Five years after Hurricane Charley, the diocese returns to Punta Gorda on Oct. 9-10 for its 2009 convention at the new 43,000-square-foot Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center.

Information about registration, hotel deals, workshop opportunites, fellowship, meals and more will be available in the coming months.

IN the meantime, if you have any suggestions for the convention committee, please contact Judy Stark at (727) 773-7684.

The 2009 diocesan convention ballot will include the following seats which must be filled. The deadline for nominations in July 10.

(Click here to download a nomination form):

The Standing Committee
Elect two presbyters and one lay person for three-year terms; elect one layperson to fill a one-year unexpired term.

Diocesan Council
Elect two laypersons for at-large seats for two-year terms.

Deanery Representatives to be elected at fall convocations:
Clearwater: one presbyter
Fort Myers: one presbyter
Manasota: one layperson
St. Petersburg: one presbyter
Tampa: one layperson
Venice: one layperson
Naples: No election (The Rev. Alice Sadler was re-elected to a second term as clergy at the deanery's spring convocation earlier this year).

Diocesan Review Committee
Elect one presbyter for a three-year term.
 
Ecclesiastical Trial Court
Elect one presbyter, one deacon and one layperson for a three-year term.

University of the South Trustees
Elect one person for a three-year term.

The Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Venice deaneries have submitted a joint resolution aimed at restoring convention voting rights of deacons actively serving congregations in the diocese. 

The text of the resolution will be posted here after it clears the Resolutions Committee.

The 2008 diocesan convention directed a study of the matter and ordered the Commission on Ministry to issue findings before deanery convocations. Read the background behind this resolution and read the report by clicking here.