79th General Convention - Austin Texas - July 5-13 2018
July 14, 2018 - Issue #12
The 79th General Convention is adjourned
Reflections from your Bishops & Chair of the Deputation
Lex Orandi Lex Credendi
Bishop Ian T. Douglas reflects on the highlights and important actions of the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, following its adjournment July 13, 2018. Watch the video by clicking here or on the image below.
Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Loving Self
Bishop Laura J. Ahrens reflects on the now-completed 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, noting the ways that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's call to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves, marked the time of all those attending. Watch the video by clicking here or on the image below.
GC79: Resolutions, hard work, and stories that will be remembered
Immediately following the early afternoon adjournment of the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, Chair of the ECCT Deputation the Rev. Molly James shares her reflections on the work of GC79, the work ahead, and the work of the Spirit among them over the past two weeks. Watch the video by clicking here or on the image below.
Deputy the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell speaks to the HOD on Res. A045
Photo: The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell speaks in favor of Res. A045. It "re-affirms the necessity and importance of anti-racism training for the lay and ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church, including all ordained persons, professional staff, and those elected or appointed to committees, commissions, agencies, task forces, and boards."

(Note: Given Resolution B004, which recommends changing the term "anti-racism" to dismantling racism, or, racial healing, justice, and reconciliation, this training may be renamed.)

It also resolves that "that the lay and ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church are also expected to engage in ongoing spiritual formation and education focused on racial healing, justice, and reconciliation as part of our Church’s commitment to Becoming Beloved Community."

And it includes a reporting requirement: "That each committee, commission, agency, task force, and board, and each province and diocese maintain a register of those who have participated in training, and annually report to the Executive Council.

Both Houses concurred. Read full text here.

Deputy Bates Lyons also spoke in the HOD on Resolution D004, Addressing Mass Incarceration, and Deputy the Rev. Carlos de la Torre on Resolution A283 , Multicultural Liturgies for Occasional Services.
Convention Center staff: Thanks!!
Photo: Brenda Benner, Austin Convention Center Set-up Crew member. Brenda She's part of a 50+ member crew who set up chairs and tables, etc. and do light custodial work. Brenda said we were a pretty easy group - especially when compared to the huge crowds that show up in the same Convention Center for the three weeks of SXSW.

Deputations bring snacks into the HOD with them, but don't always finish their supply. There was a rush when the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe announced it had extra Belgian chocolate (and other European sweets). A few minutes later the HOD learned that the Dioceses of Alaska and Texas had arranged for collection bins to be set out at the conclusion of GC79, to collect usable food (food that deputies would eat) for a program in Austin that feeds immigrants.They also planned to set out bins later in the afternoon for food, or office supplies, that deputies might have brought for their meetings in hotel suites.
Title IV website debuts
There's a new online resource to help people across TEC to understand the Title IV process, whether they're just looking to be informed or have a stakeholder role in the process.

One part of the site consists of a series of teaching videos by a diverse range of experts - including the Rev. Molly F. James, ECCT's Dean of Formation and ECCT's Canon for Mission Integrity & Training Robin Hammeal-Urban, shown on the large screens in the HOD during a demonstration video. The other part of the site includes an interactive chart of steps in the process for the different roles of people who are involved in it.

The project was undertaken under the authority of a subcommittee of the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution & Canons that was charged with the task of providing TEC a teaching resource, following the last Convention, in part to ensure the process is consistent across the Church. The videos, and writing, were the work of several staff members of the Episcopal Church in Utah, which worked with the subcommittee and also worked with the website company that developed the platform.

Their next steps are to update the content following any changes made during this GC79, and start work on a Spanish-language version, with dynamic translation and sensitivity to cultural contexts.

A sampling of resolutions passed at #gc79
Late on July 13, 2018: Here is a PARTIAL list of resolutions that I believe were passed by both Houses at GC79. (It's also posted on the episcopalct.org GC79 web page here .)

The original resolutions may have been amended or substituted for new text, and sometimes the headline doesn’t match the final text too well. These are only SOME resolutions, primarily organized by most of the different Legislative Committees to which they were assigned. I’ve offered a range of resolutions under each topic. I checked to see that they are all concurrals (both Houses agreed) but it’s been a long two weeks, so please verify. The ones of most interest to you might not be listed here so be sure to visit the Virtual Binder!

Click here to get to the Virtual Binder. In the top right corner, choose your language, Spanish or English. Click on “Resolutions” then you can enter a specific number, or select them by topic or by Legislative Committee.

ECCT will provide an overview resource later this summer. The General Convention office also usually provides an overview of the actions taken, but not right away, as everything must be verified.

