The Council of Advice

Most recent Notes from The Council

July 2022 Points of Communication

◊ Worship
◊ Norms
◊ Standing Committee Items
o Consent was granted to the election of the Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana and Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut
◊ Council of Advice Items
o Bishop’s report
▪ General Convention (GC) is adjourned until summer 2024.
• Deputies are considering creating videos highlighting their experiences
• Hoped for progress between ECUSA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria did not materialize within the House of Bishops; consideration of the pivotal resolution is deferred to GC81 in 2024
• Convocation budgeting for GC will continue to be a challenge
▪ The Lambeth Conference
• It is important to remember that no legislative nor canonically binding action is possible at this meeting
• The Church of England is modifying the discernment process for selecting the Archbishop of Canterbury
▪ Anglican Summer School in Europe
• A meeting of stakeholders is scheduled in Munich following the Lambeth Conference
• On target for a Summer 2023 launch
▪ Episcopal Relief & Development Grant
• Plans and policies for refugee relief grants are proceeding
▪ Episcopal Congregation in Tbilisi
• The Bishop and Sunny Hallanan reported on their very positive recent visit to St. Nino’s. Sixteen people Confirmed/Received
o Liaison Reports
▪ St. Boniface – Augsburg will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday, 17 September
o The Council reflected on its most recent in-person meeting in Augsburg which it shared with the Committee on Mission Congregations
o Resolutions that update and clarify the Canons of the Convocation were approved by the Council and will be transmitted to the Chair of Dispatch of Business for the Convention in Clermont-Ferrand
o The Bishop and the Council discussed the upcoming Mutual Ministry Review scheduled for this autumn
o The Bishop and Council reviewed the Work Plan stemming from the most recent Convocational Convention. Progress is steady
◊ Diocesan Council Item
o The Council voted to pay half the costs associated with the Bishop’s and Judy’s participation in the Lambeth Conference; half is being paid by DFMS

The next meeting of the Council of Advice will be in-person as part of the semi-annual Heads of Ministry leadership gathering, 21-24 September.

What is the Council of Advice?

The Council of Advice is a canonical committee that advises the Bishop in Charge in carrying out those responsibilities in the Convocation.

The Convocation's canons call specifically for a “Council of Advice” to be elected at the Convocation's annual Convention. The Council consists of four clergy canonically resident in the Convocation and four laity who are active members of one of the Convocation's parishes or missions. Both clergy and laity are elected for a two-year term, or for the remainder of a resigned member's two-year term. Council members are eligible for one re-election. Members must first stand down for at least one year before seeking re-election. At the first meeting of a new Council, the members elect a Council President and the Council’s Recording Secretary.

What does the Council of Advice do?

The Council of Advice is responsible to:

advise and support the Bishop on all important matters of policy.
care for the Bishop and hold them accountable for total health.
prepare the annual budget for the Convocation, and oversee expenditures.
raise funds.
award grants.
serve as voice and ears of the Convocation.
represent the Convocation on the parish level.
represent the members of the Convocation in our meetings.
pray for the Convocation.
seek God's will and mission in all that we do.

Although The Convocation is not a diocese, as a practical matter, it does function much like one. The Council fulfills some of the functions ordinarily assigned to a diocesan 'Standing Committee,' as described in the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.

The Council also:

gives consent to the election and consecration of Episcopal bishops.
certifies that candidates have met all canonical requirements for ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood.
gives permission with the Bishop for congregations to take on debt and sell property.
approves changes to congregational bylaws and statutes.

The Rules of Order of the Council of Advice may be found here.
The Constitution and Canons of the Convocation may be found here.

Current Council of Advice Members

Mr. David Case President Church of the Ascension Munich, Germany Liaison to: COMC	The Rev. Michael Rusk Vice-President Rector, Emmanuel Church Geneva, Switzerland Liaison to: Climate & Creation Care, EICS, Munich, Santa Maria,
Ms. Lois Stuckenbruck Council Member Church of the Ascension Munich, Germany Liaison to: Beloved Community, COMB, Augsburg, Nuremberg, Thuringia,	Ms. Debbie Groby Council Member Emmanuel Church Geneva, Switzerland Liaison to: Charleroi, Namur, Mons, MFER- Paris,
The Rev. Sunny Hallanan Council Member Rector, All Saints Waterloo, Belgium Liaison to: Safeguarding, Karlsruhe, St. Paul's-Rome	The Rev. Richard Easterling Council Recording Secretary Priest in Charge, St. James Florence, Italy Liaison to: Migrants & Refugees, Frankfurt
The Rev. Mary E. Haddad Council Member Paris, France Liaison to: Mühlbach, Waterloo, Children & Youth, Clermont-Ferrand, Tbilisi	Mr. Vincenzo Racana Council Member St. Paul's Within the Walls Rome, Italy Liaison to: Cathedral-Paris, Wiesbaden, San Pablo-Rome, Florence, Geneva

Convocation Officers reporting to the Bishop and Council of Advice			Staff Support to Council
The Rev. Deacon Richard Cole Secretary of Convention Deacon, Emmanuel Church Geneva, Switzerland	Mr. Denis Le Moullac Treasurer of the Convocation Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Paris, France Resident in Strasbourg	Mrs. Helena Mbele-Mbong Assistant Treasurer of the Convocation Emmanuel Church Geneva, Switzerland	Mme. Sophie Plé Canon for Administration Convocation Office Paris, France	The Ven. Walter Baer Archdeacon Convocation Office Paris, France