View & Print PDF

Guidelines, Policies & Procedures for the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas Annual Diocesan Convention

  1. Seating:
    1. Registered voting members must sign the credentials sheet each day at the beginning of the session. Only registered voting members may be seated on the floor of convention. Only the President of Convention (the Bishop) may authorize exceptions to this policy.
    2. Seating for the business session will be at tables by delegations. Some delegations may share a table with others. In an overflow situation, you may sit at any unoccupied space near your delegation.
  2. Please silence all cell phones, pagers and other noise making devices.
  3. The Nominations Committee will present its report, and at that time nominations from the floor will be accepted. Floor nominations must either be submitted online by completing the form at https://form.jotform.com/231745140626149 or be in writing and on the proper form. These forms can be obtained from Mrs. Elizabeth Jones or on the distribution table.
  4. All motions for convention, other than procedural motions, must be presented to the Secretary of Convention, Mr. Michael Pullen, by submitting the form online located at https://form.jotform.com/202585571305050 or in writing on the motion forms available on the distribution table or from Mrs. Elizabeth Jones.
  5. If you would like to have an announcement made to the Convention, please bring it in writing to the Chair of Dispatch of Business, Ms. Debbie Cox.
  6. If you have a question or point of order for the members of Convention, please comply with these procedures:
    1. Proceed to one of the floor microphones and wait to be acknowledged.
    2. Once acknowledged, state your name and the congregation or organization you represent. Only then may you proceed with your remarks.
    3. Please follow this procedure every time you come to the microphone, even if you have previously introduced yourself.
  7. At the discretion of the President, should any topic or issue of convention be debated, such debate will be limited to a total of 30 minutes, using the following procedures:
    1. Two microphones on the floor will be used. Those speaking “for” the issue will use the one on the president’s left (the right of the delegates on the floor). Those speaking “against” the issue will use the microphone to the president’s right (the left of the delegates on the floor). At the time of debate, individuals wishing to speak to the issue should proceed to the appropriate microphone and wait your turn in line.
    2. We will alternate speakers, for and against, unless there is no one at the opposing microphone. We will also limit those who speak to one per congregation until every congregation who wishes to speak has had a chance to do so.
    3. Each speaker will have a two-minute time limit.
    4. These time limits, both the individual and total debate time, can only be extended by a two-thirds majority vote of the convention.