 
ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE;
US SOCIAL JUSTICE
B005 Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue
C037 Call to Respond to Opioid Epidemic
D029 Condemning Prolonged Solitary Confinement as a Form of Torture
D090 Engaging the Church in Advocacy for Disability Rights (including deaf persons)
 
CHRISTIAN FORMATION & DISCIPLESHIP
A022 Create a Formation [Theological Education] Networking Team (across TEC)
A055 Develop Multicultural Ministry Pathways
B009 Civil Discourse (OGR curriculum)
C034 Ministry to People with Mental Illness and their Families
C055 Inclusion of Transgender People (guidelines)
D010 Creating Position of Indigenous Theological Education Coordinator
 
CHURCH PENSION FUND/GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
A060 Create a Task Force to Study Church’s Pension System
(Resolves to study the historical and current relationship of The Episcopal Church and The Church Pension Fund in order to achieve greater clarity on their respective roles, responsibilities and authority, and Issue a report by the end of 2019. Requests of CPG by GC79 can be found here .
 
CONGREGATIONAL & DIOCESAN VITALITY
A144 Diocesan Missional Review (prior to search process for bishop diocesan or coadjutor)
A221 Collaboration & Networking
A053 Design a New Parochial Report
 
CUBA
A238 Admit Episcopal Diocese of Cuba as a Diocese of The Episcopal Church
 
ECUMENICAL & INTERRELIGIOUS
A035 Commend “The Church Towards A Common Vision”
A041 Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue
D043 Welcoming the Church of South India
 
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & CARE OF CREATION
A010 Planting of Paris Groves (note: very amended from original)
A011 Oppose Environmental Racism
A013 Facilitating the Development of the Church’s Ministry of Care of Creation
B025 Water as a Human Right (includes urge to phase-out or ban on bottled water in churches by 2021)
 
EVANGELISM
A005 Continue a Church-wide Network for Planting Churches
A029 Commend the Evangelism Charter for the Church to All Episcopalians
A031 Fund a full time Evangelism Staff Officer
A082 Training for Digital Evangelists
 
IMMIGRATION
A178 Halt the Intensification and Implementation of Immigration Policies and Practices that are Harmful to Migrant Women, Parents and Children
C033 Respecting the Dignity of Immigrants
C009 Becoming a Sanctuary Church
A286 Keeping Faith with U.S. Military Recruits
 
INVESTMENT/DIVESTMENT; FINANCES
A295 Adopt the Budget for TEC ( Link to budget )
B007 Ethical Investing in Gun Manufacturers
A020 Fossil Fuel Divestment
B008 Stewardship in Communities of Color (support for a project)
A061 Create a Task Force on the Theology of Money.
D068 Criteria & Procedures for deciding to engage with or establish a No-Buy List of Companies
B016 Adopt ELCA Action on Israel/Palestine
 
LITURGY/PRAYER BOOK
A068 Revision of the Book of Common Prayer
A070 Translation of the Book of Common Prayer
B012 Marriage Rites for the whole Church A065 LFF 2018
D078 Authorize Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Expansive Language) for Trial Use
A065 Authorize Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 (includes request to provide GC80 with singular calendar)
A066 Add Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murry, and Florence Li-Tim Oi to the church calendar (2nd reading)
A218 Proposed Book of Occasional Services 2018 (changes/additions)

Note to ECCT readers: The following were submitted by ECCT, or followed by ECCT members
C028 Use of other Anglican Books of Worship was referred to an interim body
C030  Adding a baptismal promise about care of creation was referred to an interim body
A017 Creation Liturgies was referred to an interim body.
C031 Minimize Gendered Language (in any Prayer Book revisions) was referred to an interim body
B010 Concerning the Service of the Church was referred to SCLM
 
MINISTRY
C060 Breaking the Episcopal Stained Glass Ceiling
Lots of canonical changes; Legislative Committee chair the Rev. Molly James will help summarize them on an upcoming "Coffee Hour at The Commons" podcast
More from this Legislative Committee here
 
RACIAL JUSTICE & RECONCILIATION
D011 Doctrine of Discovery Training (required of those in ordination process)
A044 Establishing Anti-racism/racial Reconciliation Certification Framework.
A045 Revision and Reminder of Anti-Racism Training Requirement
B004 Encouraging the Language of Dismantling Racism and Racial Healing, Justice and Reconciliation.
 
SAFE CHURCH TRAINING .
A048 Establish Committee to Oversee Creation of Training Materials (also includes: host model policies on DFMS website; address funding)
A051 Modify Parochial Report (from dioceses to include safe church self-audits)
 
SOCIAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL POLICY (INCLUDES ISRAEL/PALESTINE)
B003 On the Status of Jerusalem
C038 Safeguard the Rights of Palestinian Children
C061 Encouraging the Use of the “Code on Conduct” for the Protection of Children

WORLD MISSION
A207 Encouraging Mission as Part of the Beloved Community
D062 Companionship with Sudanese Christians
D061 Develop Episcopal Gap Year Program
D050 Solidarity with Victims of Religious Persecution
Media Hub (link on the image at left)
Watch on demand:

  • Worship (including 7/4 Listening Session)
  • TEConversations
  • Newscasts (4:30 English, 6:30 Spanish, Central Time) "Inside General Convention"
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
Karin Hamilton | Canon for Mission Communication & Media | khamlton@episcopalct.org | 860-608-6969