Joint Standing Committee on Nominations

The General Convention elects leaders to several governing bodies which guide and support the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church. The Joint Standing Committee on Nominations (JSCN) is charged with producing slates of nominees for election which collectively represent the full diversity of The Episcopal Church.

We seek a diverse and representative body of nominees, and will, in keeping with our Constitution and Canons, review all nominations in line with the requirement that “No person shall be denied access to… any process for the employment, licensing, calling, or deployment for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, immigration status, national origin, sex, marital or family status (including pregnancy and child care plans), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age.” (Title III, Canon 1.2, in relevant part.) 

To help potential nominees for election discern whether they may be called to stand for election to a role in churchwide leadership, the Joint Standing Committee has offers these guiding norms for all seeking election to any position at the 82nd General Convention in Phoenix, a timeline of the nominations process, and more detailed information  for each role for which the Joint Standing Committee on Nominations aims to present a diverse and qualified slate of nominees to General Convention. 

1. Faithful Participation & Engagement
All nominees are expected to:

• • Attend scheduled meetings—both in-person and virtual
  • Prepare thoroughly by reading materials in advance
  • Participate fully in committee and subcommittee work, and remain engaged with the work between meetings
  • Maintain faithful connection and collaboration with colleagues in ministry, even in times of strident disagreement.

2. Integrity & Appropriate Confidentiality
All nominees are expected:

• • Handle sensitive information with appropriate confidentiality according to each body’s agreed norms and expectations
  • Maintain the highest standards of integrity and impartiality
  • Avoid conflicts of interest, declare them when and if they do exist, and act only in the Church’s best interests

3. Technology & Collaboration
Nominees must be able to:

• • Work collaboratively across various geographic regions and time zones
  • Use Zoom, Teams, email, shared documents, and other digital platforms
  • Engage in work both in virtual meetings and outside of meeting times

4. Diversity of Skills, Identities & Perspectives
The Church seeks nominees who bring:

• • Representation that fully reflects the expansive diversity of The Episcopal Church
  • A wide range of lived experiences and professional backgrounds
  • Skills that strengthen the body’s mission (pastoral, administrative, legal, financial, academic, and more)

5. Deep Commitment to The Episcopal Church
Nominees should have:

• • A developed life of discipleship, including regular disciplines of corporate worship and individual prayer
  • A deep love for the Church
  • An active and ongoing connection to the life and ministry of a local Episcopal worshipping community.
  • An awareness of the Church’s organization, polity, mission priorities, and global context
  • A dedication to serving the whole Church—not any individual constituency

6. The Church’s Commitment to Churchwide Leaders
The Episcopal Church seeks to ensure that participation in churchwide governance does not lay an extensive economic burden on those called to participate. As such, the church:

• • Provides upfront payment of certain travel expenses (such as airfare)
  • Provides reimbursement for other reasonable travel expenses (such as taxis, checked luggage fees, parking, or needed lodging before an early flight)
  • Pays for meeting expenses for required in-person gatherings

• June 2026: Application portal closes
• May-September 2026: References checked and background checks run on a rolling basis
• November 2026: Applicants will be notified whether they have been nominated
• Winter 2027: Full Slate of Nominees is released to the Church in the Joint Standing Committee on Nominations’ report to General Convention (part of the Blue Book)
• July 2027: Elections for each body occur at the 82^nd General Convention in Phoenix

Per the Joint Rule V.5, background checks are required for all nominees to the offices of Secretary of the General Convention, Treasurer of General Convention, President and Vice-President of the House of Deputies, Member of the Executive Council, and Trustee of The Church Pension Fund.

In addition, the committee will undertake a process of deep reference checking of applicants for nomination, which will not be limited to the references identified and furnished by each applicant.

The Episcopal Church Joint Standing Committee on Nominations has issued a call for nominations for the following positions. Please click the links below to find information about the roles available for nomination.