CONVENTION 55
The Annual Meeting of The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
Friday & Saturday, October 20-21, 2023
​'Iolani School, Honolulu
FULL COVERAGE OF CONVENTION 55 CAN BE VIEWED ON THE NEWS WEBSITE​ HERE.
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Convention 55 is upon us and there are a number of important updates and reminders to ensure a smooth running event. Church leadership needs to make sure that your delegation is fully informed and prepared. In case you missed our last-minute update email (sent October 18), you can access it HERE.  Click on the buttons below for recently updated info:
ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR CONVENTION 55 IS NOW CLOSED!
For those who missed online registration, you are still able to register on the day of the event with the following important restrictions:

Friday, October 20 - Education Day
You may still participate in any of the activities on Friday, but you must register and pay by 9:30 AM​
Education Day is open to everyone!  Child care provided.
Saturday, October 20 - Annual Meeting
  • Clergy and delegates who have not yet registered online may still register in person on this day no later than 8:00 AM. Those registering after this time will lose voice and voting privileges.
  • All registered clergy and delegates must check in no later than 8:30 AM. Those arriving after this time will lose voice and voting privileges.

CONVENTION THEME:
Lessons:  
  • Ecclesiasticus 44:1-10, 13-14
  • Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17
  • Matthew 5:1-12
  • Psalm 149
“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.”  Matthew 5:6

​The conventon logo contains a poi pounder with taro leaf against a cross of water, which the Bishop says "is to remind us that to 'hunger and thirst after righteousness' includes both the call of justice to struggle for the physical needs of all people and to live personally in righteousness by living the promises of the Baptismal Covenant. We do all that by following Christ: 'taking up the cross and following Christ.' It reminds me that in Greek the word translated sometimes as 'justice' and sometimes as 'righteousness' is the same word (δικαιοσύνη). To 'hunger and thirst after righteousness' is about a change in the individual and the struggle for a just world."

Collect:  Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Welcoming Brother Ambrose and Brother Thomas as Chaplains

The Diocese of Hawai'i is delighted to welcome Brother Ambrose Cristóbal and Brother Thomas Steffensen to serve as our Chaplains during Convention 55.  Both are members of the Society of St. Francis (SSF), where our own Bishop Fitzpatrick serves as the Bishop Protector for the Province of the Americas since 2017.  As Protector, the Bishop serves as a consultant to the Society, and as a liaison between the community and The Episcopal Church USA.
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​Brother Ambrose Cristóbal, SSF (aka Masao Kawata) was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. In 2007, he came to the United States to enter the Society of St. Francis. 

He has lived in San Francisco, Long Island, and since 2010, Los Angeles, where he currently lives and works at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul.  He assists with bookkeeping, and in the retreat center of the Diocese of Los Angeles, is sexton in residence.

He has also been engaged in the ministry of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which began as a mission in 1907 to minister to Japanese immigrants.  He joined the choir and also served as a supply organist (when chief organist took his vacation). 

Brother Ambrose is interested in ancient languages and a self-professed bookworm. Pepper, calico mix, has lived with him since she was adopted from his neighbor in 2011.
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Brother Thomas Steffensen, SSF
​is a native of the west coast, and joined the Society of St. Francis in 2016. He is a writer, artist, facilitator, formator and spiritual director. He has extensive experience in leadership, public speaking, youth ministry and international missions.

​As a member of SSF, Thomas is currently part of the leadership teams for provincial leadership as well as formation. Within the greater Episcopal church, Thomas works with the Diocese of Northern Michigan as their diocesan chaplain and with the Diocese of New York as a formator for the Episcopal Service Corp program. For the past 5 years, Thomas has worked with several dioceses, churches, and groups, including the Living Waters Cooperative and the Mutual Ministry Initiative to explore and promote the view of Mutual Ministry within the wider church. He is currently living in New York, NY, while he completes training as a Jungian psychoanalyst at the C.G. Jung Institute of NYC.

Bishop's Letter to the Convention

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Bishop's letter to all members (elected lay delegates of congregations, clergy of denomination in full common with the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i and installed as Rector, Vicar, etc as per diocesan Canon 1.1) of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i. 

Bishop's Report to the Convention

(We apologize for the wrong link to the Bishop's Report that appeared in the October 18 update email. The correct link is shown above.)

Contact Information

For questions about the Annual Meeting and all related events, contact:  Rae Costa in the Diocesan Support Center at (808) 536-7776, ext. 326, or contact her by clicking here.

Legal Documents

To see a copy of the legal documents for The Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i, including the Constitution and Canons, please visit the "Legal" section on the "Forms and Documents" page.

e-Workbook Documents

Workbook: NEW! POSTED 10-18-23
​Budget: POSTED 9-6-23
​Substitute Budget: NEW! Coming 10-19-23
Nominations: POSTED 9-22-23
​Resolutions: UPDATED 10-18-23
  • Resolution #1: 2024 Minimum Clergy Compensation and Benefits Policy of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi ​
  • Resolution #2: To Establish a Tripartite Relationship Between The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i The Diocese of Batac in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente & The Diocese of Northern Luzon in the Episcopal; Church in the Philippines
  • Resolution #3: Protection of water (Ola I ka Wai - Water is Life) and urge the Office of Government affairs to advocate on protection of indigenous water and other natural resource rights
  • NEW! Substitute Resolution #3
  • Resolution #4: Resolution to Admit the Episcopal Church in Micronesia to the Diocese of Hawai‘i
  • NEW! Substitute Resolution #4

Nominations

Diocesan Council:  Exercises the power of the Convention and performs planning and policy-making between meetings of Convention. Oversees the policies, programs, mission, and budget of the Diocese and may initiate new work. Also is the legal corporate body of the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i and, as such, is responsible for the business and property of the Church. This is the Board of Directors of the Diocese. 

