christian Formation, Companion Diocese, Health Insurance, Peace and Justice Ministries, Property, Stewardship and the Youth Action Council.

For a list of Bishop and Council members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#bandc.

Camp and Retreat Center Board

According to the diocesan canons, "the management of the affairs of the diocesan camp and retreat center shall be provided by a Camp and Retreat Center Board of Managers … of no fewer than twelve persons appointed by the bishop with the consent of the convention." Four members rotate off annually. Responsibilities include guiding development of the property, working with the executive director, planning programming and myriad other functions. This year the board has met almost monthly, sometimes at Grace Point and sometimes at the Diocesan House.

For the Grace Point Board of Managers members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#grace.

Commission on Ministry

The Commission on Ministry is responsible for those matters set forth in Title III, Canon 2 of the Canons of the Church, in particular the "present and future opportunities and needs for the ministry of all baptized persons." This includes "the design and oversight of the ongoing process for recruitment, discernment, formation for ministry and assessment of readiness."

Fifteen individuals are appointed by the bishop and approved by the convention for three-year terms, and they may serve successive terms. Three clergy and two lay persons rotate off annually.

Committee on the Church Pension Fund

Two clergy and three lay representatives are appointed by the bishop annually to serve as liaison and a communication link between parishes and the institution. The committee furnishes annually to the fund a list of the clergy and their pay, and it receives from the fund statements of contributions. This committee works with the treasurer and financial administrator of the diocese and supports surviving spouses and minor dependents, and it reports to the Bishop and Council and to the diocese on the state of the fund.

Committee on the Constitution and Canons

The bishop appoints four clergy and three lay members for three-year terms, and members may serve successive terms. At least one member must be an attorney. The committee proposes changes to the diocesan canons as needed so that they conform to the canons of the Episcopal Church. The committee also may "make recommendations at the Convention for amendments to the Constitution or these Canons for the operation of the Diocese," and any other requested changes to the canons must be processed through this committee.

Ecclesiastical Trial Court

Three clergy and two lay persons serve on the Ecclesiastical Trial Court, each for a five-year term. Members are eligible for re-election when their terms expire. Members of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court may not serve simultaneously on the Bishop and Council or the Standing Committee.

The court is responsible for conducting an ecclesiastical trial when a formal allegation of canonical offense (a presentment) has been submitted by the diocesan Standing Committee.

For a list of trial court members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#trial.

Episcopal Endowment Corp.

This body has custody, control and is charged with the investment of all funds placed with it by the diocese. In addition to the bishop, four or five members serve three-year terms and are elected by the convention. For a list of this body's members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#eec.

General Convention Deputies

Four clergy and four lay people are elected in the year prior to that of a General Convention. The candidate receiving the most votes acts as chair of the deputation, and the scale of votes determines each deputy's seat. One or two additional nominees in each order will be retained as alternates. Deputies serve for three years - until the next group is elected - and they may be elected to successive terms.

Deputies sit in the House of Deputies of the General Convention, which is the legislative body of the Episcopal Church. The House of Bishops is the other unit in this bicameral body. Deputies are not delegates; they are deputized to act on their own and to vote their own consciences.

In the Diocese of East Tennessee, deputies attend an overnight diocesan deputation meeting and the Province IV Synod meeting, and then they attend the 9-10 day General Convention.

At the General Convention, they consider resolutions on virtually every topic imaginable, elect officials, consider a budget, pray, worship, laugh and sometimes cry together.

When they return, they are asked to interpret for East Tennessee Episcopalians, along with the bishop, the actions and decisions of the convention.

Please consult a current deputy for more information (they are listed at etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#genconv), or see the official Episcopal Church web page for the General Convention.

Standing Committee

The Standing Committee serves as a council of advice to the bishop. It has six members, three clergy and three lay. Each term is three years, and members can be re-elected for one successive term. One clergy and one lay member rotate off each year. Members of the Standing Committee may not serve simultaneously on the Bishop and Council, Commission on Ministry or Ecclesiastical Trial Court.

The Standing Committee schedules monthly meetings, but sometimes it conducts its business via e-mail or conference call.

Among its responsibilities, the Standing Committee gives consent for all bishops elected in the Episcopal Church. It recommends individuals for ordination. It gives the bishop advice on the purchase, sale or encumbrance of any property held by a congregation of the diocese. All complaints involving sexual misconduct by lay employees, volunteers or clergy are referred to the Standing Committee. In the event the diocese is without a bishop, the Standing Committee serves as the ecclesiastical authority.

For a list of Bishop and Council members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#stand.

University of the South Trustees

Two lay people and one member of the clergy serve on the board of trustees of the University of the South. The term of office is three years, and trustees can be re-elected for one successive term. One trustee rotates off each year.

Trustees are expected to attend the annual board meeting each May and any special meetings that may occur throughout the year.

Trustees should be personally committed to the basic aims of the university. They are responsible for informing their dioceses about the university and should be willing to contribute to its financial well-being.

For a list of Bishop and Council members and their terms of office, see etdiocese.net/dioleaders.php#trustees.

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