The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is made up of 41 active parishes, missions, and church plants. Each of these individual congregations is a member of one of four convocations within the Diocese.
The Standing Committee, in the spring of 2021, approved a redefined and renewed configuration and purpose for our convocations.
"God continually invites us into a deeper sense of community and interconnectedness. God’s dream of Beloved Community can only be realized when we recognize our need for deeper companionship and collaboration that reflects the image of the Divine Trinity.
"As a Diocese, we are called into an intentional time of discerning God’s call for our communities of faith that is rooted in the notion that we are one Church, the Body of Christ, in many locations. This requires that we must pivot from communities of faith ministering solo or in silos. We must be about mission together; collaboration and intentionality are the watchwords for our path forward."Bishop Deon Johnson
Each convocation is named in honor of a person who has made a significant contribution to our diocese and the life of our church throughout our history:
Elizabeth Dyer Convocation
This convocation is named for Elizabeth Dyer, the first woman lay delegate to General Convention in 1946.
Emery Washington Convocation
This convocation is named for Emery Washington, an educator, priest, community organizer and founder of the Diocesan Dismantling Racism Commission.
Jackson Kemper Convocation
This convocation is named for Jackson Kemper, the Episcopal Church's first missionary bishop, who founded the Diocese of Missouri.
Jane Dey Convocation
This convocation is named for Charlotte Jane Dey, the first woman ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Missouri.
Convocation Purpose
Convocations exist to further the mission of the Diocese through collaboration and shared mission and ministry goals. Each convocation is tasked with developing and carrying out a regional strategy for the communities of faith that make up each convocation.
All members of our churches and ministries are welcome to attend convocation meetings and events.
Convocation Leadership
Each convocation elects a Dean (clergy member) and a Warden (lay member) for two-year terms (can be re-elected after a one-year hiatus). The Deans and Wardens will meet regularly with the Bishop.
Each convocation also elects three members (one clergy member and two lay members) to serve a two-year term on Diocesan Council. Members can serve two consecutive terms and may be re-elected after a one-year hiatus.
Elected convention delegates from every parish in the convocation are voting members of their convocation.
*Leadership elections should take place by February 15 of each year, following Diocesan Convention.
Convocation Rules and Expectations
Each convocation should meet at least four times each year to conduct business meetings, leadership development, retreats, fellowship activities, convention planning, etc.
Convocations should develop a regional mission strategy in conjunction with the Diocesan Offices. That strategy should reflect the current Diocesan mission priorities.
Leadership elections should take place by February 15 of each year, following Diocesan Convention.
Each convocation should plan an annual celebration of the patron of the convocation.
Convocations should regularly communicate with the communities of faith that make up their convocation (through newsletters, emails, Zoom meetings, learning events, etc.).
In consultation with the Diocesan Director of Communications, each convocation should develop and maintain a presence on the Diocesan website.