2026 Annual Convention
Welcome to the 137th Annual Convention Information page for The Diocese of West Missouri. This year’s Eucharist will be held on November 6 at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Business Session held at The Kansas City Convention Center on November 7. Information about registration, nominations, schedule, and more can be found below.
Announcements
The 137th Annual Convention Registration is Now Open!
The 137th Annual Convention Registration is Now Open!
Read More
The 2025 Annual Convention Recap
The 2025 Annual Convention Recap
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2025 Annual Convention Livestream
2025 Annual Convention Livestream
Read MoreSchedule and Agenda
Schedule
TBD
Business Session Agenda
TBD
Holy Eucharist & Dinner
Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral
415 W 13th St,
Kansas City, MO 64105
November 6, 2026
Holy Eucharist will be held at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, with live-streaming available for people to watch.
Business Session
The Kansas City Convention Center
301 W 13th St. #100
Kansas City, MO 64105
November 7, 2026
The Business Session of our Annual Convention will be held at The Kansas City Convention Center. Final room numbers will be announced at a later date.
Registration
Registration for the 2026 Annual Convention is now open. Please register by October 23 if you plan to attend. If you’ve registered as a delegate or alternate, you will need to bring a device with internet access in order to vote.
Please note that all delegates are expected to attend the dinner with the guest speaker on Friday evening. If you are not a delegate, please indicate in the form if you would also like to attend the dinner following the Eucharist.
If you missed the deadline, or if you have any questions or issues during registration, reach out to our Communications Director or the Bishop’s Assistant at 816.471.6161.
Delegate Changes
We recognize that we’re still aways from our convention date and the situation is constantly changing. So, if your attendance needs changed after registering, no problem; just let us know by October 23 by emailing the Bishop’s Assistant. After October 23, however, any delegate changes must be presented IN WRITING on November 6 using the form linked below. This form will also be available at the check-in desk, if needed.
Hotel Options
The diocese will NOT be providing blocks for hotel rooms this year. Rather, hotel accommodations will be the responsibility of each registrant. Below you will find nearby hotels that we recommend. If you have any questions about reserving a hotel room, please contact Rachael Orth, Events Coordinator, for more information.
Spark by Hilton Streetcar
Room Rate: $159-180
4309 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
3.5 miles from the Kansas City Convention Center
816-561-9600
Breakfast Included
Free Parking
LaQuinta Inn and Suites
Room Rate: $115-149
2321 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64108
1.4 miles from the Kansas City Convention Center
816-875-0711
Breakfast Included
Free Parking
Kansas City Marriott
Room Rate: $225-350
200 W 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64105
0.1 miles from the Kansas City Convention Center
816-421-6800
Parking Fee: $35-45
Holiday Inn Express
Room Rate: $155-181
417 E. 13th St., Kansas City, MO 64106
0.5 miles from the Kansas City Convention Center
816-474-1000
Breakfast Included
Parking Fee: $30
Resolutions
Extract from the Canons and Constitution
Business before the Convention
- No resolution shall be considered as before the house unless it has been submitted in writing (including electronic submission in a manner approved by the Bishop and the Secretary) and has been received by the Bishop and Secretary four weeks before the opening of Convention to allow distribution to all delegates and introduction by title at Convention.
- Any resolution which has not been presented to the Bishop and to the Secretary four weeks prior to the convention date will not be considered as before the House unless copies of such resolution are made available to every delegate and, at Convention, two-thirds of said delegates agree to consider such resolution.
Resolutions Deadline & Submissions
The deadline to submit resolutions is October 9. For more information, please contact the Rev. Canon Robin James, Resolutions Chair, at rectorgrace520@gmail.com.
Resolutions Referred to Dioceses from the 81st General Convention
A043. Amend Constitution Article VIII regarding Clergy in Local Ecumenical Partnerships [First Reading]
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Article VIII of the Constitution by adding the following paragraph at the end of the existing article:
<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>
Of Clergy in Local Ecumenical Partnerships
Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) are ministries that may be formed between Episcopal dioceses and their parallels in other Christian denominations in order to provide shared pastoral leadership.
An ordained minister in good standing of one of the constituent denominations identified in the canons may be appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese to serve in this Church on a temporary basis as part of a Local Ecumenical Partnership as governed by the relevant canons.
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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>
Of Clergy in Local Ecumenical Partnerships
Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) are ministries that may be formed between Episcopal dioceses and their parallels in other Christian denominations in order to provide shared pastoral leadership.
