Wrap Up in Anaheim
As many participants, observers, deputies and Bishops wandered bleary-eyed into the last legislative session of General Convention, staff and volunteers were packing up offices and equipment.
The legislative sessions in both houses concluded an hour early, which, according to House of Deputies president Bonnie Anderson, was something she could not remember happening before. The Convention also dealt with more legislation than past conventions. Today’s business was primarily concerned with each house concurring with legislation the other house had already passed, or with discharging legislation to committees for study.
Besides the passage of C056 in the House of Deputies, other major pieces of legislation that were finalized included the first reading of a constitutional change that would take the consent to the election of bishops out of the General Convention, and leave that responsibility solely with Standing Committees. (Currently, bishops elected within 120 days of General Convention receive consent by the Convention; all other elections receive consent from bishops and Standing Committees with jurisdiction.) For a wrap up of House of Deputies’ actions, see this Episcopal Life story.
The House of Bishops concurred with earlier action of the House of Deputies on a resolution that calls for reconciliation in southern Sudan. For a wrap up of House of Bishops’ actions, see this Episcopal Life story.
In a closing media conference, both Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori and President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson said that they felt the Convention had been marked by what Jefferts-Schori said was a “deepened and broadened sense of mission.” They also both talked about the reduced budget as representing great cost – in terms of jobs lost – and great opportunity. Anderson pointed out that the budget both asks less from dioceses, and maintains a commitment to mission abroad in the 0.7 percent commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.
Watch this page and email updates for more about the experience of Colorado’s deputation in the days to come. The Deputation encouragesongregations to contact them for presentations at congregations or other gatherings.
Update for July 17 – Early Afternoon
On Friday morning, the House of Deputies called a special order to debate and vote on C056, which passed the House of Bishops on Wednesday. The measure calls for collecting and developing theological and liturgical resources for blessing same gender holy unions. (You can see the full text of the resolution that passed here.) The resolution does not authorize public rites of blessing; instead, it creates a framework for further theological reflection within the structures of The Episcopal Church. It also acknowledges the need for some bishops to respond pastorally in their own contexts.
As deputies prepared to cast their votes, the chaplain for the House of Deputies offered prayers before the voting began, and Colorado’s deputies held hands and prayed together before they cast their own vote. When results were announced just after lunch, C056 passed decisively in both the clerical and lay orders.
In other news this afternoon, president of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson, and presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori released a letter that they had sent to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The letter seeks to clarify and explain both the content of resolution D025, “Commitment and Witness to the Anglican Communion,” and to re-affirm the commitment of The Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion. You can read the full text of the letter here , and see the Episcopal Life story about the communication here.
This afternoon is the final legislative session of this General Convention. I will provide another update late tonight, and then I will be working with the deputation and Bishop O’Neill to find ways to tell more of the story of this General Convention in the days and weeks to come. Also, watch the blog this afternoon for stories of awards received by Coloradoans at this General Convention, and some coverage of the work of the group of Episcopal Church Women that is here from Colorado.
Update for July 16 and Morning of July 17
As the Convention moved into its final two days on Thursday, both houses work hard to make sure legislation keeps moving, particularly in the House of Deputies. The day’s major legislative development was the passage of a much reduced budget, which will ultimately result in the loss of 30 jobs within the Episcopal Church center in New York and regional offices. The House of Bishops concurred with the House of Deputies action on D020 , the resolution which commends the draft Anglican Covenant to the Church for study.
The House discussed and debated the budget extensively, and several attempts were made to restore lost funding in several areas, but in the end, the budget was adopted by the House of Deputies, and adopted without debate by the House of Bishops. At the afternoon media briefing, Bishops Mathes of San Diego, and Konieczny of Oklahoma (and previous rector of St. Matthew’s in Grand Junction) talked about the budget, and particularly about those who will lose their jobs as a result of its adoption. Mathes said he would invite the whole Church “hold these people who have served this Church well in their prayer.” You can see more about the budget in this Episcopal Life story.
