Governance of the Diocese of Nebraska
The Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Joe G. Burnett
The Standing Committee
The existence and roles of the Standing Committee are defined by the Canons of the Episcopal Church and those of the Diocese, the most important of which is to act as the Ecclesiastical Authority when there is no functioning Bishop and to provide for the administration and “episcopal needs” of the Diocese until such time as a new Bishop is elected and installed. The Standing Committee also serves as a “council of advice” to the Diocesan Bishop as appropriate and is required to approve all actions that involve the purchase, sale or indebtedness of property of the Diocese. Diocesan canons also prescribe, in certain defined ways, the role of the Standing Committee in the discipline of clergy and identifying and working with “parishes at risk.”
All persons who seek admission to Candidacy in the ordination process are interviewed by the Standing Committee and a recommendation is made to the Bishop. When all requirements for Ordination have been completed, the Standing Committee is required to review the progress for each candidate and grant approval for his/her ordination.
Acting with other Standing Committees of Dioceses in the Episcopal Church, the Standing Committee is also responsible for granting consent [or withholding] for each election of a Bishop Suffragan, Bishop Coadjutor or Bishop Diocesan [primary] in any other Diocese. Once those elections are held and the candidate selected, the Standing Committee is again asked to grant or withhold consent for that person to be ordained and consecrated Bishop.
The Standing Committee members are elected by the Annual Council of the Diocese for staggered 3 year terms. From its own membership, the Standing Committee elects a President and Secretary annually. Meetings are held as needed in various locations throughout the Diocese and business is conducted by conference calls and electronic exchanges. The proceedings of the Standing Committee are published annually in conjunction with those of the Annual Council of the Diocese.
The Executive Commission
The Executive Commission is the Canonical body responsible for developing, planning and administering the diocesan program including marshalling resources, implementing and evaluating. The Executive Commission meets four times each year.
The Bishop and Trustees
The Bishop and Trustees has the power to acquire, hold, improve, lease, sell, convey, mortgage or otherwise dispose of real estate. It also manages most of the investment and endowment funds of the diocese. The group meets four times a year.
Commission on Ministry
The Commission on Ministry advises and assists the Bishop in implementing the ministry canons (regulations) of the Episcopal Church. It has responsibility “to determine opportunities and needs for the ministry of all baptized persons.” It also has oversight for the ordination process. (Title III, Canon 2)
In Nebraska the Commission on Ministry is divided into two sections: Individual Formation and Total Ministry. Each section has nine clergy and lay members.
The Individual Formation section oversees the ordination process for those individuals who present themselves for ordination to the priesthood or diaconate. The COM-IF usually meets three times a year in the eastern part of Nebraska.
The Total Ministry section oversees the formation of ministry teams in congregations who wish to be considered Total Ministry parishes. It also oversees the ordination process for those who have been identified as priests or deacons on the ministry teams. It usually meets three times a year in the central part of Nebraska.