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The Basics
It's said that the General Convention
of the Episcopal Church is second only to the national
Republican and Democratic conventions in terms of delegate days.
That's probably true, considering that
800-plus deputies, nearly 300 bishops, 500 volunteers, and
hundreds more exhibitors, visitors, and even the occasional
protester gather for 10 full days for the Episcopal Church
General Convention that meets every three years. This year's
General Convention - to take place in Columbus, Ohio, June 12 to
21 - will be the 75th since the first one, meeting in
Philadelphia in 1785, established the governing body of the
Church and set forth its Constitution and Canons.
It is the task of General Convention to
serve as the Church's legislative body. Not surprisingly, since
the church and the nation were being formed at about the same
time, General Convention is similar in structure to the United
States Congress.
Uniquely for its time, the first General Convention settled on a
bicameral house in which elected (rather than royally appointed)
bishops would make up one house and lay and ordained deputies
(equally represented) would make up the other house. That convention
began work on a constitution and a revision of the Book of Common
Prayer, the church's book of worship. Within ten years the General
Convention had agreed on its form of governance and its pattern of
worship, both of which endure to this day.
All bishops of the
Episcopal Church, active and retired, are entitled to seat, voice
and vote in the House of Bishops (except for consent to elections of
bishops, for which only diocesan bishops may vote). Each of the
Episcopal Church's domestic and overseas dioceses (and the
Convocation of Churches in Europe) is entitled to elect eight
deputies, four lay persons and four priests and/or deacons, to the
House of Deputies. (The diocesan electors of deputies are themselves
elected representatives from local parishes.) Deputies are not
delegates; that is, they are not elected to represent the electing
dioceses.
Deputies vote their
conscience for the good of the Church. They cannot be instructed to
vote one way or another, for to do so would preclude godly debate
and preempt the work of the Holy Spirit. Deputies are expected to
serve on committees, if appointed, to attend forums and hearings, to
read the reports to the church from its commissions, committees and
appointed boards, to listen to, and if so moved, to respond to
resolutions on the floor of the house.
The House of Bishops and House of Deputies meet, deliberate and
vote separately. To be enacted, resolutions must pass both houses in
the same language. Both houses have the right to amend legislation,
but the amendment must be accepted by the other house. Resolutions
presented to convention come from four sources: (A) committees,
commissions, agencies and boards of the church; (B) bishops; (C)
dioceses and provinces; and (D) deputies. At its 102nd Annual
Diocesan Council held this past February, the Diocese of West Texas
passed a resolution "urging the 75th General Convention to affirm
the Windsor Report." That resolution has been sent forward to the
General Convention office and will likely be combined with similar
resolutions from other dioceses for presentation to the appropriate
legislative committee.
In the House of Deputies,
three lay or clerical deputations from different dioceses may
request a vote by orders on a piece of legislation. In a vote by
orders each diocesan deputation has two votes: one lay vote and one
clerical vote. To cast that vote the deputation is polled. If a
majority of a lay or clerical deputation is in favor, the diocesan
lay or clerical vote is cast as a "yes." If a majority of a lay or
clerical deputation is opposed, the vote is cast as a "no." Tied
deputations count as "divided" and, in effect, as additional "no"
votes.
The House of Bishops is chaired by the
Primate of the Episcopal Church,
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. At this General
Convention the House of Bishops will elect a new Presiding Bishop;
that election must be confirmed by the House of Deputies.
The House of Deputies is chaired by the President of the House,
the Very Rev. George Werner.
This General Convention will elect a new President and Vice
President of the House, who will take office at the close of General
Convention.
Much of the work of convention is carried out by
legislative committees.
The Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies
determine the number of committees, the number of persons who serve
on them, and their composition. Deputies are asked to indicate their
preference for membership on committees, and the presiding officers
make their choices considering previous experience, expertise, and
interest, ensuring the committees represent diverse points of view,
geographic, ethnic and gender diversity and participation by younger
deputies.
Resolutions proposed
for discussion at convention are referred to committees, which
consider, amalgamate and perfect them before presenting them on the
floor of convention. Legislative committees hold hearings on
legislation at which deputies, alternate deputies, and registered
visitors can speak.
In response to previous conventions' requests that convention be
a better steward of time and resources, it will be one legislative
day shorter than last convention.
General Convention meets prayerfully. Each morning bishops,
deputies, registered alternates and delegates to the ECW Triennial
gather for Bible study and Holy
Eucharist. At this year's General Convention the themes
for these gatherings will reflect the observances for the days from
the church's calendar of saints, or, if there is no saint's day, the
theme of General Convention: Come & Grow.
Both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops have
chaplains, who lead their houses in regular prayer at the beginning
and end of sessions and daily at noon. Chaplains are also asked to
pray before the enactment of important legislation. Organizations
within the church sponsor additional worship services, while
volunteers staff a prayer room in which there is continual
intercession for the work of convention.
A highlight of every General Convention is its
festival Eucharist at
which the United Thank Offering is presented. (The United Thank
Offering is taken up in parishes twice each year for the mission of
the church.) For this General Convention a musical setting of the
Holy Eucharist has been commissioned in honor of the Presiding
Bishop, and it will have its premiere in its entirety at this
service.
Debate on the floor is governed by the Constitution and Canons of
the church, Rules of Order for each house, Joint Rules of Order
(that apply to both houses) and Roberts' Rules of Order. Deputies
are expected to listen respectfully to the views of others and to
adhere to the rules, which require, for example, that persons of
different points of view alternate at microphones.
Convention is more than legislation. One of the most interesting
parts of convention is the Exhibit
Hall. The Exhibit Hall is reminiscent of an oriental souk:
it is a marketplace of goods and ideas in which the organizations
and interest groups within the church present their wares, recruit
members and do their best to influence legislation. It is a colorful
part of convention, and it would not be General Convention without
it.
Many church-related organizations hold meetings in conjunction
with convention, and there are lunches and dinners hosted by
seminaries, provinces, societies, boards and staff offices of the
church. One gathering not to be missed is the triennial meeting of
the Episcopal Church Women. The ECW meeting has changed over the
past several decades; it focuses on the mission and service of the
church, and many of the church's most distinguished members are
invited to address this body.
General Convention is a
combination of legislative assembly, bazaar of goods and services
and family reunion. It is one of the most exciting and,
truth be told, one of the most awe-inspiring gatherings in the
world.
- The Rev. Dr.
Gregory S. Straub
Executive Officer
General Convention Office
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