Conference of Diocesan Executives Established
Diocesan Press Service. March 25, 1969 [75-15]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- Formation of a new professional organization of Diocesan executives was completed March 21, 1969, at the close of the annual conference in Kansas City of Archdeacons, Canons to the Ordinary, Executive Secretaries and other planning, administrative and program personnel.
To be known as the Conference of Diocesan Executives (CODE), the new organization will include in its membership executives on the Diocesan level who serve the Church as directors of administration, planning, personnel, and program.
Its announced purpose will be to "provide an agency to serve the Bishops and their Dioceses in the development of effective organizational and executive procedures and to provide a primary vehicle of communications among the members and with the national Church for planning, program and administration."
The new organization sees as its functions:
1. To develop more effective organization and procedures for communicating the Christian Gospel in Church and Society.
2. To provide consultation when requested for Dioceses with organizational needs.
3. To assist Bishops upon request in the selection of capable Diocesan executive personnel.
4. To provide a primary vehicle of communication and a clearing house of ideas among Conference members and Dioceses, and with the national Church.
5. To assist Diocesan executives in determining job expectations, standards of performance and evaluation.
6. To develop fellowship and support among Diocesan executives.
7. To provide professional guidance for continuing education of Diocesan executives.
The first conference of Diocesan executives was held at Roanridge in October, 1963. The recently-concluded Conference was the sixth such meeting. All six have been more or less loosely organized by a rotating body called a steering committee. The members of the most recent conference felt the need for a more permanent organization and CODE is the result.
Members plan to continue the annual meetings and to schedule a number of regional meetings during the year. Task forces for particular areas of concern are also planned.
Attending the recent conference in Kansas City were 49 executives and four Bishops. They met March 18 to 21 in the Center for Renewal at St. Paul's School of Theology.
Named as chairman of the new organization was the Rev. Canon Kenneth Nelson, Diocese of Indianapolis. Secretary-Treasurer will be the Rev. Theodore Jones, Executive Secretary of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
Other members of the six-man Steering Committee: The Rev. Richard H. Ash, Diocese of Missouri, The Rev. Canon Noble Owings, Diocese of Los Angeles, Mr. Jack Parsons, Diocese of Alabama, and The Rt. Rev. Frederick Putnam, Diocese of Oklahoma.
[Contact Archives for attached documents.]