Diocesan Organizations

THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF UTAH provides leadership, services, and support by balancing responsibility and authority.

Bishop and Staff

The leadership of any diocese is vested in the bishop, and ours is no different. During the episcopacy of the incumbent, Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish, significant changes occurred in diocesan structure, influence, and breadth and depth of participation of clergy and lay members. Bishop Irish directed some of these changes, some arose from need, and others presented themselves as welcome opportunities. But it’s clear that for whatever reason our diocese is much different than it was at the end of the 1990s.

Our leaders have faced a variety of challenges in recent years. Their myriad responses are discussed throughout in this profile and include: The Episcopal Church Center of Utah; the Diocesan Council and its regional structure; "Living Boldly," a five-year strategic plan for the diocese and its attendant cornerstones; Latino congregations; the Utah Ministry Formation Program with its extended opportunities for local preparation for ordination; special ministries for clergy and lay alike; and Project Jubilee.

The Standing Committee

The powers, functions, and duties of the Standing Committee align with the General Constitution, the General Canons, the Diocesan Constitution and Canons, and resolutions of the Convention. The Standing Committee acts as the bishop's Council of Advice; when there is no bishop, the Standing Committee is the ecclesiastical authority. It consents to ordination and consecration of bishops in other dioceses as well as for all ordinations within the diocese. Acting with the consent of the bishop, it also gives consent for the encumbrance or alienation of all real property held or managed by the diocese, congregations, institutions, or the Corporation of the Episcopal Church in Utah, of which the Standing Committee members serve as Trustees. Also they report the anticipated distribution from the Perpetual Trust of Saints Peter and Paul to the council for incorporation in the budget of the diocese for the next year.

Six elected members comprise the Standing Committee, three clergy and three lay. The bishop, chancellor, and the Secretary of Convention are ex-officio members with seat and voice.

The Diocesan Council

The council was formed by an act of Diocesan Convention in October 2003. The council comprises the bishop, six elected clergy, and 10 elected lay members. Four members are elected by their respective regions, the others at the Diocesan Convention. The bishop serves as President of the Council, which generally meets 11 months of the year. Ex-officio members include the chancellor, the treasurer, and the canon to the ordinary. There is an Executive Committee to work with the bishop on matters coming before the Council. The Council develops, adopts, and monitors the annual budget of the diocese, advises the bishop on financial issues, oversees diocesan programs, engages with the bishop in strategic planning, develops/adjust clergy compensation guidelines, and performs such other work as may be committed to it by the bishop. In the six years that the council has been in existence, it has accomplished a great deal including the creation of a policy manual and the five-year plan, called Living Boldly, for the missions and ministries of the diocese.

Commission on Ministry

The Commission on Ministry assists the bishop in the implementation of Title III "Ministry" of the General Canons of the Episcopal Church. It works for the development and support of the ministries of all baptized persons, clergy and lay. Specifically, the commission is to:

• provide for the development and affirmation of the ministry of all baptized persons in the church
• assist the bishop in providing for the ministry needs of the diocese
• support baptized laypersons in the exercise of their respective ministries
• advise the bishop regarding the suitability of persons for the ordained ministry
• support the preparation of such persons for ordination
• support all ordained persons and the continuation of their respective ministries

In the last 15 years nearly 40 individuals have been raised up and prepared for ordained ministry. Six laypersons and three clergy appointed by the bishop and ratified by the Convention of the Diocese constitute the Commission on Ministry.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee maintains general supervision of the financial affairs of the diocese and the Corporation; provides for clarity and accuracy of the collection and disbursement of all funds, and ensures cooperation between the various officers, corporate bodies, diocesan committees and other entities. It acts as adviser to the bishop in financial matters and, upon request, as adviser to parishes and parochial cures.

Additionally, the Finance Committee is responsible to see that appropriate annual audits of the diocese, the corporation, the congregations, and all institutions are performed by qualified, independent auditing firms. They also assure that adequate insurance covers all assets of the diocese, including real property owned by, or held in trust for, the corporation.

Members of the Finance Committee, other than the diocesan treasurer, are elected by the Diocesan Council.