Wrap-up of General Convention - June
25, 2006
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Volume 2, No.13
75th General Convention charts mission course for future
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] While the Episcopal Church made
headlines in electing its 26th Presiding Bishop and debating its
stance on issues of human sexuality and faith, the 75th General
Convention made a number of other decisions that will affect its
mission and ministry for the next three years and beyond.
Meeting in Columbus, Ohio from June 13-21, the Convention also
took stands on social policy issues facing the United States and the
world, including the war in Iraq, human rights, and the church's
role in and benefit from slavery.
The United Nations Millennium Development
Goals
In what became a major mission and evangelism emphasis of this
General Convention, bishops and deputies gave their official support
of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and urged
parishes, missions, congregations and dioceses across the church to
work for their implementation.
The MDGs are an eight-pronged declaration that has at its core
the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015.
Resolution (D022) on the MDGs sets these objectives:
- Establishes achieving the MDGs as a stated mission priority
of the Episcopal Church for the next three years;
- Urges each diocese, congregation and parishioner to give 0.7
percent toward the MDGs by July 7, 2007; i.e. by 07/07/07;
- Designates the Last Sunday after Pentecost as a special day
of prayer, fasting and giving toward global reconciliation and
the Millennium Development Goals;
- Calls on every diocese to establish a global reconciliation
commission to mobilize Episcopalians to work for achieving the
goals of the MDGs;
- Endorses the "ONE Episcopalian" campaign that calls on the
U.S. government to spend an additional 1 percent of its budget
to combat global poverty; and
- Asks the budget committee to consider a line item equal to
0.7 percent (or roughly $900,000) in the coming three-year
budget for work that supports the MDGs.
The Convention's statements on slavery and racism grew in part
out of a call for the church to live more fully into its mission of
reconciling all people to God and to one another. As it acknowledged
the past involvement of the church in slavery, expressing regret for
supporting and justifying slavery, the Convention supported a study
of monetary and non-monetary reparations to descendants of the
victims of slavery (resolution A123).
The Convention also endorsed the principles of restorative
justice, what the resolution (A127) calls "an important tool in
implementing a neutral articulation of the self-examination and
amendment of life that is required to fulfill our baptismal
covenant." The resolution calls for a study and dialogue process to
engage "in story telling about historical and present-day privilege
and under-privilege" and suggests dioceses consider engaging in a
truth and reconciliation process concerning legacies of racial
oppression, in support of the study called for in resolution A123.
Resolution A127 asks that "the Church hold before itself the vision
of a Church without racism; a Church for all races."
In a related resolution (D046), the Convention reaffirmed the New
Jamestown Covenant and the church's indigenous people, engagement
designating the decade of 2007 to 2017 as the Second Decade of
Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation. The first decade began
on November 1, 1997, when, in Jamestown, Virginia, on the site of
the first permanent English settlement in North America and the
first Anglican Eucharist in the colony, the Episcopal Church
apologized for centuries of abuse and signed the New Jamestown
Covenant calling for reconciliation with Native Americans.
The 400th anniversary of the 1607 settlement and Eucharist will
be commemorated next year in a series of Virginia events followed by
October 21 rites in Washington National Cathedral.
War in Iraq
The Convention reiterated its opposition to the war in Iraq
(D020) and called on Congress and the president to immediately
develop a plan to stabilize Iraq that will allow U.S. troops to come
home. The resolution "calls upon all Episcopalians as an act of
penitence, to oppose and resist through advocacy, protest and
electoral action the continuation of the war in Iraq."
The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) is asked to
commission prayers and liturgies for use in the time of war. The
church is called "to honor and support, through their prayers and
actions, the armed service men and women who return home with
injuries to body, mind, and spirit that they might be restored to
wholeness of life and assisted in recovering from injury and
trauma," as well as those who are killed.
The resolution also asks the church's ecumenical officer to set
up a dialogue with Iraqi Muslims and Christians about nonviolent
resolution of conflicts.
