2026-2027 Youth Diocesan Council Member Application

The ministry of the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida is to take responsibility for the business affairs of the Diocese. For young members with a desire to serve Christ’s Church, the position of Youth Diocesan Council Member is an honor that is both exciting and serious.

This vital role requires an appointee who possesses the maturity, perspective, and availability to learn and participate in the tasks of a Diocesan executive, serving a one-year term with full seat, voice, and vote. If you are ready to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider this ministry, we invite you to review the qualifications, requirements and application process below.

Core Qualifications

• Must be 16 or 17 years old.
• Must be a Confirmed Episcopalian and an active member in a parish or mission of the Diocese.
• Must be actively growing in your own Christian faith.
• Possess a willingness to learn about the systems, procedures, canons, accounts, and ministries of the Diocese of Florida.
• Possess the ability to maintain strict confidentiality when required.
• Actively serve the good of all persons of the Diocese, across a broad spectrum of perspectives, ideologies, and backgrounds.

Term & Time Commitment

• Serve a one-year term (from one Diocesan Convention to the next) on the Diocesan Council with seat, voice, and vote.
• Available for monthly meetings by Zoom.
• Available for quarterly meetings in person, typically held at Camp Weed or the Diocesan Office (traveling at your own expense).
• Willing and available to participate in Council sub-committees outside of regularly scheduled meetings.

Responsibilities of the Diocesan Council
According to Canon 10 of the Diocesan Canons, the responsibilities of the Council include, but are not limited to:

• Managing church properties, including Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center.
• Supervising investments and determining investment policies.
• Preparing the Diocesan program and budget for submission to the Diocesan Convention.
• Authorizing the expenditure of all funds and receiving all funds of the Diocese.
• Managing all Diocesan bank accounts (selecting banks of deposit, closing accounts, designating authorized check signers, etc).
• Ordering an annual audit of Diocesan affairs by an independent certified public accountant, as well as any designated special audits.

The Appointment Process

1. Annually, the Diocesan Convention Nominations Committee includes a call for 16- to 17-year-old Youth Applicants in their work (often paired with the call for Youth Presence at Diocesan Convention).
2. Applicants review the Position Description, complete the application with an endorsement from their Rector, and submit it by the deadline to the designated Diocesan Youth body.
   • Currently (Fall 2025), this is the Happening Steering Committee; the Diocesan Council can designate a different body if there is a Diocesan Youth Council or similar body that is organized in the future.
3. The Happening Steering Committee reviews the applicants and recommends one individual to the Diocesan Council Vice-Chair no later than the day of Diocesan Convention.
4. The Vice-Chair informs the applicant of their nomination.
5. As the first item of business at its first meeting after Diocesan Convention, the Diocesan Council officially appoints the nominee. Upon appointment, the Youth Diocesan Council Member joins the Zoom calls as a full member.