Under the theme of “Unity,” the 228th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York will unfold on Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13 at the Marriott in Tarrytown.

Registration opens at 11 am on Friday and the Convention is expected to conclude by Saturday at 4 pm.

There’s a full agenda of business for the Convention — elections, budget review, resolutions and reports. Business items include the discussion of a $10 million Diocesan budget for 2005. But, there will also be ample time for fellowship and camaraderie over the two days.

And, there will be some surprises and smiles interspersed throughout the two-day event.

Friday’s highlights include the Convention opening, the vote for the first ballot, half of the workshops, the Eucharist and the banquet.

The Convention Eucharist, slated for the Ballroom, is being planned by members from the Mid-Hudson Region.

Bishop Mark Sisk is scheduled to make his address on Saturday morning, immediately following Morning Prayer. Others slated to address Convention include Bishop Catherine Roskam and Bishop E. Don Taylor.

Elections
Officers for these positions will be elected at Convention: one clergy person and one layperson to Standing Committee; six to Diocesan Council; three to Diocesan Trustees; four clergy and four lay Deputies to General Convention and Provincial Synod; one clergy person and one layperson to the Committee to Elect a Bishop; and three clergy persons and seven laypersons as nominees to Cathedral Trustees.

Resolutions
Convention delegates will be asked to discuss and act upon a series of resolutions. The topics include:

Canons
This year, the Canons Committee is not submitting any canons for review by Convention.

Workshops
A series of workshops will be offered during the Convention on a variety of critical topics. The workshops and presenters include:

Exhibitors
Exhibitors will be lining the walls of the Marriott ready and available with information, wares and other items that are of interest and importance to Episcopalians. As of press time, exhibitors included:

Spouses/Partners
Because of the success of the event last year, Mrs. Karen Sisk is again inviting clergy spouses and partners for lunch, conversation and a program during the Convention. Invitations with more information will be sent shortly.

Disabilities Notices
A signer will provide translation of the Convention proceedings into American Sign Language. Like last year, large screen presentations by C2 Inc. will display simultaneous text of the speeches, dialogues and performance.

Awards and Presentations
As always, any awards or presentations made at the Convention won’t be announced until Convention!

Entertainment
Keep your eyes and ears open for some interesting, wonderful, joy-filled entertainment throughout the Convention.

At the banquet on Friday evening following the Eucharist, Convention attendees will be treated to special entertainment by an Episcopal comedian — really! Mark MacGougan is a comedian who has a sharp eye for the Episcopal ways of doing things.

MacGougan is an Episcopal layperson from the Diocese of Connecticut. For the past 10 years, he has developed a series of comedy routines explaining Episcopal practices. He has presented these routines at churches and conferences across the region. He attributes the wide popularity of his presentations to the generous willingness of the Episcopal community to laugh at itself — and to “a pathetic shortage of Episcopal humorists.”

Pre-Convention Caucuses
As usual there will be three Pre-Convention Caucuses, one in each of the areas of the Diocese. The three sessions will begin at 10 am and will include an overview of the Convention’s business and an opportunity to meet the candidates for the various offices:

Convention Planning Committee
The Convention Planning Committee is led by James A. Forde, Sr., Secretary of Convention. Members of the committee are the Rev. Randolph Alexander, Christ the Redeemer, Pelham Manor; Charles Banks, Jr., Vice Chancellor; Sanders Davies, Inspector of Election; Catherine Grant, St. Andrew’s, Bronx; the Rev. Lynn B. Harrington, St. John’s, South Salem; David Jette, Trinity, Manhattan; Jeanette Matthews, Grace, Nyack; the Rev. Wayne Nicholson, St. Paul’s, Chester; Peter Ng, Our Savior, Manhattan; Marsha Ra, Congregation of St. Saviour at the Cathedral; the Rev. F. Monroe (Buddy) Stallings, Ascension, Staten Island; the Rev. Burtner Ulrich, St. John’s, Getty Square, Yonkers, who is also Canons Committee Chair; George J. Wade, Chancellor; and Sally Wilson.

Staff members serving on the committee are: Annette E. Fredenburgh, Assistant Secretary of Convention; Gloria Fitzgerald, Manager of Office Services; Dall Forsythe, Chief Administrative Officer; Neva Rae Fox, Director of Communications; and the Rev. Jerry Keucher, Controller.