The 173^rd Convention of the Diocese of WNY will take place October 29-30, 2010, at the Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga, NY. This will be Bishop Garrison's final Convention as our diocesan bishop.

Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori will be attending a portion of this Conveniton and will be the celebrant of the Convention Eucharist at St. Paul's Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday, October 30. Seating for this service for convention delegates and all others will be by reserved ticket.

Click the "Read More" link below to access these videos.

The following individuals were elected to diocesan offices by the 2009 Diocesan Convention:

• The Rev. Cathy Dempesy (4-year term)
• Mr. James Isaac (4-year term)
• The Rev. Alison Martin (2-year term)
• Mr. Tom Michaels (1-year term)

• Mr. Robert S. Petersen (3-year term)
• Mr. William Pictor (3-year term)

• Mr. Jason Elliott (3-year term)
• Ms. Paula Stockman (3-year term)
• The Rev. Deacon Tom Tripp (3-year term)

• Ms. Karran Swayze (5-year term)

Two resolutions were considered and passed this year's Convention.

The first directs Diocesan Council to include at least $2,000 in the diocese's 2010 budget "to provide seed money for further mission trips and support ongoing youth mission work throughout the diocese" and to direct Youth Commission to examine ways "to further engage in mission work at home and abroad extending opportunities to teach our young people the importance of service in God’s name." (Read related story)

The second allows for churches across the diocese "to celebrate John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court during our liturgical year, on May 17th." Such celebrations will help to pave the way for Jay's future inclusion in the book Holy Women, Holy Men, which will replace Lesser Feast & Fasts as a guide to special liturgical commemorartions throughout the church year.

Diocesan Convention is the governing body of the diocese. It is held each year in late October. Convention is comprised of all clerics canonically resident in the diocese for at least six weeks prior to convention who are not under discipline, as well as up to three lay delegates from each congregation in union with the Convention. Congregations must notify the Secretary of Convention of the appointment of their lay delegates and alternates at least one week before the meeting of the convention.