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The Standing Committee as the Ecclesiastical Authority

by | May 19, 2026 | Announcement, General News, Standing Committee, Transition Process | 0 comments

The Standing Committee as the Ecclesiastical Authority

(by The Rev. Dr. Darcy Williams)

 

Most people in the Episcopal Church know that the Standing Committee of a diocese functions as the council of advice and consent to the diocesan bishop. But things get more complicated when the office of bishop is vacant, as it is now in the Diocese of Easton. When that happens, the Standing Committee becomes the Ecclesiastical Authority. In other words, the six members of Easton’s Standing Commiittee function as a team to take on the responsibilities of governance and oversight of the diocese until a bishop provisional or a bishop diocesan is elected.

As the EA, we believe it is vitally important for us to be in regular communication with the diocese. To that end, each month an article written by a member of SC will be published, with the goal of sharing our individual insights with the diocesan community. The Very Rev. Greg Powell will be the author of the June offering. As President of SC, my role will continue to be sharing general information and updates.

 

What does this really mean to be the Ecclesiastical Authority? It means that, in addition to the basic roles of advice and consent, the SC meets regularly (currently twice a month) to:

 

  • oversee the regular operations of the diocese — the SC president attends weekly staff meetings
  • review, approve and sign letters of agreement
  • sign contracts and other legal documents
  • work closely with the Diocesan Council — the president of SC is seated on Council
  • sit as a member of the Board of Managers and several other committees
  • appoint qualified individuals to serve on diocesan committees with the consent of Convention
  • act as liaisons to every committee in the diocese to improve communication and tyransparency
  • interview candidates for diocsan staff employment
  • appoint an assisting bishop or call for the election of a bishop (provisional or diocesan)
  • nominate qualified candidates 
  • maintain regular communication with the congregations of the diocese
  • provide pastoral support to the clergy and congregations of the diocese

The six elected members of the Standing Committee are dedicated volunteers who are focused on doing our best to lead the diocese during this early phase of our diocesan transition. We are here for you and want to hear from you.

 

Members of The Standing Committee
The Rev. Dr. Darcy Williams (2027) – President
Linda Hurley (2027)
Deb Dragone (2028) — Secretary
The Very Rev. Greg Powell (2028)
The Rev. Charlotte Meyer (2029)
Granville Blades (2029)