Standing Committee:  Serves as the Bishop’s Council of Advice. Performs duties as specified by the General and Diocesan Convention, and the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Hawai‘i. Serves as the Ecclesiastical authority when there is no Bishop. 

Cathedral Chapter:  Serves as the oversight body for The Cathedral of St. Andrew (both as a congregation and as the seat of the Bishop). 

Secretary of the Convention:  Records minutes, enters them in the Journal, and, under the supervision of the Bishop, attends to the publication and distribution of the Journal, and performs other duties as prescribed in the Diocesan Constitution and Canons. Chairs the Committee on Convention Plans for planning the agenda and making physical arrangements for the Convention. Maintains various directories of Diocesan officers, commissions, departments, etc.

Convention 55 Schedule
​(Subject to Change)

Friday, October 20, 2023 - Education Day
​8:30 AM - REGISTRATION OPENS

​10:00 AM - Plenary Session #1
11:30 AM - Lunch
12:15 PM - Plenary Session #2
1:45 PM - Break
​2:00 PM - Plenary Session #3

3:30 PM - OUTREACH WORK/CHOIR PRACTICE

4:00 PM - OPENING EUCHARIST
(Welcoming members for the open choir)

5:15 PM - ALOHA RECEPTION
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - Annual Meeting
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Credentials Check-in

8:30AM
Check-in CLOSED

8:45 AM
55th ANNUAL MEETING OF CONVENTION
​IS CALLED TO ORDER

​(There will be breaks as needed and a half hour lunch.)

​4:00 PM
​Meeting Concludes
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BRING WATER!  For those attending the Annual Meeting on Saturday, the Response to the Bishop's Address Committee is asking that attendees bring a small travel-size bottle (3-oz.) filled with water from their home, school or church. There will be a koa bowl prepared for everyone to pour their water into as they enter Seto Hall on Saturday. Be sure to hang on to the bottle afterwards... do not throw it away.

Information & Forms

ONLINE REGISTRATION  IS NOW CLOSED.
You may still register on the day of the event. See restrictions at the top of ths page.

Registration fees
Education Day: $35
​Aloha Reception: $15
Annual Meeting: $75
Registration and Credentials
  • ​Individual Registration Form​ (Register HERE)
  • Delegate Change Form -  If a Delegate that you elected in January is no longer able to attend, please complete the Delegate Change Form to change an elected Alternate to an elected Delegate OR if a Delegate that you elected in January is no longer able to attend AND none of the alternates you elected are able to attend or you did not elect any alternates.
Travel Costs 
The congregations of the Diocese share the costs of travel for the lay and clergy delegates (not alternates). The below documents that explain this practice and that detail the cost to each congregation will be posted at a later date. 
  • Shared Travel Memo - Explains the practice of sharing travel and shows how the calculation was done. Includes a description of the procedures for arranging travel. 
  • Shared Travel Assessment - Details the cost to each congregation and is included in the above Shared Travel Memo.  
Hotel and Ground Transportation
The Diocese does not provide funds for hotel or ground transportation.
Resolutions Nominations
  • Nominations Cover Letter -  What leadership vacancies are coming up? What type of person should the leader be? How is someone nominated? A letter to get those questions, and more, answered.
  • Nominations Office Descriptions - This document describes the functions, commitments, meetings, qualifications, etc. for vacant offices on the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Cathedral Chapter, and for Secretary of the Convention.
  • Nomination Form Online deadline submission: 4:00 pm on Sept. 6, 2023​ (45 days prior to the Annual Meeting).  After that deadline, nominations must be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting.  One need not be present to be nominated from the floor.  However, the person must consent to be nominated.
Necrology Reporting
  • Necrology Letter -  Instructions on how to report the names of those in your congregation who died from September 1, 2022 through Aug. 31, 2023 (inclusive). 
  • Necrology Reporting Form The form will open on September 1.  Submission Deadline will be 11:59 pm Sept. 20 for the names to be presented. 
  • ​Necrology list

IMPORTANT: Voting by Election Runner

Voting will be done through Election Runner and delegates must have access to an electronic device (laptop, tablet, smartphone) in order to vote.  If you are unfamiliar with electronic voting, the recorded Zoom session from last year's meeting and accompanying slideshow are available for viewing below: 
Click HERE for a copy of the slideshow.

Other helpful info & links...
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'IOLANI SCHOOL CAMPUS MAP:
iolani_school_campus_map_2023.pdf
File Size: 3449 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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Driving Directions to 'Iolani School via Google: 563 Kamoku St., Honolulu
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For lodging, Waikiki is less than 2 miles away from the school with hotel and condo options in all price ranges.
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