The Standing Committee serves as the Bishop’s Council of Advice and performs various governance functions, including:

• recognizing new missions and missions becoming parishes
• consenting to alienation or hypothecation of congregational or institutional property
• consulting upon differences between a rector and vestry
• approving the progress of individuals through the process for ordination to the diaconate or priesthood
• approving the release and removal of individuals from the ordained ministry
• consenting to the deconsecration of churches
• consenting, along with other standing committees (consent of a majority of standing committees being required), to the election of bishops of other dioceses or filling a vacancy in the office of presiding bishop.

The Standing Committee also serves as the ecclesiastical authority for the exercise of specified episcopal functions when no bishop is authorized to act by reason of vacancy in office, bishop’s absence from the diocese for more than six months, request of the bishop, or bishop’s incapacity or suspension.