July 11, 2018 - Issue #9
House to House
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Photo: The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens of ECCT with the Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio of Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba outside the doorway to the House of Bishops.
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A238 begins: "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention, accepting with joy the request of the sisters and brothers of La Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba, and welcoming the prospect of restoring the relationship between The Episcopal Church and La Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba, admit it to The Episcopal Church and recognize it as a Diocese in union with General Convention, to be effective as set forth in this resolution ..."
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HOB: Cuba, sí!
Yesterday afternoon the House of Bishops considered
Resolution A238 on whether to readmit the Diocese of Cuba to The Episcopal Church, after we essentially kicked them out 50 years ago. Bishops voted unanimously in favor of restoring the relationship. PB Curry then invited Bishop Griselda, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Cuba who had been in the visitor's gallery, to join her fellow bishops at a table in the HOB.
In 1966, TEC cut off its relationship with the Diocese of Cuba. Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba has held extra-provincial status since then, receiving direct support from the Anglican Church in Canada, parishes and clergy in the Diocese of Florida, and more recently, from the CT-based
Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba. (Read some history on the Friends website
here.)
Pam Anderson, Ana Arellano and Sam Dunlop, Patricia and Jeremy Cage, and Richard Schulze, all of ECCT and part of the Friends of ECC, were scheduled to be in Austin at different times over the course of GC79 to speak at committee hearings and to staff a booth in the Exhibit Hall.
Testimony in the HOB supporting the return came from many bishops and was often passionate, with some bishops shedding tears from the pain of the long separation.
"They did stab Cuba in the heart, but Cuba refused to die," said Bishop Leo Frade, who was born in Havana, Cuba.
"It was an unconstitutional action done by a House of Bishops that had no authority to kick us out," he said, "and we Cubans refused to die. ... The church of Cuba is still alive and it belongs here."
The vote on A268 was unanimous.
The resolution was written by a legislative committee after receiving two related resolutions, A052 and D060, holding hearings, and deliberating. Some detractors don't believe TEC canons or constitution allow IEC to return, however the bishops on the legislative committee that forwarded the resolution believe they do. The HOD must concur on the resolution for it to take effect. A vote is set for today, July 11, and the HOD legislative committee on this resolution is recommending that the HOD concur.
If the resolution passes both Houses, the clergy of the Episcopal Church in Cuba will be eligible to participate in the International Clergy Pension Plan. Former PB Katharine Jefferts Schori, who prayed for the reconciliation, noted that the amount need to pay pension fund obligations from prior years would amount to about fifty cents per Episcopalian. She challenged the bishops to go back to their dioceses to raise those funds. The Bp of Utah, and later the Bp of Western Kansas, both said they oversee small dioceses and so pledged $1 per Episcopalian.
The Diocese of Cuba would be included in Province II.
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Bishops pass substitute resolution for Prayer Book revision
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The other big news out of the House of Bishops yesterday was their vote for a substitute resolution on Prayer Book revision.
The previous day, the bishops had spent hours at the microphones in the HOB, offering their thoughts on Resolution A068, which they received from the House of Deputies. Some felt it didn't go far enough; some wanted more more protections for the 1979 BCP.
Overnight, Bishop Andy Doyle of Texas, with others, talked to many bishops and worked on a substitute resolution that they believed addressed the concerns of their fellow bishops. (Here's a link to the substitute in
English and in
Spanish.) Several bishops who had already pre-filed amendments they planned to offer on A068 withdrew those in favor of the substitute.
Essentially, the substitute "memorializes" - or keeps in place - the 1979 BCP as it is, so it will still be a resource. The work of revision pledges to "continue to engage the deep Baptismal and Eucharistic theology and practice" of the '79 BCP. At the same time, the resolution asks for a task force to be created to develop new resources that are inclusive and represent our diversity. The approach is an Anglican both/and.
Some bishops didn't like that the substitute resolution references the 1979 BCP as "a Prayer Book of the Church," rather than "the Prayer Book of the Church," but they worked their way through that.
While it's called Prayer Book revision, the resolution doesn't seem to direct what the task force will create, other than liturgical resources, which I think will allow it to unfold into whatever formats are needed without pre-judging those or controlling the future process.
Now it must return to the House of Deputies. If they amend it, it returns to the bishops to see if they will concur. If the back and forth process isn't complete by the end of GC79, the resolution will likely come back at the next General Convention.
