Diocesan Convention

The annual Convention is where members of the diocesan community gather to conduct the business of the diocese, strengthen fellowship, equip and expand their capacity for ministry, and renew their faith through prayer and worship.

The annual Convention and special conventions are convened by the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese, usually the bishop, or in the absence of a bishop, by the Standing Committee. Each parish of the diocese is entitled to appoint up to four lay deputies to serve as members of the Convention. All clergy canonically resident in the diocese, and in good standing, are considered members of Convention.

Occasionally Special Conventions are convened to address a matter of critical consequence to the life, work and health of the diocese; or to elect a bishop.

The principal business of the Convention is to address legislation and resolutions, elect officers of Convention, and members and representatives of canonical bodies, establish the assessment for funding the diocesan budget, and adopting a budget for the coming year. The bishop, who serves as president of Convention, gives his report on the state of the diocese in his pastoral address.

Formation and education are an integral part of Convention through workshops, presentations, exhibits, and networking. A program, speaker, or new initiative is often highlighted during the business sessions, and ministry celebrated through the presentation of the Bishop’s Shield award to persons who given exemplary service to their churches and communities.

Prayer and worship undergird all aspects of Convention, most notably through the Convention Eucharist.

2024 Special Convention | May 4, 2024

On Saturday, May 4, the people of the Dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee will gather at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo for a special convention to vote on the reunification of our dioceses. Everyone in our dioceses is invited to attend, and there is no registration fee. Here are some important convention details to know as you make your plans:

Convention begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, with a festive Eucharist at which Bishop Jeffrey Lee will preach and Bishop Matt Gunter will preside. Check-in opens at 9 a.m.

Rooms at Ho-Chunk Gaming are available for Friday, May 3, at a special convention rate of $150. Book a room by April 20 using this link to receive the convention discount.

Voting members of convention must bring a mobile device, laptop, or tablet to convention in order to vote. If this presents difficulty, please contact Graicey as soon as possible ( ).

Optional Friday evening convention events include a prayer vigil at 6 p.m. and reception at 7 p.m. at Trinity Church, Baraboo. If you can attend, please RSVP for the reception when you register.

Boxed lunches on Saturday will include gluten-free and vegan options for those who have pre-registered. Please indicate any dietary restrictions on your registration form.

Childcare is available for children ages 0-10; please reserve a spot when you register.

Not a voting deputy? Please consider making this historic convention happen by signing up to volunteer. Reach out to Graicey ( ) if you are interested in volunteering.

Lay & Clergy Voting Deputies: Use this form to register online by Friday, March 22. There is one registration per parish deputation, so check with your group before submitting.

All parishes have certified their lay deputies. If you have any changes to your parish deputation, you will need to certify the election of new deputies. Fill out the Certificate of Election of Lay Deputies. Note: if you are sending a certified alternate deputy, you do not need to resubmit the certificate.

Non-voting guests: Use this form to register online by Friday, March 22.

Stay tuned for more convention news on the diocesan website and the Trialogue websit e, and find the official call to convention below:

Pursuant to Article IV of the Constitution of the Diocese of Milwaukee, the Standing Committee, acting in its capacity as Ecclesiastical Authority, has convened a special convention of the diocese on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. at Ho-Chunk Gaming in Baraboo to vote on a joint agreement of union that sets forth an agreement to be reunited into one diocese with the Diocese of Eau Claire and the Diocese of Fond du Lac.

As previously communicated, the Standing Committee in its capacity as Ecclesiastical Authority has, in accordance with Article IV, directed the election of lay deputies to the Special Convention.

Joint Agreement of Union

In October, the Diocese of Milwaukee diocesan convention, along with the diocesan conventions of Eau Claire and Fond du Lac, approved a resolution calling on the Trialogue Steering Committee to present a Joint Agreement of Union to the governing bodies of each diocese and, in March, to the people of the dioceses. Thanks to the hard work of our Constitution & Canons Task Force of the Trialogue, we have now fulfilled that commitment. The three diocesan governing bodies have endorsed the documents and present them for your review.

