General Convention

GOVERNANCE: GENERAL CONVENTION

The General Convention of The Episcopal Church

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church. Every three years it meets as a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. The General Convention also includes Interim Bodies which meet between the triennial sessions to accomplish ongoing work and tasks set in the triennial sessions.

The last session of the General Convention (GC80), which was originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the pandemic. The 80th General Convention met in Baltimore, July 8 - 11, 2022. For complete coverage of GC80, visit the General Convention website HERE. To view reports and reflections from the Diocese of Hawai'i's GC80 Deputation, visit our General Convention Connection webpage HERE.

When and Where is it?

Approval by the Executive Council is among the steps in the selection of a location for General Convention. As required by canon, the decision needs to be approved by the majority of the presidents and vice presidents of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, the presidents of the Provinces, and the Executive Council.

Coming Up: 81st General Convention, 2024:
“The people of the Diocese of Kentucky are excited to host the 81st General Convention in 2024 in Louisville,” said the Rt. Rev. Terry A. White, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, “Along with our siblings in the Diocese of Lexington and in all the dioceses of Province IV, we look forward to extending a warm welcome to all deputies, bishops, visitors, guests, volunteers, and staff, and to share gracious hospitality, Kentucky-style. There will be so many opportunities to taste and see how gracious is our God of Love! We are grateful for this opportunity to serve.”

Over the next years, the General Convention Office will provide information, materials, educational items and other features about the General Convention, the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, and Baltimore, MD.

What is it?

General Convention is the triennial legislative gathering of The Episcopal Church and many of its national and global partners. The triennial gathering of Episcopal Church Women also takes place concurrently.

About 3,500 participate in the event and several thousand others will visit at some point to take part in activities ranging from worship, to exhibit hall time, to organizational dinners and special programs.

In addition to being a time devoted to legislative matters such as study, discussion, and voting, General Convention is also like a big family reunion. Seminaries and colleges host alumni gatherings; national organizations hold luncheons, dinners, or award presentations; and groups of friends from across the country and around the world gather to renew friendships.

Resources

Visit the General Convention website HERE where you'll find resources, including the schedule and Blue Book.

2024 CG81:
Deputies From
the Diocese of Hawai'i

Lay Deputies:

Ryan Kusumoto
Kim Arakawa
Roth Puahala
Mary Carpenter

Clergy Deputies:

Steven Costa
John A. Hau'oli Tomoso
David "Kawika" Jackson
Katlin McAllister

Aternates (Lay):

Evette Tampos
Faye Hee
John Decker
Kenneth Peter Lee

Alternates (Clergy):

Jennifer Latham
Brian Grieves
Paul Lillie
Charles Browning