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TEConversation on Care of Creation
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[The Rev. Stephanie Johnson, rector of St. Paul's, Riverside, CT was one of three major speakers yesterday's TEConversation on Care of Creation]
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[Bishop Ian T. Douglas was in the video interlude in a section about last year's River Pilgrimage, shown during the TEConversation.]
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The third and final TEConversation was held today. It focused on Care of Creation and one of the tree featured speakers was the Rev. Stephanie McDyre Johnson of ECCT. She worked as an environmental planner and educator for 20 years before her ordination. Stephanie is currently co-chair of the Episcopal Church's Advisory Council on the Care of Creation and rector at St. Paul's, Riverside CT.
The other speakers included the Most Rev. Dr. Thabo Cecil Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, and Bernadette Demientieff, an Alaska Native Gwich'in from Fort Yukon, Alaska who serves on the advisory board of the Native Movement Alaska.
One of the interludes was a video that included some clips from the 2017 River Pilgrimage down the Connecticut River. .
There are lots of resources for furthering the conversation
on this page. You can watch the presentations on the
Media Hub.
Some members of the ECCT deputation talked about the changes planned for ECCT's annual convention as we try to move away from a singular focus on resolutions in favor of deep conversation on topics that matter to us, and wondered if the TEConversations were an effort to move GC similarly. If so, given that a record number of resolutions were submitted to GC this year, it could be a long process..
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Northwest Region Missionary Eliza Marth, left and North Central Region Missionary Erin Flinn outside the Convention Center.Temperatures rise to somewhere between 90 and 100 each day, and there have been occasional showers and thunderstorms.
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ECCT deputy Suzy Burke addresses B007 on the floor of the HOD. Connecticut is seated at tables on the far right side of the House, at the front. Every deputation has a stanchion, or post, identifying the diocese. There are several platforms with microphones in the House where people queue up to speak, and every speaker is projected on the large screens.
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UTO ingathering from ECCT's ECW for last three years: $45,100.49
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Photo: Claudia Dixon, Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in ECCT, participated in the UTO ingathering service that was included in GC79 worship last Friday night. United Thank Offering collections in ECCT over the last three years totaled just over $45,000. This is an increase of $14,000 over the total from the last triennium. The combined funds from all the dioceses are later distributed as grants. St. James' in New London received a $7,000 grant from the UTO earlier this year. (Photo thx to Roberta Stocksdale)
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Video: NW Region Missionary Eliza Marth on the YA Festival
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ECCT Northwest Region Missionary Eliza Marth reports from Austin, Texas about an approach to learning that she appreciated at the Young Adult Festival, which was held concurrently with part of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
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Resolution status: 492 submitted. 162 complete!
Yesterday there was only one legislative session, held in the afternoon, because of the TEConversation in the morning. Here's the upcoming schedule of legislative sessions (both Houses follow this schedule):
Today, Wednesday, July 11:
10:30 am - 1 pm
2:15 - 3:15 pm (proposed budget presentation, read this
ENS article)
3:45 - 5 p.m.
7:30 - 9:30 pm. (reserved if needed)
Thursday, July 12:
9 am - 1 pm
2:15 - 6 pm
Friday, July 13 (final day)
8 am - 1 pm
2:30 - 6:30 pm
Legislative committees will continue to meet through Thursday; there are no formal committee meetings scheduled for Friday.
On the HOD legislative calendar for today: (among others)
A238, Admit Episcopal Diocese of Cuba as Diocese of TEC - Cttee recommends concur
D002, Funding the work of the Beloved Community ($5 MM in racial reconciliation grants) - Cttee recommends concur
C060 - Breaking the Episcopal Stained Glass Ceiling - Establishing a Task Force on sexism in the church - Cttee recomends concur
On the HOD consent calendar for today (among others) - with the recommended action if calendar is passed
D010, Create position of Indigenous Theological Education Coordinator (to concur)
A061, Create a Task Force on the Theology of Money (to adopt substitute)
C022, Supporting Transgender Access
D029, Condemn prolonged solitary confinement as a form of torture (concur)
A227, Communion across difference (seeking a path forward) (adopt w/ amendment)
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RESOLUTIONS FROM ECCT'S ANNUAL CONVENTION
C028, Amend Canon 11.4. Add a section to allow congregations use of authorized Anglican books of worship, with the bishop diocesan's permission. HOB legislative calendar for 7/10, though they are behind schedule.