Resolution D019 calls for the church to pray for members of the
armed services stationed in Afghanistan, and their families, and to
communicate their commitment to prayer to them. The resolution also
honors those working for peace in the regions and other civilian aid
workers.
Civil rights and equality
The Convention went on record opposing the criminalization of
homosexuality (D005). Resolution A095 reiterates Episcopal
Church support of gay and lesbian people as "children of God who
have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love,
acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church." The
resolution opposes state or federal constitutional amendments that
prohibit same-gender civil marriage or civil unions and calls on
government at all levels to give same-gender couples the same rights
as non-gay married couples.
The Convention called for equal representation of women and men
on all decision-making bodies within the church at local, diocesan
and national levels (D024). This recommendation originated
with the 2005 meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Deputies and bishops became theologians at times. They
acknowledged the authority of the triune God, exercised through
Scripture (resolution D069), rejecting the original language of the
resolution that said, in part, that "Scripture is the church's
supreme authority, and as such ought to be seen as a focus and means
of unity." During the debate, it was pointed out that many people
consider God to be the church's supreme authority.
The Convention also asked to have a pastoral and theological
understanding of the relationship between Holy Baptism and
Eucharistic practice prepared for the next Convention in 2009
(resolution D084). The Theology Committee of the House of Bishops
and the SCLM were asked to work together, and to consult other
appropriate people to help the church discuss the issue of giving
communion to those who are not baptized.
The Convention was a body of liturgists at times. It directed
that the Revised Common Lectionary replace the Book of Common Prayer
lectionary effective the First Sunday of Advent 2007 (resolution
A077). It made provision for continued use of the previous
lectionary "for purposes of orderly transition, with the permission
of the Ecclesiastical Authority," until the First Sunday of Advent
2010.
The Convention approved a "Common for Space Exploration" (A062)
and authorized experimental use of a series of new rites and prayers
for various passages of life ranging from getting a driver's license
to dating to joining the military and leaving home (A067) and an
alternative burial rite (A076).
The Convention called for continued development of liturgical
materials in the "Enriching Our Worship" series (A069), including
for the issues surrounding adoption (A070), the burial office and
the rite of reconciliation (A071), and ministry in daily life
(A088). It also directed the SCLM "to gather a collection of music
to broaden the cultural breadth of the music of the church and to
make native-language materials available to non-English speaking
worshiping communities" (A072).
And the Convention asked, in resolution C001, the SCLM "to
address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions
of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts, with suggestions for
preaching, congregational education, and lectionary use."
Amid such liturgical change, the Convention also invited bishops
and the wider church into dialogue about the relations between local
liturgical initiatives and ordered authority; and that the SCLM
develop frameworks for resolving the theological, pastoral,
canonical and liturgical issues involved in the creation of new
rites and report its findings with recommendations to the 76th
General Convention (A078).
Additions to Church Year Calendar
The Convention agreed to continue the process of revising "Lesser
Feasts and Fasts," the book containing the Calendar of the Church
Year (resolutions A057, A058)
The Houses added Florence Li Tim-Oi, Janani Luwum, Philander
Chase, William Temple and Clive Staples Lewis Calendar of the Church
Year (resolutions A059). Their commemorations were authorized
for trial use at the 2003 Convention. The Martyrs of the Sudan were
also added (C003).
The Convention authorized trial use in the triennium 2007-2009
for commemorations of Harriet Bedell, Deaconess and Missionary; Anna
Julia Heyward Cooper, Educator; James Theodore Holly, Bishop of
Haiti and Dominican Republic; Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San
Salvador, and The Martyrs of El Salvador; Tikhon, Patriarch of
Russia and Confessor; Vida Dutton Scudder, Educator and Witness for
Peace; and Frances Joseph-Gaudet, Educator and Prison Reformer (A063
and A064).
It referred to the SCLM suggested additions to the calendar,
including Queen Bertha and King Ethelbert, early Christian witnesses
in England (C021); Joan of Arc (C034); the Dorchester chaplains,
four Army chaplains who died in the sinking of the U.S.S. Dorchester
in 1943 (B008); and the Confession of Martha (C035); as well as
Genocide Remembrance Day (C043).
