View this email in your browser

Dear Friends,

I hope the New Year finds you well. Diocesan Convention is just a month away! You are receiving this email because I need your help to involve more young people in our diocese’s Annual Convention.

Young People are WELCOME and STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to be part of this important event in the life of our Diocese. Inviting and including young people in the full life of the Diocese of East Carolina engages them in leadership of the Church now and compels them to remain in leadership in the future.

The information in this email will hopefully answer any questions you might have about involving young people from your parish in Diocesan Convention. If you have any other questions at Youth@Convention, please do not hesitate to be in touch.

Peace,

Emily Gowdy Canady, M.Ed

Missioner for Lifelong Christian Formation

Ways Young People Can Participate

in Diocesan Convention

Youth Representative

EVERY PARISH in the Diocese of East Caroline is invited to have ONE Youth Representative at Diocesan Convention. These young person will participate on the floor of Convention sitting with other Youth Representatives, they will have seat and voice.

Youth Representatives are currently in 9th - 12th grade (if in a non-traditional graded school, they must have turned 14 on or before August 31, 2022).

The Parish pays for all Youth Representative Convention fees.

IMPORTANT - If your parish currently has a young person serving on the East Carolina Youth Council, at minimum they will serve as their parish’s Youth Representative. Many ECYC members serve as elected delegates from their parish.

Delegate

Every parish in the Diocese of East Caroline may elect ANYONE SIXTEEN or older to serve as a delegate. (Constitution Article IV: 3(a); 19-21)

Youth elected as delegates are registered the SAME way as every other delegate from your parish. Youth elected as delegates are part of the parish’s overall delegate count for Convention. (Constitution Article IV: 3(a): 21-27)

All elected delegates sit with their parish on the flor of Convention.

The parish pays Convention fees and expenses for all delegates. (Title 1 Canon 1.6; 26-30)

IMPORTANT - If your parish currently has a young person serving on the East Carolina Youth Council, often ECYC members serve as elected delegates from their parish.

Convention Page

There are a limited number of spaces for the 140th Convention. Please contact Emily Gowdy Canady if you have a high school aged young person interested in serving in this capacity.

Housing, Meals, & Transportation for Youth@Convention

Housing

All young people who are participating in Diocesan Convention (Youth@Convention) will be housed with parishioners from St. Paul’s and St. Timothy’s in Greenville.

All participants are housed with at least one other Youth@Convention participant. All adults in the household are compliant with the required Safe Church Safe Communities standards of The Episcopal Church.

In compliance with Safe Church Safe Communities standards in our diocese young people may not be housed in a hotel room or other shared living space with parishioners UNLESS they are a parent or grandparent. Written documentation must be on file with the Missioner 2 weeks prior to Convention if this arrangement is made.

Meals

All meals beginning Friday evening through Saturday lunch are provided for young people participating in Youth@Convention. Details about this will be provided closer to convention.

Please note, parishes are welcome to invite young people to participate in parish meal plans, however compliance with Safe Church Safe Communities requirements about alcohol consumption and transportation is required.

Transportation

Parishes are responsible for helping any young person from their parish coordinate transportation to and from Diocesan Convention.

Safe Church Safe Communities standards must be followed. For questions regarding this, please contact Emily Gowdy Canady.

Young people can provide their own transportation. In this case they will be expected to provide their own transportation in and around Greenville.

Young people who do not provide their own transportation to and from Convention will have transportation provided for them by the Youth@Convention program during the event.

Other IMPORTANT Information

Expectations of Parishes for all Youth@Convention Participants

• Parishes cover all convention related fees for Youth@Convention participants

• Parishes include Youth@Convention participants in any pre-Convention gatherings of parish delegations, including deanery gathering or the like.

• Parishes ensure that Youth@Convention participants have Safe Church Safe Communities compliant transportation to and from Greenville.

Time & Commitment of

Young People for Convention

All young people who participate in Diocesan Convention need to arrive at the Greenville Convention center in Greenville by 4:15 PM on Friday, February 10th. Youth at Convention participants attend Convention Eucharist together. Dinner will follow.

Participants may need to miss some school on Friday, February 10th to arrive on time. Letter on Diocesan letterhead will be provided from the Missioner for those young people who request them.

Diocesan Convention will adjourn by 4:00 PM on Saturday, February 11th. Participants should have transportation coordinated for a prompt departure.

How to Register Young People

All parishes should have received a registration information in an email when Convention details were emailed. All delegates and Youth Representatives should use register using this process.