July 12, 2018 - Issue #10
Everything is important to someone
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Resolution status: 501 submitted. 259 incomplete; 242 complete
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Photo: Name badge for Bishop Laura Ahrens. Purple (for bishops) with a "flat Jesus" to take around, and a personalized sheriff's badge from the ECCT youth team.
Here's a really quick status update on #GC79
- We have another diocese in TEC (Cuba)
- And a proposed budget.
- And Prayer Book revision that will include expansive and inclusive language and expressions of creation care.
- We are closer to marriage rites for the whole church.
- We have endorsed forming more than three dozen task forces including at least two responding to #metoo concerns.
- We have rejected a resolution on Israel/Palestine-related divestment
- And there are still plenty of resolutions waiting for the second House to vote. Will the deputies allow more of them to stay on their consent calendar?
And tomorrow is the last day!
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Proposed $134 MM budget
Yesterday afternoon the bishops and deputies met together to hear the proposed budget.
According to its proposers, there were requests for 39 task forces, standing commissions, or other interim bodies, and requests for several new staff positions.
Spending called for in the proposed resolutions exceeded revenues by more than $15 million.
Income is based on a 15% diocesan assessment, a 5% investment draw, a new annual appeal, income from fees, and a carry-over of $1 million designated for the work of racial reconciliation.
On the expense side, the budget supports the three pillars identified by the Presiding Bishop for TEC: Evangelism, Racial Justice & Reconciliation, and Care for Creation.
The budget for evangelism is $3 million and includes a new staff person for evangelism. Spending for racial reconciliation is $10.4 million. While GC supported a resolution calling for an additional $5 million for racial reconciliation grants, they were not able to meet that full request. Creation care spending is $1 million and includes a new part-time staff person.
Support for Cuba was increased to $350,000. Money for task forces and other interim bodies is pooled.
The budget didn't include funding for prayer book revision as GC had not completed its work on A068 at the time they finalized it. PB&F believed that if the revised A068 was passed, with its request for $200.000 instead of the $1.9 million in the initial resolution, then the SCLM, Executive Council, and other offices could design and fund a budget for it. (
Link to budget here, with line item details.)
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Marriage rites resolution returns to HOD
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On July 9, the HOD voted to adopt B012 on Marriage Rites for the Whole Church. The HOB took that up July 11 and after debate, decided to pass an amended version. Now the resolution must return to the HOD.
Read this article by Mary Frances Schjonberg of Episcopal News Service for more info:
Marriage rites resolution heading back to House of Deputies
The House of Bishops made a “technical amendment” before approving a resolution meant to give all Episcopalians the ability to be married by their priests in their home churches.
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PHoD to Cuba: "Welcome home"
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[Dick Schulze of ECCT at the Friend of the Episcopal Church of Cuba booth in the Exhibit Hall Wednesday morning. Those buttons on the table were the last in their supply.]
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[Episcopal rock stars, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Cuba and others stop in the Convention Center hallway for some impromptu photo requests]
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[Seating area for the Diocese of Cuba on the floor of the House of Deputies.]
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The HOD voted today to join the HOB is welcoming the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba into The Episcopal Church. The Church's focus on reconciliation, and the experience last Sunday of many bishops and deputies visiting the residential detention center in Taylor, Texas, added to the emotional impact. Resolution A238 laments our casting them out, and embraces the opportunity for reconciliation. Those working with the Church in Cuba, including ECCT members with
Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, say that TEC has much to learn from the work of their lay or ordained leaders.
Bishop Delgato and her team have Episcopal rock star status, and can't go through the hallway without having people stop them for photos. Yesterday the HOD voted to concur on Resolution A268. After Bishop Griselda was welcomed, the PHoD invited them to change the rules of order and allow their two deputies to have voice and vote in the House. Perhaps planning for that possibility, there was a stanchion already prepared for Cuba.
To hear an interview with the Bishop of the Diocese of Cuba, visit the
Media Hub. Then scroll down to "Special Inside General Convention" with Bishops Delgado (Cuba) and McLoughlin (Western North Carolina). There are also videos there of other worship services)
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Bishops reject Israel-Palestine resolution D019 blasted as ‘divestment’ despite deputies’ approval
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[David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service]
The House of Bishops, by a large majority, voted down a measure overwhelmingly favored by the House of Deputies that would have sought to end the church’s financial complicity in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, putting to rest for at least another three years one of the church’s most divisive issues.
