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BY-LAWS OF THE DISTRICT CONVOCATIONS
OF THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
I. DISTRICT CONVOCATIONS
Pursuant to the provisions of Canon 8.1, the Diocesan Council
of the Diocese of Newark shall divide the Diocese into districts in each of which there shall be a Convocation.
In addition to such Canonical and other duties as may be assigned by the Convention, the role and responsibilities
of each such Convocation shall be as determined by the Bishop.
II. MEMBERSHIP
Each Convocation shall be composed of
(i) Every Clergy person canonically resident or licensed to officiate in the Diocese, who regularly serves a Parish,
Aided Parish, Incorporated Mission or Mission in the district as an officiating clergy person; and
(ii) Three (3) Lay persons (at least one of whom shall be a Warden, Treasurer, Clerk or member of the Vestry or
Executive Committee, and, if possible, at least one of whom shall be between the ages of 14 and 21) from each Parish,
Aided Parish, Incorporated Mission or Mission in the district, elected at an annual or special meeting of the Parish,
Aided Parish, Incorporated Mission or Mission.
III. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES.
1. The Officers shall be a Convenor and a Secretary. The Convenor
shall be appointed by the Bishop for a one year term. The Secretary of the Convocation shall be elected by the
members of the Convocation at the first meeting of the Convocation following Diocesan Convention, and shall have
a one (1) year term. The Secretary need not be a member of the Convocation, and may be re-elected. No person may
serve more than four (4) consecutive years in any office.
2. The Convener shall preside at all meetings. In the absence of the Convener, the senior member of the Convocation
Clergy present shall preside. The Convener shall present a written report to the Bishop, to Diocesan Council and
to the Convention on the activities of the Convocation annually, such report to be made on or before the December
meeting of Diocesan Council.
3. The Secretary (or a recording secretary appointed by the Convener acting under the direction of the Secretary)
shall issue calls for all meetings and shall keep minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall report to the Convocation
at each meeting thereof. Copies of the minutes shall be mailed to the bishop's office.
IV. MEETINGS.
1. Each district Convocation shall hold stated meetings at least
quarterly within the District. To the extent possible, the location of such meetings shall rotate within the district.
If no quorum is present at a stated meeting, those present may adjourn the meeting to another date.
2. Special Meetings may be called by the Convener or at the request of the Bishop. Notice of special meetings must
be given at least three days before the date thereof by telephone or FAX. All telephonic notices must be confirmed
in writing.
3. The presence of lay and/or clergy representatives from a majority of the Churches within the district shall
constitute a quorum.
4. At the last meeting of the Convocation prior to Convention, each district Convocation shall elect representatives
to Diocesan Council. There shall be one (1) Clergy representative and one (1) lay representative. Each shall serve
for a term of two (2) years, and no person may serve more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms. They shall be
elected in alternate years, such that the term on one such representative will end each year.
V. REVISION.
These By-Laws may be altered or amended at any time by the concurring
votes of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Diocesan Council, provided notice of such proposed
alteration or amendment has been given at a previous meeting, or by the unanimous vote of all of the members of
Diocesan Council with or without prior notice.
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