Emery Washington Convocation

Convocation Namesake:
The Rev. Emery Washington (1935-2015) was an educator, priest, and community organizer. He came to the Diocese of Missouri in 1983 to serve as rector at All Saints' Episcopal Church in St. Louis. He retired from that position in January of 2002. Emery Washington was the founder of the Diocesan Dismantling Racism Commission and was the guiding presence of that ministry from its inception in 1985 until he died in 2015.
Read more about Emery Washington.
Churches in the Emery Washington Convocation:
- Advent, Crestwood
- All Saints & Ascension, Northwoods / St. Louis
- Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis
- Emmanuel, Webster Groves
- Grace, Kirkwood
- Holy Communion, University City
- St. Barnabas, Florissant
- St. John's, Tower Grove / St. Louis
- St. Michael & St. George, Clayton
- St. Paul's, Carondelet / St. Louis
- St. Peter's, Ladue
- St. Stephen's, Ferguson
- St. Thomas, Crestwood
- Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
Convocation Q & A:
(download fact sheet)
What is the purpose/mission of the convocation?
The Emery Washington Convocation exists to promote fellowship, ministry cooperation, and clergy care amongst the parishes and people within the convocation. In particular, the convocation is tasked with creating and executing a regional ministry strategy that reflects the Diocese of Missouri’s mission priorities.
What is a regional ministry strategy?
The exact details are not yet ironed out, but they will include ministry partnerships between parishes within the convocation focused on issues and concerns that impact the St. Louis metro region.
Who is part of the convocation?
If you are a member of any of the parishes above, you are part of the convocation. Delegates and clergy play a special role in convocation business, but most of the convocation gatherings and all of the convocation ministries are open to all members of the above parishes.
How often does the convocation gather together?
In the past, diocesan convocations (previously called metros) met 4 - 6 times a year to submit resolutions to convention, review the diocesan budget, and conduct other convention business. These meetings were primarily for clergy and convention delegates. This system, however, has changed. Delegates and clergy will meet at least 4 times a year for official convention business, but convocation gatherings will also include fellowship opportunities, fun activities, and liturgical gatherings that will be open to everyone who belongs to a parish within the convocation.
How will I know when the convocation gathers?
Events will be posted on the convocation website www.diocesemo.org/emery-washington-convocation and advertised in iSeek, the weekly Diocesan newsletter (subscribe here).
How do I get involved in the work of the convocation?
Take a look at the committees listed below. If you’d like to learn more about one of the committees or how to get involved in the ministry of the committees, reach out to the appropriate committee chair.
- Regional Mission Strategy Chair: The Rev. Mike Angell - Holy Communion, University City
Co-Chair: The Rev. Sujanna Raj – Emmanuel, Webster Groves
This committee is responsible for organizing, planning, and initiating a shared ministry strategy that parishes within the convocation are invited to participate in.
Contact: [email protected]
- Convention Business Chair: Ms. Betty Bowersox – Grace, Kirkwood
This committee is responsible for gathering convention delegates for official convention business, such as submitting convention resolutions.
Contact: [email protected]
- Clergy Care and Prof. Development Chair: The Rev. Erika Essiem - St. Stephen’s, Ferguson
This committee is responsible for facilitating opportunities for clergy to gather together for fellowship and professional development and for creating and maintaining systems and processes that promote clergy well-being.
Contact: [email protected]
- Fun and Fellowship Co-Chairs: Ms. Alice Stanley - Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis and Ms. Harrison Hagan Heil - St. Michael & St. George, Clayton
This committee organizes opportunities for fun and fellowship within the convocation, such as picnics, church softball, and more.
Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
- Lay Discernment Chair: The Rev. Aaron Rogers – Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
This committee organizes opportunities for lay people within the convocation to discern call and vocation to both lay and ordained ministry.
Contact: [email protected]
- Ministry Collaboration Chair: The Rev. Aaron Rogers – Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
This committee helps facilitate resources sharing and ministry collaboration between parishes within the convocation.
Contact: [email protected]
Other than meeting together for fellowship, fun, and church business, does the convocation do anything else?
Yes. The convocation leadership team (see below) promotes ministry collaboration, resource sharing, and mutual ministry between the parishes within the convocation as well as provides support for convocation clergy and discernment opportunities for convocation laity.
How is the convocation leadership structured?
Convention delegates elect a Convocation Dean and Warden who are charged with fulfilling convocation mission (see above). The Dean and Warden are assisted by a leadership team (see below). If you would like to know more information about any of the committees or get involved in a convocation ministry, please reach out to the people listed below.
Convocation Leadership Team
- Convocation Dean: The Very Rev. Jon Stratton – Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
Contact: [email protected]
- Convocation Warden: Ms. Adrienne Dillon - All Saints and Ascension, Northwoods / St. Louis
Contact: [email protected]
- Regional Mission Strategy Chair: The Rev. Mike Angell - Holy Communion, University City
Co-Chair: The Rev. Sujanna Raj – Emmanuel, Webster Groves
This committee is responsible for organizing, planning, and initiating a shared ministry strategy that parishes within the convocation are invited to participate in.
Contact: [email protected]
- Convention Business Chair: Ms. Betty Bowersox – Grace, Kirkwood
This committee is responsible for gathering convention delegates for official convention business, such as submitting convention resolutions.
Contact: [email protected]
- Clergy Care and Prof. Development Chair: The Rev. Erika Essiem - St. Stephen’s, Ferguson
This committee is responsible for facilitating opportunities for clergy to gather together for fellowship and professional development and for creating and maintaining systems and processes that promote clergy well-being.
Contact: [email protected]
- Fun and Fellowship Co-Chairs: Ms. Alice Stanley - Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis and Ms. Harrison Hagan Heil - St. Michael & St. George, Clayton
This committee organizes opportunities for fun and fellowship within the convocation, such as picnics, church softball, and more.
Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
- Lay Discernment Chair: The Rev. Aaron Rogers – Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
This committee organizes opportunities for lay people within the convocation to discern call and vocation to both lay and ordained ministry.
Contact: [email protected]
- Ministry Collaboration Chair: The Rev. Aaron Rogers – Trinity, Central West End / St. Louis
This committee helps facilitate resources sharing and ministry collaboration between parishes within the convocation.
Contact: [email protected]