One-Day Diocesan Convention Coming Nov. 7 at Holy Trinity Academy, Melbourne

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida will hold the second of two annual Diocesan Conventions for 2026 at the Scott Center for Worship and Performing Arts on the Upper School campus of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne. The theme for this 58th annual Diocesan Convention, “The Light of Life,” based on John 8:12, will emphasize the 2027 focus on “Gospel,” in keeping with the diocese’s Gospel-Church-Mission cycle.

“I look forward with joy to every chance to gather as the Diocese of Central Florida – and this year, we have that opportunity twice through our Diocesan Conventions,” said The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb. “Although a one-day Diocesan Convention like the one we are planning for November is not our new normal, we did conduct our Convention as a one-day gathering in 2024 with success. There was time for fellowship and worship, as well as the opportunity to get the work of the annual Convention accomplished.”

The shorter fall Convention (find detailed information and registration at this link) comes as part of an intentional effort to move the annual event to a better spot on both diocesan and church calendars, said the Rev. Canon Dr. Dan Smith, canon to the ordinary.

Making the Shift

“There are several reasons we’ve made this shift from January to November,” he said. “A November Convention will give significant relief to the prep work congregations have to do.

“With January Conventions, churches were left to conduct key business during the busy holiday season. A November Convention will free our congregations and clergy to truly enter those holidays – Advent, Christmas and the start of Epiphany – without adding to the pressure by having to prepare for the annual Diocesan Convention during this time too.

“With a Convention in November, our budget for the next year is passed so we can begin the next year with the budget in place,” Smith continued. “That’s exceedingly helpful as opposed to any kind of retrofitting of the budget. By canonical requirement, the fiscal year starts on Jan. 1; the fiscal year is the calendar year.”

“We’re grateful for our colleagues at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy for giving us space for this one-day Convention as an alternative to the hotel and convention center space we used last January,” he added. “We’ll probably move back to that type of venue in 2027, but this fall, we can streamline it, and we appreciate Holy Trinity’s hospitality.

“We really see this Convention as a bridge into what will be the new pattern of having a two-day Convention in the fall,” Smith said. “This November, we’ll still have a Convention Eucharist; we’ll still worship together; we’ll still have a Convention address; we’ll still elect those people we need to elect. We’ll adopt the budget; we will do all those things that are necessary according to the diocesan canons. We’ll try to be good stewards of our folks’ time while taking care of the required business.”

As Smith emphasized during the January 2026 Convention, feedback from clergy and congregations prompted the switch. “We had a number of people telling us that the January Conventions produced difficulties for them,” he said. “We listened to that and came up with the one-day November Convention as a solution. I would add that somewhere around two-thirds of the Episcopal dioceses in the country have their Conventions in the fall, for much the same reasons. With this change for us, 4 of the 5 dioceses in Florida will hold their Diocesan Convention in the fall of the year.”

Keeping Costs Down

For Central Florida, the primary difference between a one- and a two-day Diocesan Convention will be the lack of an educational component, a popular addition in recent years. At this fall’s Convention, no outside exhibitors will attend, an additional saving of time, space and funds.

“We recognize that part of the need for a one-day Convention is to save on expenses for both congregations and for the diocese,” Smith said. “We have canonical responsibilities to maintain – such as voting on a budget and electing officers, the Diocesan Board and the Standing Committee – so we can’t just wait till the fall of 2027 to fulfill those. But this shorter convention will save on hotel and other expenses.”

“That educational event was introduced just a couple of years ago, and it has been a great success,” Smith said. “We’ve averaged close to 300 people attending on the day for the educational sessions, and we’ve had just a few more at the business meeting the next day. The majority of churches in the diocese have told us how much they like having that educational day, so in 2027, we’ll absolutely go back to a two-day Convention with the educational component as a major part.” Going forward, a fellowship dinner on Fridays will also be a regular part of standard two-day Conventions.

A $50 fee for each November 2026 Convention registrant will cover lunch and a portion of Convention expenses. For the two-day Convention in November 2027, Smith said the fee will return to a higher rate.

“Conventions really do cost something, and we’re already negotiating with a couple of different hotels,” Smith said. “Our people loved the convenience of being able to have everything in one space, and we are trying to hold the line on costs as much as we can. As they discuss their 2027 budgets, churches will need to plan ahead to cover expenses for their delegates, but the diocese will still bear the brunt of the cost.”

Registration and Other Information

Clergy and other church leaders can find registration and a host of related information for the November 2026 Convention at this link. For those who need overnight lodging Nov. 6, hotel information is available here (spots are limited, so please plan accordingly) along with information on the Nov. 7 lunch. Find the schedule, documents and deadlines for certification of delegates, nomination forms for candidates for election and submission forms for proposed amendments and resolutions, along with accompanying deadlines, at this link. Information on pre-Convention deanery meetings, including dates, times and upcoming elections, is available here.

“From the perspective of the bishop and his staff, we’re looking forward to this new pattern,” Smith said. “We believe it will enhance the life of the diocese and the work of our congregations. It will free up our congregations to enjoy the holiday season and then hold their own annual meetings. As always, we look forward to gathering at Convention for worship, fellowship and the business the diocese needs to conduct.”

Register delegates, complete various election forms and find additional information for the November 2026 Diocesan Convention – including a preview of the Convention theme “The Light of Life” – at info.cfdiocese.org/nov2026diocon. Check the Convention landing page regularly. It will be updated frequently as November approaches.