At the afternoon media briefing, the bishops were also asked about a letter that was read to the bishops in their private conversations, which they hold each day before opening the house to deal with legislative business. That letter, presented by Bishop Gary Lillibridge of West Texas, is now being referred to as the Anaheim statement. In the statement, Lillibridge says that “The majority voice has spoken at this General Convention, but I think it is important to hear from the significant minority that represents about one-third both in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies.”
It goes on to outline what Lillibridge sees as the differences between the minority position and that stated in D025. It concludes by saying that “Out of all of this, what I want to bring home to the diocese is the deepening of our conversation regarding the issue of human sexuality as well as the relationship between minorities and majorities as well all seek to work together.”
Bishop Mathes said that the statement “was offered in the most loving appreciative way,” and that the statement provides “a clarity of where we are, but also an appreciation of the listening that went on over the last couple of days.”
Bishop Konieczny said that “When the statement was read – it was apparent to everyone in the House that it was not a statement of division but a statement of unity.” You can see more about the statement in this Episcopal Life story.
On Friday morning, the House of Deputies called a special order to debate and vote on C056, which passed the House of Bishops on Wednesday. The measure calls for collecting and developing theological and liturgical resources for blessing same gender holy unions. (You can see the full text of the resolution that passed here.) The resolution does not authorize public rites of blessing; instead, it creates a framework for further theological reflection within the structures of The Episcopal Church. It also acknowledges the need for some bishops to respond pastorally in their own contexts.
At this writing, the debate on the issue is complete, and three members of the Colorado deputies testified during the debate. The vote on C056 was by orders (which means each deputation offers a vote in its clergy and lay orders, based on the votes of the individuals in each order), which takes time to tally, and we are awaiting results. The chaplain for the House of Deputies offered prayers before the voting began, and Colorado’s deputies held hands and prayed together before they cast their own vote.
I will provide an update on the result of the vote early this afternoon.
Update for July 15
As the Convention reaches its final days, the pace is speeding up exponentially – several major and consequential pieces of legislation moved through both houses today – including C056, which involves collecting and developing theological and liturgical resources for same-gender blessings passing the House of Bishops and D020, which commends the current draft of the Anglican Covenant to dioceses for study and comment passing the House of Deputies. The House of Deputies concurred with earlier House of Bishops actions to establish a denominational health plan, and to make a lay pension plan mandatory. Houses also met in a joint session for a sober presentation of a much reduced budget for the next triennium.
In the perhaps the most visible legislative action of the day, while visitors and media packed the gallery, the House of Bishops passed a substitution for resolution C056, dealing with developing theological and liturgical resources for blessing same gender holy unions. (You can see the full text of the resolution that passed here.) The resolution does not authorize public rites of blessing; instead, it creates a framework for further theological reflection within the structures of The Episcopal Church. It also acknowledges the need for some bishops to respond pastorally in their own contexts.
The measure begins by acknowledging “the changing circumstances in the United States and in other nations, as legislation authorizing or forbidding marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons is passed in various civil jurisdictions,” and that this reality calls for “a renewed pastoral response” from the Church.
It goes on to call on the Standing Commission on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music to work with the House of Bishops to “collect and develop theological and liturgical resources,” and report on those at the next General Convention. It also calls for that commission to again, work with the House of Bishops to “devise an open process for the conduct of its work,” which would invite broad participation from provinces and dioceses, and which would “invite theological reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion.”
The resolution directs that bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church. Finally, much as D025 does, the resolution ask that the General Convention “honor the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters of human sexuality,” and asks that the members of this Church “be encouraged to engage in this effort.”
