The governance of the diocese is vested in the bishop and the governing councils and boards, including the Diocesan Convention, the Board of Directors, the Commission on Ministry, and the Standing Committee, each of which exercises specific duties and authority assigned to them by the constitution and canons of the diocese and of The Episcopal Church.

The Bishop serves as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese, with the charge of convening the annual convention or special conventions, presiding at conventions, serving as president of the diocesan corporation and as an ex-officio member of the Commission on Ministry. When the diocese is without a bishop, whether due to a vacancy or disability, the role of ecclesiastical authority is assumed by the Standing Committee. 

The Diocesan Convention, composed of lay delegates and canonically resident and licensed clergy, elects the ordinary and suffragan bishops of the diocese, and the officers of the convention and certain committees and commissions; sets the programs and policies of the diocese; adopts a budget for funding program and administration; sets assessments for funding the budget; and approves the admission of parishes or mission congregations to the diocese.

The Board of Directors heads the Corporation that acts as the legal body for the Diocese under the laws of the State of Iowa. The directors are trustees of all diocesan properties and monies. They also are responsible for the Iowa Diocesan Foundation Fund, which is a flexible and convenient investment fund for congregations as well as diocesan endowments and bequests. The directors necessarily are involved in the areas of property and securities. The directors also assist the Bishop in setting mission and ministry priorities, and assessing the work of its various commissions.

The Commission on Ministry is charged with determining the current and future ministry needs of the diocese; recruiting aspirants for holy orders, and guiding and examining postulants and candidates for ordination; promoting continuing education for clergy and lay professionals; supporting and affirming ministry of lay people; and reporting annually to the Diocesan Convention. The Commission on Ministry assists the Bishop and the Standing Committee under the provisions of Title III of the Canons of the General Convention and the Canons of the Diocese of Iowa.

The Standing Committee acts as a council of advice to the Bishop. They approve or disapprove candidates for Holy Orders, the ordination of deacons and priests, all elections to the Episcopate in the General Church, and selling church property. They are responsible for the life of the Diocese in the absence or incapacity of the Bishop.

Proposed Convocations

We are in the process of restructuring: mission “chapters” are transitioning to “convocations.”

The transition from ten Chapters to four Convocations will take place in three ways.

1) The change from ten to four, and the designation of which congregations are in each of the four:

this will formally take effect as of Diocesan Convention 2025, although the Joint Chapter Meeting did use the four groupings for discussion.

2) The transition of Board membership:

each Convocation, like each Chapter, will select a Board Representative who will normally serve for a three-year term. Those terms will alternate between clergy and lay as they currently do.

This transition will take place over the next three years, as Chapter Representatives who are currently serving on the Board of Directors continue to serve and complete their terms. In 2025 and 2026, Convocations will not select Board Representatives as the number of Board members decreases. In 2027, Convocations will select Board Representatives at a Joint Convocation Meeting and those representatives will begin their terms at Convention in 2027. By Convention of 2027 the Board of Directors will have ten members: six at large (one clergy and one lay representative elected at Convention each year) and four Convocation Representatives (selected by Convocations and alternating between clergy and lay).

3) Canonical changes:

at Diocesan Convention, 2025 we will vote on canonical changes to clarify the details and the process of this change from ten Chapters to four Convocations. These changes will include changes to both Canon 15 (Of Mission Chapters) and Canon 7 (Of the Episcopal Corporation). The resolutions incorporating these changes will be available before Convention and will be discussed at the pre-convention hearings (which everyone is encouraged to attend) to provide space for questions and discussion

For Reference: Mission Chapters

The diocese has ben arranged into Mission Chapters that meet at least twice a year together.