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Prayer Book revision A068 adopted
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The HOD passed it; the HOB amended it; and the HOD then concurred on the amended version. Prayer Book revision begins. But don't plan to turn in your current prayer book anytime soon, if at all.
It memorializes, and maintains the theology of, the 1979 BCP. And at the same time it makes bold promises for resources to come:
It resolves to "utilize the riches of Holy Scripture and our Church’s liturgical, cultural, racial, generational, linguistic, gender, physical ability, class and ethnic diversity in order to share common worship;" and to "utilize inclusive and expansive language and imagery for humanity and divinity; incorporate and express understanding, appreciation, and care of God’s creation."
It also resolves to create professional "dynamic equivalence" translations of the current BCP and BOS, and future BCP revisions, and make resources available online.
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ECCT deputies and bishop meet for lunch Wednesday. Around the table from the front left: The Rev. Jonathan Folts, Suzy Burke, A. Bates Lyons, Bishop Laura Ahrens, Shirley Wick, and GC79 visitor, the Rev. Peter Walsh, rector of St. Mark's, New Canaan.
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Sharon Pearson of Norwalk, and Church Publishing, in the visitor's gallery at GC79
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"Breaking the Stained Glass Ceiling"
C060 passes
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Photo: The Rev. Molly James, chair of the ECCT deputation and chair of the legislative committee on ministry, reads the committee report recommending the HOD concur with the HOB on C060.
The resolution establishes a task force to research sexism in the Church "and the role it plays in pay equity, status, and gender-based harassment." Deputies concurred.
There's also to be a task force on sexual harassment,
A109.
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Coming up today & tomorrow
Photo: Deputy Don Burr's Virtual Binder, open and set on its stand, on the table for ECCT deputies in the HOD, and his electronic voting device, along with his personal notebook (and Episcopal swag bag).
Thursday, July 12:
9 am - 1 pm
2:15 - 6 pm
Closing Eucharist 7:30 pm (CT)
Friday, July 13
8 am - 1 pm
2:30 - 6:30 pm
6:30 pm adjournment
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ENS: Military chaplains shepherd a special flock
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[Sharon Tillman, Episcopal News Service; ENS photo by Brian Baker]
Ask the Rt. Rev. Carl W. Wright, bishop suffragan for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, about the military chaplains he shepherds, and he will tell you, “Our chaplains are on the front lines of the Jesus Movement – we are the original missionaries!”
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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. This has been referred to an interim body.
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
Given passage of A068, likely no further action.
C031, Minimize Gendered Language (in any Prayer Book revisions). Given passage of A068, likely no further action.
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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 - On July 12 HOD consent calendar
D034, Amend Canon IV.19.4, Suspending Statute of Limitations - On July 12 HOD consent calendar
D035, Amend Canon III.9 regarding Reconciliation and Mediation Between Clergy - Rejected
RESOLUTIONS FROM PROVINCE ONE
C037, Call to Respond to Opioid Epidemic - HOB passed amended
C038, Safeguard the Rights of Palestinian Children – On July 12 HOD legislative calendar
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 HOD amended; on July 12 HOB consent calendar
B005, Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue (recognition; encourage federal research) - Concurred.
A017, Creation Liturgies, given passage of A068, likely no further action
A010, Planting of Paris Groves, very amended from original - Concurred
D019, Ending Church complicity in the Occupation, HOB voted to not concur.
A041, Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue - On the July 12 HOD legislative calendar, amended
A144, Diocesan Missional Review (conduct prior to starting search process for bishop diocesan or coadjutor; proposed by task force chaired by Bishop Douglas) - Concurred.
C034, Ministry to people with mental illness and their families - Concurred
D011, Doctrine of Discovery Training (required of those in ordination process) - Concurred
D029, Condemning Prolonged Solitary Confinement as a Form of Torture - Concurred
Use the Virtual Binder to search out resolution by number, proposer, topic, or assigned legislative committee. Use the gear image in the top right to switch between Houses, and languages, to check out the status of legislation for each House (calendars, journals, etc.)
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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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