An ordained minister in good standing of one of the constituent denominations identified in the canons may be appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese to serve in this Church on a temporary basis as part of a Local Ecumenical Partnership as governed by the relevant canons.
A224. Amend Article X with clarifying amendments (post 2024-A072) [First Reading]
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church repeal Article X, Sections 1 and 2, and replace with the following:
<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>
Article X: Of The Book of Common Prayer
Sec. 1. The Book of Common Prayer is those liturgical forms, communal and devotional prayers, and other content authorized by the General Convention in accordance with this article and shall be enriched by our church’s cultural, geographical, and linguistic contexts. The Book of Common Prayer, as now established or hereafter amended by the General Convention shall be in use in all the Dioceses and other jurisdictions of this Church. Any Book of Common Prayer, or portions thereof, memorialized by the General Convention, is authorized for use at any service in all the Dioceses and other jurisdictions of this Church.
Sec. 2. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the General Convention approve the same on first reading in one regular meeting of the General Convention and, by resolve so directing, be sent by the Secretary of the General Convention to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese and other jurisdictions, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention at its next regular meeting, and be adopted on second reading without alteration by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by an affirmative vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Art. I, Sec. 5 of this Constitution, except that concurrence in the affirmative by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses and other jurisdictions entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.
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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>
Article X: Of The Book of Common Prayer
Sec. 1. The Book of Common Prayer is those liturgical forms, communal and devotional prayers, and other content authorized by the General Convention in accordance with this article and shall be enriched by our church’s cultural, geographical, and linguistic contexts. The Book of Common Prayer, as now established or hereafter amended by the General Convention shall be in use in all the Dioceses and other jurisdictions of this Church. Any Book of Common Prayer, or portions thereof, memorialized by the General Convention, is authorized for use at any service in all the Dioceses and other jurisdictions of this Church.
Sec. 2. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the General Convention approve the same on first reading in one regular meeting of the General Convention and, by resolve so directing, be sent by the Secretary of the General Convention to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese and other jurisdictions, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention at its next regular meeting, and be adopted on second reading without alteration by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by an affirmative vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Art. I, Sec. 5 of this Constitution, except that concurrence in the affirmative by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses and other jurisdictions entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.
Article X: Of The Book of Common Prayer
Sec. 1. The Book of Common Prayer is understood to be those liturgical forms and other texts authorized by the General Convention in accordance with this article and the Canons of this Church.
The Book of Common Prayer in this Church is intended to be communal and devotional prayer enriched by our church’s cultural, geographical, and linguistic contexts. The Book of Common Prayer shall contain both public worship and private devotion. The Book of Common Prayer, as now established or hereafter amended by the General Convention, shall be in use in all the Dioceses of this Church.
Sec. 2. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the General Convention approve the same on first reading in one regular meeting of the General Convention and, by resolve so directing, be sent by the Secretary of the General Convention to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention at its next regular meeting, and be adopted on second reading without alteration by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by an affirmative vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Art. I, Sec. 5 of this Constitution, except that concurrence in the affirmative by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.
D049 Increase by one the possible number of bishops suffragans in a Diocese [First Reading]
Resolved, That Article II of the Constitution is amended as follows:
<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>
Article II: Of Bishops
Sec. 4. It shall be lawful for a Diocese, at the request of the Bishop of that Diocese, to elect not more than three Bishops Suffragan, without right of succession, and with seat and vote in the House of Bishops. A Bishop Suffragan shall be consecrated and hold office under such conditions and limitations other than those provided in this Article as may be provided by Canons of the General Convention. A Bishop Suffragan shall be eligible for election as Bishop Diocesan or Bishop Coadjutor of a Diocese, or as a Bishop Suffragan in another Diocese.
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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>
Article II: Of Bishops
Sec. 4. It shall be lawful for a Diocese, at the request of the Bishop of that Diocese, to elect not more than two three Bishops Suffragan, without right of succession, and with seat and vote in the House of Bishops. A Bishop Suffragan shall be consecrated and hold office under such conditions and limitations other than those provided in this Article as may be provided by Canons of the General Convention. A Bishop Suffragan shall be eligible for election as Bishop Diocesan or Bishop Coadjutor of a Diocese, or as a Bishop Suffragan in another Diocese.
