SPECIAL ELECTION
Voting on changes to The Fund for the Diaconate's Bylaws and status
February 3-27, 2025
Voting on changes to The Fund for the Diaconate's Bylaws and status
February 3-27, 2025
You're Invited - Join these special meetings about the election
Monday, February 10
8:00 pm ET, virtual
This is an “open mic” session where the Board and president will respond to any questions and concerns you might have about the proposed bylaw changes. You can also contact president Deacon Keith McCoy directly.
Zoom link Meeting ID: 892 1777 4597; Passcode: 098587
Monday, March 10
8:00 pm ET, virtual
Members* of the Fund are invited to attend a special meeting to announce the results of this special election.
Meeting details and agenda.
Zoom link to come
*A member is defined in the Fund bylaws as “all deacons in The Episcopal Church, and in good standing, who have not been further ordained.
Monday, February 10
8:00 pm ET, virtual
This is an “open mic” session where the Board and president will respond to any questions and concerns you might have about the proposed bylaw changes. You can also contact president Deacon Keith McCoy directly.
Zoom link Meeting ID: 892 1777 4597; Passcode: 098587
Monday, March 10
8:00 pm ET, virtual
Members* of the Fund are invited to attend a special meeting to announce the results of this special election.
Meeting details and agenda.
Zoom link to come
*A member is defined in the Fund bylaws as “all deacons in The Episcopal Church, and in good standing, who have not been further ordained.
Ballot Details
The proposal being voted on is to change the Fund's Bylaws, making it a non-membership corporation, and eliminating the need for annual elections.
The reasons we are asking for this change are several:
As part of the changes to the bylaws (as drafted by our attorneys at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett), we will also be changing the size of the board, from 9 elected directors who elect a voting president and treasurer to manage the affairs of the Fund, to a 12-member board, from which all officers will be elected. We have been working on moving the administrative duties from board members to part-time staff, and expect to complete that process in the next two years. The revised bylaws will also institute term limits on the directors.
If approved, these changes will go into effect on May 1, 2025 and implement certain other changes to Fund’s current governance structure and procedures.
The proposal being voted on is to change the Fund's Bylaws, making it a non-membership corporation, and eliminating the need for annual elections.
The reasons we are asking for this change are several:
- It is increasingly difficult to get a list of all deacons in The Episcopal Church, while at the same time New York State law requires us to reach out to all deacons;
- It is increasingly expensive to run elections, especially when the ballot returns run around 15%;
- We are essentially a charitable foundation that supports deacons in need, rather than a membership organization that represents the interests of deacons.
As part of the changes to the bylaws (as drafted by our attorneys at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett), we will also be changing the size of the board, from 9 elected directors who elect a voting president and treasurer to manage the affairs of the Fund, to a 12-member board, from which all officers will be elected. We have been working on moving the administrative duties from board members to part-time staff, and expect to complete that process in the next two years. The revised bylaws will also institute term limits on the directors.
If approved, these changes will go into effect on May 1, 2025 and implement certain other changes to Fund’s current governance structure and procedures.
Voting Details
All vocational deacons in The Episcopal Church, in good standing, will receive a ballot.
Voting will be electronic, with ballots sent via email from Election Buddy on February 3. The email will contain a link to access your ballot. All ballots are anonymous. Those without an email address on file will receive a paper ballot. Two deacons sharing one email will receive two paper ballots, because only one electronic ballot per email address is allowed by the software.
NOTE: You will only receive a ballot in ONE form.
All vocational deacons in The Episcopal Church, in good standing, will receive a ballot.
Voting will be electronic, with ballots sent via email from Election Buddy on February 3. The email will contain a link to access your ballot. All ballots are anonymous. Those without an email address on file will receive a paper ballot. Two deacons sharing one email will receive two paper ballots, because only one electronic ballot per email address is allowed by the software.
NOTE: You will only receive a ballot in ONE form.
After February 3, if you cannot find your ballot:
- Check your email's spam and junk folders for an email from The Fund for the Diaconate.
- Check your old email accounts. We may not have been informed of your new email address.
- If you still cannot find the email with your ballot, contact our communications director Deacon Anne.