Response to 2005 hurricanes on the Gulf
Coast
A special missionary initiative directed at the Lake Pontchatrain
Basin Area in Louisiana, and possibly the state of Mississippi, was
the centerpiece of the Convention's response to the devastating 2005
hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. The resolution (B011) aims to build on
the spirit of ecumenism and mission currently surrounding rebuilding
efforts in the dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana. Equally
important is the opportunity to gather accurate and comprehensive
data on the effectiveness of church efforts in evangelism, advocacy
and economic redevelopment as New Orleans and the Mississippi coast
recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The initiative asked for $100,000 annually to support an office
and a coordinator based in Louisiana. According to the
resolution, the effort could possibly include "relief and
development projects, leadership formation and training for personal
and congregational evangelism and service with the diverse
populations of the region." It is just one of the ways the Church
has worked since late August to help rebuild churches and
communities on the Gulf Coast.
Working with Episcopal Relief and Development and the Church
Pension Group, the initiative would also support the church's 20/20
goals (the church's efforts to double participation in parish life
by 2020) and may serve as a model for areas of natural disaster or
impoverished areas.
The Convention charged the Standing Commission on Domestic
Mission and Evangelism with initiating "a national consultation on
methods and strategies identify best practices to reverse the
decline in mainline denominations," and making recommendations to
the 76th General Convention on ways to reverse that decline in all
denominations.
The Convention heard testimony that campus ministry is an
important base for church growth. Resolution A041 supports campus
ministry in a number of ways, including allowing such ministries to
become mission congregations of their dioceses.
Resolution A037 is specifically directed at the 20/20 goals and
calls on each bishop to cast a vision for his or her diocese; calls
on all orders of ministry to speak about what God is doing in their
lives; invite others to worship, and seeks to identify and develop
practical resources for personal and congregational evangelism
through the Church Center staff. More importantly, it is to be
published in all congregational and diocesan media.
A church planting initiative (A042) includes provisions for a
major gifts campaign, which would be the first since "Venture in
Mission" 25 years ago. Another resolution (A043) encourages
dioceses to identify "priority opportunities and estimate costs" for
new congregations to fulfill 2020 goals. It includes a feasibility
study for a capital funds drive to help build these new churches.
Other Items of Interest
The Convention agreed to begin interim Eucharist sharing with the
United Methodist Church (UMC). The relationship includes recognition
of the UMC as "a member of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic
Church in which the Gospel is rightly preached and taught" and
encourages the development of a common Christian life between the
two bodies. The agreement permits common, joint celebrations of the
Eucharist between the two churches.
The church's similar agreement with the Moravian Church in
America, Northern and Southern Provinces, begun after the last
Convention was encouraged to continue towards full communion
(Resolution D080).
-- Budget sets priorities for mission
Spanning the spectrum from theology and liturgy to economy, the
Convention passed a budget of just more than $152 million for the
next three years. The document represents three years of preparation
and hours of consideration by Church Center staff, the
Administration and Finance Committee of Executive Council and the
Joint Committee on Program, Budget & Finance (PB&F) which was
charged with refining the document during the days of Convention.
he budget is dedicated to the five mission priorities adopted by
the Convention as well as other program areas and canonical
requirements to support the work of the church. The priorities are:
justice and peace (with an emphasis on the Millennium Development
Goals); young adults, youth and children; reconciliation and
evangelism; congregational transformation; and partnerships within
the Anglican Communion, and with ecumenical and interfaith entities
The budget is nearly $10 million, or 7 percent, higher than that
of the current triennium.
-- Canonical changes effecting ministry
After hearing significant concern about a proposed change to the
Title IV ministerial disciplinary canons, particularly about
subjecting laity to ecclesiastical discipline, a legislative
committee attempted to rewrite the 30-page resolution to clarify
issues. However, it quickly became apparent to committee members the
revision could not be accomplished in time for this Convention to
act.
