News
The 76th General Convention Of The Episcopal Church July 8-17, 2009 in Anaheim, California
07/17/2009
As you may or may not know, our Rector, Rodger Broadly, will be attending the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Los Angeles in July. Rodger is a deputy from our diocese and a member of the Education committee.
To learn more about the 2009 General Convention click on the following link: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/gc2009.htm
Here are some examples of the resolutions he and others will be considering.
Program & Budget
* The Episcopal Church's Executive Council approved a draft 2010-2012 budget. Convention must approve the budget.
Worship and Liturgy
* Holy Women, Holy Men, an overhaul of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, which would add a number of names to the Calendar of the Church Year.
* Consideration of requests for authorization to develop rites of blessing for same-gender unions, especially in states that have legalized such unions or marriages.
* Use of gender-neutral language for prayer book marriage services; creation of an Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday; liturgical materials for a new Creation Cycle to be celebrated during the season after Pentecost.
Economic justice issues
*Establishing a program to help alleviate poverty within the United States in such areas as Appalachia and federal reservations for Native Americans and increased ministry to native peoples.
*Increased efforts to combat racism within the Church.
Global concerns/Anglican Communion
*Support for the Millennium Development Goals
*Crises and peacemaking efforts in conflict areas such as the Middle East, Sudan, Sri Lanka and the Great Lakes region of Africa.
*The proposed Anglican covenant… cannot be considered; however, resolutions on this topic may be submitted for consideration.
*Requests to overturn, nullify or supersede GC06 Resolution B033, which called for restraint in electing or approving the election as bishops of candidates "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
Church governance
* Proposed revision of the church's disciplinary canons, known as Title IV, to clarify several issues, including processes to deal pastorally and fairly with clergy who have been accused of inappropriate behavior.
The Episcopal Church's Family Reunion
Prayer, sharing, legislation are all part of convention
Imagine Eucharist for 8,000 people. Imagine a marketplace of goods and ideas. Imagine quiet conversations among friends, old and new. Imagine one of the largest legislatures in the world. Imagine the utter silence of prayer before momentous decisions.
The every-third-year gathering of the Episcopal Church known as General Convention is all of these things. The 76th gathering begins in Anaheim, in the Diocese of Los Angeles, California, on July 8 and continues until July 17.
Bishops and deputies from the Episcopal Church's 110 dioceses will make broad decisions about policies and worship. Those decisions take the form of resolutions agreed to by both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.
The House of Deputies ranges in size between 800 and 1,000 members. Its sessions are moderated by its elected president, a position currently held by Bonnie Anderson. Each diocese is represented by up to eight elected deputies: four priests or deacons and four lay members. Deputies cannot be instructed to vote one way or another. They agree to have an open heart so that they can prayerfully listen to others and be led by the Holy Spirit. And they cannot refuse to vote on an issue.
Bonnie Anderson and Katharine Jefferts Schori will preside over, respectively, the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops at General Convention. Most resolutions or other actions must pass by simple majorities in each house. Occasionally, the House of Deputies votes by orders, meaning that clergy and deputies vote separately and each order's votes are counted as one vote with the majority of those two votes being recorded as the vote. If the deputation's orders are evenly split, the vote counts as "no".
The House of Bishops consists of diocesan, suffragan, assisting and retired bishops. It will be led by the Presiding Bishop.Convention is more than legislation. All business stops each morning so that everyone can join in the Holy Eucharist. At this year's meeting, worship services will be based on daily themes, with a variety of preachers and speakers.
In the exhibit hall, organizations and interest groups present their wares, recruit members and do their best to influence legislation.
Many church-related organizations hold meetings in conjunction with Convention, including the Episcopal Church Women, who hold their Triennial Meeting concurrently.
(Text by Mary Frances Schjonberg and Janet Kawamoto of Episcopal Life Media.)
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