The substitute language was developed by a small group of Bishops after a much larger group of 25, who all volunteered to participate, spent time in what was described by Bishop Tom Ely of Vermont as “Indaba-like” conversation, referring to the conversations many of the bishops participated in at the Lambeth Conference last summer. The discussion of the resolution reflected this kind of commitment to open conversation, where bishops offered amendments designed to provide more room for a variety of perspectives and views.
And in the end, in a roll call vote, the measure passed by a substantial margin of 104 – 30, and with broad support. Because it was a substitute from the original language, the resolution now has to go back to the House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book. Liturgy and Music, and then to the House of Deputies.
While the House of Bishops was debating C056 – a discussion that pushed their session well beyond its scheduled closing time – the House of Deputies was entertaining D020, commending the current draft of the Anglican Covenant to dioceses for study and comment. That resolution asks dioceses to report the results of their study to the Executive Council of the Church, and then the Executive Council to report on that study to the next General Convention, including proposed legislation draft legislation concerning this Church's response to an Anglican Covenant. The resolution goes on to invite congregations “to consider the Anglican Covenant proposed draft as a document to inform their understanding of and commitment to our common life in the Anglican Communion.” (You can view the full text here) In the floor debate about D020 in the House of Deputies, three Colorado deputies testified in favor of its passage – deputation chair Larry Hitt, the Rev. Brooks Keith and Zoe Cole. To see Hitt's understanding of the importance of this resolution, see his comments on the Deputation's blog here.
In other legislative activity, the House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops on two pieces of legislation effecting employee benefits – one establishing a mandatory pension for lay employees, and one establishing a denominational health plan through the Church’s Medical Trust. For more about the health plan, see this Episcopal Life story. For more on the other actions of the House of Deputies, see this.
In a joint session of both houses, the committee of Program, Budget and Finance presented the proposed budget for the next triennium, which projects substantial reductions in income through the three-year period, and which asks for cuts in nearly all areas. In introducing the committee heads, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori said there will be staff reductions at the Church Center, and committee chairs also indicated there would be much smaller travel budgets for committees, commissions and boards to meet in person during the triennium, and the next General Convention will be two days shorter than this one. For more on the budget, see this Episcopal Life story.
Update for July 14
As both legislative houses are in full swing, legislation is moving through at a relatively rapid clip.
In the major legislative developments of the day, the House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ amended version on D025, the resolution that affirms The Episcopal Church’s commitment to the Anglican Communion, the fact that the discernment process for ministry is open to all, and the fact that Episcopalians and Anglicans are not of one mind on the matter of partnered gay and lesbian people in ordained ministry. That vote formally adopts the measure. You can see the Episcopal Life story about that vote here, and about the variety of receptions of it here. You can also read a reflection about the Colorado deputation’s discussion of the issue, and their work together at this Convention on the Deputation’s blog.
The Convention also adopted significant changes to the Church’s Title IV disciplinary canons, as the House of Bishops concurred with the House of Deputies passage of the matter. In an afternoon media briefing, Bishop John Chane of the Diocese of Washington pointed out that this work has been underway for nine years. You can read more about the Title IV changes here.
The House of Bishops did begin discussion of resolution C056, which calls for developing theological and liturgical resources for blessing same gender holy unions. (Read the full text here.) However, they postponed further discussion of the issue to Wednesday, follow the work of a smaller task force on the resolution.
Episcopal Life has chronicled other legislative events in the House of Deputies in a wrap-up story here.
Bishop O’Neill celebrated the Eucharist, the theme of which was the Millennium Development Goals.
Coming Up
As noted above, Bishops will return to the discussion of C056 at some point on Wednesday.
Both houses meet in a joint session Wednesday afternoon to hear the triennial budget presented by the Committee on Program, Budget and Finance. The Committee has already informed both houses that the budget will project significantly less revenue for the triennium, and will look at creative ways to make up the shortfall.
Other Coverage
If you haven’t yet, and you’re interested, visit the General Convention Media Hub, where you can watch all the twittering going on, and view on demand and streaming video of many of the events of the Convention.
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