In the Episcopal Church, a diocese refers to the territorial jurisdiction of a diocesan bishop; the term also refers to the congregations and church members in that territory. The diocese is headed by a bishop, and usually governed by a standing committee, comprised of clergy and lay representatives from the diocese. The standing committee is elected at the diocesan convention, which occurs annually, and serves as a council of advice to the bishop.
There are two versions, one with pages in chronological order for reading, and one for printing as a booklet.
Constitution and Canons - chronological
Constitution and Canons - booklet
The Bishop’s Office exists to serve the mission of the Church as it is lived out in every congregation of the diocese. For a complete listing of the staff in the Bishop’s Office, their areas of responsibility, and contact information, click here.
The Diocese of Colorado is comprised of five regions – the Northwestern, Southwestern, Sangre de Cristo, High Plains and Front Range – each of which has a Regional Missioner who reports to the Bishop. These regions encourage and promote ownership, commitment, and partnership in local mission initiatives; facilitate the participation of clergy and lay leadership in the councils of the Church (i.e., Diocesan Convention and General Convention); and strengthen communication between the leadership of the Regions and the Bishop’s Office.
Regional Governance Guidelines
For an updated copy of the regional governance guidelines, please click here.
The Regional Missioners serve as the pastoral link between the Bishop’s Office and clergy and lay leadership in their regions. They convene regional meetings, and provide oversight for regional administration and projects, initiatives and ministry. Full contact information can be found in the Contact Us section.
- Northwestern:
The Reverend Christy Shain-Hendricks, Priest-in-Charge, St. John the Baptist, Breckenridge
- Southwestern:
The Reverend Andrew Cooley, Rector, Saint Mark’s, Durango
- Sangre de Cristo:
The Rev. Paul Lautenschlager, Rector, Saint Michael the Archangel, Colorado Springs
- High Plains:
The Reverend Doug Dunn, Rector, Saint Luke’s, Denver
- Front Range:
The Reverend Mike Houlik, Rector, St. Mary Magdalene, Boulder
In addition, several committees help to form and enforce diocesan policy and programs, including holy orders, faith formation, congregational development and spiritual direction.
Following are the some committees that serve the diocese and the congregations of Colorado:
Sources:
An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church – A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians. Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, Editors. New York: Church Publishing.
What is a Diocese? Cornerstone, A ministry of the Episcopal Church Foundation. 2000.