C029, Clergy Compensation by Race - Completed. Concurred.
C030, Proposed Baptismal Language, Authorize trial addition of a question to the Baptismal Covenant, related to care for God's creation
Likely no further action if A068 BCP revision passes. Not scheduled as of 7/11
C031, Minimize Gendered Language (Direct SCLM to amend gendered references to God, as far as practicable, in Prayer Book revisions). Same as above, not scheduled as of 7/11 and likely no further action if A068 passes.
RESOLUTIONS FROM BISHOP IAN T. DOUGLAS
B008, Stewardship in Communities of Color. Completed. Concurred.
B009, Civil Discourse. Completed. Concurred.
B010, Concerning the Service of the Church. Referred to SCLM
RESOLUTIONS FROM THE REV. DR. MOLLY F. JAMES
D033, Amend Canons IV.2 and IV.6 - Churchwide Intake Officer - Committee report in progress
D034, Amend Canon IV.19.4, Suspending Statute of Limitations - Committee report in progress
D035, Amend Canon III.9 regarding Reconciliation and Mediation Between Clergy - Rejected
RESOLUTIONS FROM PROVINCE ONE
C037, Call to Respond to Opioid Epidemic - HOB consent calendar for 7/11
C038, Safeguard the Rights of Palestinian Children – on HOD legislative for 7/11
C039, Amend Parochial Report – Take no further action
RESOLUTIONS RE: SAFE CHURCH TRAINING (ECCT's Canon for Mission Integrity & Training Robin Hammeal-Urban chaired the Task Force to Update Sexual Misconduct Policies.
A048: Establish Committee to Oversee Creation of Training Materials: Establish a committee to oversee the development of training material. Revised A048 has elements of A049 (host model policies on DFMS website) and A050 (addresses funding) included. Completed. Concurred.
A051: Modify Parochial Report: This would add information on the status of parish safe church self-audits on diocesan parochial reports, as a basis for tracking accountability. Completed. Concurred.
OTHER RESOLUTIONS
B007, Ethical Investing in Gun Manufacturers, submitted by Bp Doug Fisher of Western Mass on behalf of BUAGV. Passed the HOD according to this article from the Living Church, not showing as calendared for the HOB. Notes that ECCT's Suzy Burke spoke to the resolution.
"Going Long on Guns" (article on Resolution B007)
[Matthew Townsend - Living Church] In its July 10 afternoon session, the House of Deputies approved a resolution that would see Episcopalians advocate for a reduction in gun violence — as shareholders.
Resolution B007, passed by a wide margin in the house, directs the Executive Council Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility to “develop and implement a shareholder engagement plan by which dioceses, church organizations, and individual Episcopalians investing in the publicly traded stock of gun manufacturers and retailers could act to effect change in these companies through the practices of shareholder advocacy to do everything in their power to minimize lethal and criminal uses of their products.”
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Upcoming events (Central Time)
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EVENTS TODAY & COMING UP:
July 11:
10 am ECW Triennial Closing Session
2:15 p.m. Joint PB&F Session
2 p.m. Exhibits close
5:30 pm Episcopal Women's Caucus Eucharist
July 13:
Final day
More events listed in General Convention calendars -
link here
Photo from a display in the Exhibit Hall
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Media Hub (link on the image at left)
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Livestream and on demand:
- Worship (including 7/4 Listening Session)
- HOB and HOD sessions
- TEConversations
- Daily newscasts (4:30 English, 6:30 Spanish, Central Time)
Links to:
- Episcopal News Service (ENS) articles
- Calendars/Schedules
- Legislation (Virtual Binder)
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Resolution info
- "Virtual Binder" - all resolutions to date (gear image at top right allows you to switch between Houses and between Spanish and English.) See the infographic for help deciphering the terminology.
- "Blue Book" - reports from all the official committees, commissions, and task forces that have worked since the last General Convention in 2015, with all of their proposed resolutions ("A" resolutions)
- ECCT's graphic depiction of how a resolution moves through General Convention. Key steps, terminology, in the process.
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Link to glossary & terminology:
Here
or click on image. Let me know of others to add.
Contact Karin Hamilton by
email
or cell, 860-608-6969
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Karin Hamilton | Canon for Mission Communication & Media | khamlton@episcopalct.org | 860-608-6969
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