Bishop Hughes Invites All to the 152nd Diocesan Convention

Bishop Hughes Urges Diocese to Attend 152nd Convention: ‘Come and Bring Something’

In a column for The VOICE Online, Bishop Hughes of the Diocese of Newark argues that the upcoming 152nd Diocesan Convention is an open invitation to every member of the diocese, not just elected deputies, urging attendees to “come and bring something” of themselves to the gathering. The Diocese of Newark reported that the convention, scheduled to begin in just over a week from the November 4 publication date, represents a chance for parishioners to connect across the wider church body, from individual congregations to the global Anglican Communion.

Bishop Hughes frames the event as both tradition and opportunity. He writes that while a single church might feel like the entirety of the Episcopal Church to its members, each congregation is part of a larger diocese, province, and worldwide communion where people pray the same prayers and gather annually at every level. The 152nd iteration of this diocesan gathering, he notes, is part of that ecclesiological structure—the way the church works—and part of the community’s history.

The Brownie Principle: Why Guests Should Bring More Than Themselves

The bishop’s central argument rests on a personal recollection. He writes that as a child, his mother taught him that when invited to someone’s home for a special dinner, bringing a gift—in his case, brownies he was learning to bake—made the experience more joyful for both guest and host. He carried that lesson into adulthood, becoming known for bringing different brownie recipes to gatherings well into his 30s. Applying that metaphor to the convention, Bishop Hughes writes that attendees have more fun when they bring something to share: their stories, their willingness to connect, their desire to hear how others do church, and their own successes and failures in ministry. “When you’re a guest and you bring something, you have more fun,” he writes, adding that this exchange of stories and presence gives the convention its “vibrancy” and “joy.”

Bishop Hughes: Come, connect, and share at Convention

This spirit of reciprocity defines the event, he argues. While many gatherings in church focus on receiving, the convention thrives when participants bring the “fullness of who we are as faithful people” and as the body of Christ, in settings both familiar and different.

Open Doors for Non-Deputies, With a Deadline

While elected deputies have official roles, Bishop Hughes explicitly invites others to attend specific portions of the convention as guests, including the Friday night dinner and Saturday morning worship. The VOICE Online, the diocesan publication, notes that guests can visit any part of the convention by checking with the registration desk or calling the diocesan office ahead of time. However, both outlets emphasize a firm logistical constraint: guest registration is required by 12 noon on Friday, November 6, and walk-ins cannot be accommodated. The registration form is available through the “Registration for Guests” tab on the diocesan website.

Bishop Hughes Invites All to the 152nd Diocesan Convention — Photo: myemail.constantcontact.com

Arranging Liturgical Elements for Convention Worship

The VOICE Online provides additional practical details for attendees preparing for the Saturday morning Convention Eucharist. Clergy are invited to vest and process in cassock and surplice with a green stole, or alb and green stole if they lack a cassock, with a vesting space arranged by the Arrangements Committee. Congregations are asked to bring church banners and stands to place around the ballroom perimeter, symbolizing diocesan unity and transforming the space into a worship area. Parishioners are also reminded to bring their UTO (United Thank Offering) gifts to be presented during the Eucharist In-Gathering.

What Happens Next

The diocesan calendar continues beyond the convention itself. The VOICE Online reports that a special pre-Convention issue of the publication will arrive in inboxes on Wednesday, November 11. Additionally, nominations for Diocesan Council seats close at 12 noon on Friday, November 6, the same deadline as guest registration, offering another avenue for lay and clergy participation in diocesan governance.