CLERGY EXCUSAL REQUEST

All active and retired Clergy Members can be voting participants (speaking & voting) via an online Zoom webinar. Participation requires registering for the Session, even for online attendance. There will be constitutional amendment voting in 2025. All elders and deacons in full connection, including retired full members, are eligible to vote digitally if you are registered. 

• Active clergy are required to attend unless you are excused via this form by the bishop and your District Superintendent. If you are unable to attend all or part of the Annual Session, complete the form below, indicating whether you will attend portions of the session in person and other portions via the online platform, or be absent from the entire session.
• Clergy in retired relationship who are not able to attend in person or online do not have to complete a request for excusal. Thank you for your service to the Annual Conference during your ministry. Retired clergy who do wish to attend the Session may register (even after the late registration deadline) without a late registration fee. The Annual Conference wants to remain in mission, ministry, and connection with you and invites retired to clergy to attend and participate as you are able.

Instructions: If you are a Clergy Member who is appointed or on leave, but are unable to attend all or a portion of the Annual Session, complete the required information below, including your explanatory letter, to request your excusal. After you click Submit Form, you will receive an acknowledgment by email that your request has been received. Complete your request to be excused by Sunday, June 1, 2025, except in cases of emergencies. Following the submission, a copy is provided to your District Superintendent. Your request will be reviewed by Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank and the Conference Secretary. After review, the Episcopal Office will communicate with you regarding your request. Thank you for your patience as excusal requests are considered.

From ¶602.8 of The Book of Discipline (2020/2024): “It is the duty of every member and all provisional members and local pastors of the annual conference to attend its sessions and furnish such reports in such form as the Discipline may require. Any such person unable to attend shall report by letter to the Conference Secretary, setting forth the reason for the absence. Should any ordained minister in active service be absent from the session of the annual  conference without a satisfactory reason for the absence, the matter shall be referred by the Conference Secretary to the Board of Ordained Ministry.”

How Your Request is Processed: Once submitted, a copy of your request for excusal is sent to 

1. Conference Secretary Rev. Bob Rhodes (secretary@calpacumc.org)
2. Los Angeles Area Episcopal Office via Senior Executive Assistant Margaret Irwin (mirwin@calpacumc.org)
3. District Office & District Superintendent of the district indicated. 
4. Following submission, you will receive an automated email confirmation of receipt. 
5. Following review by the Episcopal Office, you will receive a response from the Episcopal Office regarding your request.

For additional assistance, please contact the Episcopal Office at mirwin@calpacumc.org.