Changes to the Book of Common Prayer:
A116 Marriage Rites for Inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer (First Reading)
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention authorize for trial use under Article X.b the following revisions to the Book of Common Prayer 1979:
BCP pp. 349 and 381: Following the Preface of Marriage, add the rubric “or this”, followed by Preface of Marriage, Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) Blue Book report p. 39
BCP p. 423: Revise the title to read “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage I”
BCP p. 433: Revise the title to read “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage I”
BCP p. 435: Revise the title to read “An Order for Marriage I”
Following BCP p. 438, add The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, SCLM Blue Book report pp. 28-36; The Blessing of Civil Marriage, SCLM Blue Book report pp. 36-37; An Order of Marriage, SCLM Blue Book report pp. 37-38; and Additional Directions, SCLM Blue Book Report, pp. 38-39; with the following revisions:
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 28: Revise the first paragraph Concerning the Service as follows: “At least one of the parties must be a baptized Christian; the ceremony must be attested by at least two witnesses; and the marriage must conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church.”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 29: Revise the title to read “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage II”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 35: Replace “Preface of the Season” with “Preface of Marriage, or of the Season”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 36: Revise the title to read “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage II”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 37: Revise the title to read “An Order for Marriage II”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 37: Replace the first paragraph of An Order of Marriage with the following text: “If it is desired to celebrate a marriage otherwise than as provided in the Book of Common Prayer or any authorized alternative thereto, this Order is used.”
SCLM Blue Book Report p. 37: Revise paragraph 3 of An Order of Marriage as follows: “The laws of the State and the canons of this Church having been complied with, the couple, together with their witnesses, families, and friends assemble in the church or in some other convenient place.”
Blue Book Report p. 37: Revise #1 of An Order of Marriage as follows: “The teaching of the Church concerning Holy Matrimony, as it is declared in the formularies and canons of this Church, is briefly stated.”
And be it further
Resolved, That these liturgies authorized for trial use be made available electronically at no cost; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be directed to engage a dynamic equivalence translation of these texts into the Spanish, French, and Kreyol languages; and be it further
Resolved, That the liturgies The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, The Blessing of a Civil Marriage, and An Order for Marriage as authorized in The Book of Common Prayer 1979 continue to be authorized for use in all dioceses of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention request the Executive Council Budget Committee to allocate $12,000 for translation.
Sample Resolution
Title: Request for feasibility study for establishing a new congregation.
Proposer: Vestry of St. John by the Pond Church, Enterprise City, Vestry of St. Sebastian’s Arrowville.
Resolved: that the Diocesan Convention direct the Congregational Development Commission to undertake a research project to determine the feasibility and potential success of a new congregation in Jones County, Missouri and be it further,
Resolved: that the Convention allocate $500 from the Church Planting Fund to cover the cost of the study and be it further,
Resolved: that the Convention direct the Commission to report results of the study no later than six weeks prior to the 2014 Diocesan Convention.
Explanation:
Jones County is the third fastest growing geographic area in the diocese. New residents have been attracted by the satellite campus of South Lake Community College, the new microchip factory and the Amazon.com warehouse in Pike Center, the largest town in the county. The availability of jobs and the attractive surroundings of Jones County suggest the likelihood that population will continue to grow.
At this time, the two closest Episcopal Churches are St. Sebastian’s Arrowville and St. John by the pond Enterprise City. Both are more than one hour drive from Pike Center. Within a 25 mile radius of Pike Center, there are only three churches.
The proposers believe that sufficient population exists in Jones County to motivate a study in support of establishing a new congregation of the Episcopal Church. The proposers feel strongly that members of the Congregational Development Commission have the knowledge, expertise and experience to conduct and report a study that would provide additional information pertinent to a decision to establish a new congregation.
Reports
How to Submit a Report
The deadline for Committees and Ministries to send reports to Diocesan Convention is October 9.
Chairs of all funded Diocesan Committees and Ministries are required to complete an annual written report to Diocesan Convention. Leaders are to complete the online form (below), which will assist you in answering the following questions for this year’s report:
- What are the highlights of your ministry for 2026?
- What are your plans for ministry in 2027?
- Who are the members of your commission, committee or ministry (with email address, if possible)?
Careful and considered answers to these questions will continue to help guide us in being more missional minded and more consistent in thinking through how our ministries meet or fail to meet the imperatives of the Gospel.
Submit Report
Convention Materials
Ministry Fair
If you’d like to sign up your committee or organization for a booth during the ministry fair, please click the button below to register by October 23.
Please note: Submitting this form does NOT fulfill Convention Registration. You must still register for Convention by using the registration link above. It is also against policy to sell anything at the Convention Center on Saturday. If you have any special requests or need more information, please contact Ronald Weil, Finance Administrator, for details.
