The Council of Advice

Most recent Notes from The Council

The Council of Advice met via Zoom call on 15 November 2021.

Agenda topics and discussions included:

A brief greeting as this was the first meeting of the Council after Convention.
Context recognized as an inflection point in the life of the Convocation and of the Council, with a need to reflect on what God is calling us to do.
Particular focus on the leadership role of Council, both spiritual and administrative, lay and clergy working in partnership with the bishop.
Attention placed on modus operandi including agreement on framework of meetings for the year ahead.
Focus on establishing liaisons to parishes, missions, ministry initiative teams, and the commissions and committees of the Convocation.
Unpacking Convention 2021. While awaiting feedback from the post-Convention survey, brief discussion held on Convention highlights; support for the idea of a Convention planning group as a standing body including host parish/mission direct involvement.

The Council of Advice will next convene virtually on 8 December 2021.

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.

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
Mr. Denis Le Moullac Treasurer of the Convocation Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Paris, France Resident in Strasbourg	The Rev. Deacon Richard Cole Secretary of Convention Deacon, Emmanuel Church Geneva, Switzerland	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