The resolution that referred the Title IV rewrite to a new task
force, which was asked to report to the 2009 General Convention,
note of the change in philosophy sought by the current task force,
which is to move away from an adversarial model to one that
encourages pastoral intervention as early as possible in the
process. The 2003 Convention had asked for the revisions.
That was the same Convention that had approved a revision of
Title III, known as the ministry canons. The new version of
Title III returned to this Convention for additional changes and
refinements. The revisions include creating standard but flexible
timeframes for those seeking ordination to the diaconate or
priesthood, amending how the Episcopal Church receives clergy from
other churches, and requiring mentoring and continuing education for
bishops.
-- Structure of church governance
The Convention agreed to make changes in the way the church
organizes itself to carry out its policies and mission concerns. It
adopted a proposal to standardize the size of standing commissions
to 12 people, three bishops, three priests or deacons and six lay
persons (A104). In making the proposal in its Blue Book report
(beginning page 285), the Standing Commission on the Structure of
the Church said it was looking to streamline the system of
Committees, Commissions, Agencies and Boards (CCABs)
"Guiding our work is the belief that the structure of the church
should promote and serve the mission of the church," the SCSC wrote.
"We also believe the Church must be structured in a way that
facilitates the flow of ideas and energy, and that promotes
accountability, flexibility, and good stewardship."
The Convention adding the Standing Commission on Lifelong
Christian Education and Formation to develop and recommend policies
for children, youth, adults, and seniors for lifelong Christian
formation (A105).
In Resolution A112, "Directions for the Future," the Convention
calls on all committees and commissions "to reevaluate their mandate
and placement within the church structure" and report to the
structure commission one year before the next Convention in 2009.
The standing commission will then review and possibly change the
CCAB's definitions and structures.
A112 will also have the structure commission study and recommend
any resolutions proposed to the next Convention about changing
church's name, as found in the preamble to its constitution. There
is some feeling that the title "Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States of America" may not be representative of the church's
overseas dioceses and congregations.
Any resolutions that propose changes to the process of nominating
and electing the Presiding Bishop would be reviewed by the structure
commission as well by way of this resolution. Some members of the
Convention have said that the House of Deputies ought have a bigger
role in that process beyond deputy membership on the nominating
committee and House of Deputies consent to the election conducted by
the House of Bishops.
-- Among many other actions, the Convention also:
-- directed General Convention planners to provide child-care
facilities at the 2009 convention. It also encourages dioceses and
provinces to provide similar services at conventions and synod
meetings (D059).
-- approved a pilot project to provide summer camps for children
whose parents are in prison. A line item in the budget already
approved by General Convention included $65,000 for the new program
(D012).
-- defeated a resolution to shorten the length of General
Convention to eight days, or nine days if a Presiding Bishop was to
be elected (A155).
-- approved active support for the right of workers to form a
union and increase the support nationwide for passage of "living
wage" legislation. It also commits the church to contract solely
with union hotels in its meetings, or hotels that offer "living
wages" to employees (D047).
-- directed the Standing Commission on Ministry Development to
design strategies for raising awareness and responding to the crisis
of educational debt for seminarians (B006).
-- urged the church to work to ensure that governments provide
programs that combat social and economic conditions that place
children at risk or diminish children's ability to achieve their
full potential in the world (A018).
-- defeated a proposal that would allow an assistant, suffragan
or coadjutor to help a diocesan bishop fulfill the canonical
requirement to visit each congregation in a diocese (B007).
You can read the complete text of resolutions from the 75th
General Convention at
http://gc2006.org/legislation/
Information about resolutions passed by Conventions since 1976 at
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/acts/
The 76th General Convention is set to convene in Anaheim,
California, July 8-17, 2009.
-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is ENS national
correspondent. Contributors to this story include Carol
Barnwell, director of communications for the Diocese of
Texas; Matthew Davies, ENS international
correspondent; Jim DeLa, director of communications
for the Diocese of Southwest Florida; Daphne Mack, ENS
staff writer; the Rev. Pat McCaughan, ENS senior
correspondent, Nicole Seiferth, editor of The
Episcopal New Yorker; and Melodie Woerman, director of
communications for the Diocese of Kansas. |