Along with the Joint Agreement of Union, which includes the proposed Constitution and Canons of a reunified diocese, the Constitution & Canons Task Force has also prepared a set of governance policies that are not binding but would guide the development of our new diocese. Working together, our dioceses' chancellors and parliamentarians have developed the resolution that the joint convention will be asked to approve on May 4, and special rules of order for that convention.

Each of these documents is linked below:

More information is available on the Trialogue website.

2024 Annual Convention | October 2024

The Annual Convention will take place in October 2024. The date and location of the convention are contingent on the results of the Special Convention in May and will be announced then. Please certify the lay deputies to the Annual Convention now.

Certificate of Election of Lay Deputies (due March 1, 2024)

2023 Diocesan Convention | October 21, 2023

The 176th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee took place on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton.

Materials

Election Results from the 176th Annual Convention (added 10/24/2023)
Minutes of the 176th Annual Convention (draft; added 10/31/2023)
Welcome letter, updated timeline & Wifi, and appointments
Resolutions
Nominations
Budget
Reports
Rules of Order (reformatted but unchanged from previous versions)
Minutes from the 175th Annual Convention

Pre-Convention Hearing

The pre-convention meeting took place over Zoom on Monday, September 18.

Watch the Livestream

You may watch the livestream recording of the Annual Convention by clicking below:

2022 Diocesan Convention

photos by Karen Buker

The 175th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee met on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the Westin Hotel and Saturday, October 8, 2022, at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Election Results (uploaded 10/11/22)
Minutes of the 175th Annual Convention (draft)
Convention Recap Handout
Bishop Lee's Pastoral Address
Creation Care Video: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Convention Photo Albums: Photos by S. Bitner & K. Buker; Photos by K. Buker
Bishop's Welcome, Agenda and Wi-Fi Information
Minutes from the 174th Diocesan Convention for approval
Bishop's Appointments
Reports to Convention
Nominations and Bios (updated 10/3/22)
2022 Resolutions (updated 10/8/22)
2023 Budget

2021 Conventions

Diocesan Convention | October 9, 2021

The 174th Diocesan Convention was held remotely on Saturday, October 9,

You may watch the live stream recording of the Convention below.

Recordings of the Address from Bishop Lee and video remembrance of those in the diocese who have died in the past year are also available.

If you have any questions, you may contact Barbara Klauber, administrative assistant, at or (414) 272-3028/ext. 111.

Minutes of the 174th Diocesan Convention (Draft)
Election Results
Bishop Lee's Address to the Convention text
Agenda
Proposed Diocesan Budget for 2022
Resolutions
Nominations for All Elected Positions
Bishop's Appointments
Convention Reports
Rules of Order
Special Rules for Virtual/Distance Conventions

Special Convention | June 26

A Special Convention to confirm Bishop Jeffrey Lee as the provisional bishop of the diocese was held on June 26. You may view a recording of the proceedings below.

Approved Minutes from the June 26 Special Convention

2020 Diocesan Convention

The 173rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee was held remotely on Saturday, October 3. The convention was livestreamed and it is available to view on our YouTube channel, along with a special pastoral address from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Bishop Steven A. Miller, a tribute video with Bishop Miller to celebrate his 17 years of ministry with the diocese, and a remembrance video of those who have died in the diocese in the past year.

Election Results
Brief Agenda
Rules of Order for Diocesan Convention 2020
Nominations for Positions
2021 Budget Packet
Resolutions
Reports to the 2020 Diocesan Convention
Bishop's Appointments
Approved Minutes from the 173rd Diocesan Convention

Special Convention: July 16, 2020

Bishop Miller called a special convention on Thursday, July 16, 2020, for the sole item for consideration: amending the canons to allow us to hold our fall diocesan convention by virtual or electronic means.