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 There are 45 congregations in the Diocese; 31 are parishes and 14 are organized missions At the 170th Convention of the Diocese in November 2009, Church of the Transfiguration in Lake St. Louis was admitted as a parish. A parish is financially self supporting. Typically the lead cleric at a parish is a Rector, and at a mission is a Vicar.
According to the 2008 Parochial Reports, there were 13,485 baptized members and 12,228 communicants in the Diocese. The 25 congregations in the metropolitan St. Louis area have approximately 78 percent of the communicants. The average Sunday attendance is 34 percent of baptized members and 37 percent of communicants. The Tables of Statistics for all dioceses in The Episcopal Church are maintained online.
The 2010 Diocesan Operating Budget as passed by the 170th Diocesan Convention calls for expenditures totaling $2,080,625.00. In 2008, Approximately 41 percent of the Operating Budget income is received from congregations through an assessment system instituted by the 2005 Diocesan Convention.
The Thompson Fund is an endowment that produces an annual income. Use of this fund is at the discretion of the Bishop. For 2008, the Thompson Fund contributed $660,000 to the Operating Budget of the Diocese.
In 2007 there were 124 ordained men and women canonically resident in the Diocese, of whom 60 are listed as parochial, 46 as retired, 18 as non-parochial and nine persons from the Diocese in the ordination process, including four postulants for the priesthood, and five postulants for the dioconate.
The Bishop and Diocesan Council, an elected body, plan policy and recommend a budget for the program of the Diocese, which is approved each year at the annual Diocesan Convention.
There are six Convocation districts in the Diocese. The Members of Convention meet from time to time during the recess of Convention in district assemblies called Convocations. They are charged with: familiarize Convention delegates with proposed resolutions and diocesan goals and budget; to provide communication between delegates and Diocesan Council; to facilitate communication between Diocesan Council and Vestries/Bishop's Committees; to elect Diocesan Council members and to propose nominees for Standing Committee, Diocesan Council Members At Large, Cathedral Chapter and General Convention Deputies; and to promote Christian fellowship. COnvocations determine their own structure and elect officers as needed.
The Diocese has had a companion relationship with the Diocese of Lui in southern Sudan since April 2006. The Diocese previously had a companion relationship with the Anglican dioceses of northern Nigeria and with the Diocese of Puerto Rico.
The Bishop, by virtue of the office, serves on several boards of religious and civic organizations, including the Episcopal-Presbyterian Charitable Health and Medical Trust, St. Luke’s Episcopal-Presbyterian Hospital, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Updated March 2010
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