General Convention Meets in July to Chart Course of the Church for Next Three Years
Episcopal News Service. May 25, 2000 [2000-085]
(ENS) In what is clearly one of the most defining moments in the life of the church, every three years representatives from all dioceses of the Episcopal Church gather for 10 days to chart the future of the church for the next three years.
The General Convention is the highest authority in the church, but it is also a cross between a political convention and a family picnic, at least as diverse and complicated as the church itself. It can be messy and factional, petty and profound, often deeply inspirational. Even fun.
The convention parallels in many ways the life of the nation, going back to 1785 when the United States and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA were shaping the institutions that would guide them in the future. When the church first met in convention, it adopted a bi-cameral system comprising a House of Deputies, half clergy and half laity representing the dioceses, and a House of Bishops, including active and retired bishops of the church.
When the General Convention is called into session in Denver, Colorado, on the morning of July 5 it will be the 73rd time -- and the first in the new century. According to some church leaders, this convention could be different, less contentious and more healing than others in the recent past.
For one thing, the list of resolutions is much more manageable. According to the Rev. Rosemari Sullivan, executive officer of the General Convention, a total of 186 resolutions have been pre-filed. That number could change since resolutions can also be filed during the first two days of convention.
The past two conventions averaged over 400 resolutions and the convention in Phoenix in 1991 went well over 600, burning out copying machines and creating a legislative gridlock.
Clearly relieved that she doesn't face that possibility, Sullivan said, "This will give us an opportunity to consider in depth all the important matters that will come before the convention." She is also convinced that it could be an example of "how the church has learned to focus its energy on the major issues."
And for the first time, voting in the House of Deputies will be electronic. Well at least "quasi-electronic," because of the occasional need to vote by lay and clergy orders. Each deputy will have a keypad and, on routine votes, can push either red or yellow buttons. The results will then be announced and projected on a large screen, with numbers and a bar graph. The new plan will "save lots of trees and copying," Sullivan said.
The Blue Book, all 509 pages, was mailed to all bishops and deputies in April. It is a road map to General Convention, with all the reports from the committees and commissions of the church that have been responsible for the church's business between General Conventions. For the first time it is now available on a CD-ROM, thanks to Church Publishing Company, which publishes the print edition.
The list of issues has remained quite consistent in recent years, covering an incredibly broad range of concerns.
Sexuality issues have been on the agenda for over 25 years and will certainly be part of this General Convention, although there seem to be fewer "landmines" than in the past.
Speculation that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music might move the church further toward a liturgical rite for blessing same-sex relationships was unfounded. In response to a resolution from the 1997 Philadelphia General Convention asking the commission to "continue its study of theological aspects of committed relationships of same-sex couples," and to include recommendations of "future steps for resolution of issues related to such committed relationships," the commission report sketched the different perspectives on the issue.
Pointing out how deeply divided the church is on the issue, the commission urged the church at all levels to "facilitate genuine and respectful encounter between heterosexual and homosexual parishioners" and concluded that each diocese should determine the resolution of the issues, including ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians and the blessing of same-sex relationships. In the meantime, resolutions will continue to press for a liturgical rite for blessings.
Bishop Charles Bennison of Pennsylvania has filed a resolution calling on the House of Bishops to prepare a "pastoral teaching and accompanying study guide on the sin of heterosexism as a systemic form of injustice in which heterosexual persons are benefited economically, societally, as well as in other respects, at the expense of homosexual persons."
The Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns commended efforts to "listen to the experience of homosexual people," as urged in a resolution of the 1998 Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican bishops. It asks General Convention to "establish a formal process for parishes to identify themselves as 'safe spaces' for lesbians and gays to tell their stories and be heard with love and care." It also calls on the presiding bishop's staff to seek similar spaces in the rest of the Anglican Communion.
The convention is expected to act early and positively on the revised proposal for full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). At the 1997 Philadelphia convention the Episcopal Church overwhelmingly approved a Concordat of Agreement but it fell a few votes short of the required two-thirds at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly a few weeks later. So the Lutherans, with participation of Episcopal representatives, rewrote the document. The convention will now vote on "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement."
In a parallel action, the convention will vote for the second time on a temporary suspension of the 17th century restriction that "no persons are allowed to exercise the offices of bishop, priest or deacon" unless they have been ordained by a bishop in historic succession. By suspending the preface to the ordinal it will allow both churches to exchange clergy. CCM also calls for Lutherans to adopt the historic episcopate, a provision that has provoked some strong opposition among Lutherans who regard this as an innovation that is not necessary for church unity. They also oppose a CCM provision that requires Lutheran bishops to ordain all clergy.
The Lutheran bishops and the Episcopal bishops have each issued clarifications of their understanding of CCM in the wake of attempts by some opponents to change its provisions, especially on the role of bishops and the ordination of clergy.
After several conventions dealing with the structure of the church, a proposal to radically revise the province structure (dioceses of the church are divided into nine regional provinces) has drawn significant debate. The Standing Commission on Structure said in its Blue Book report that the church should discontinue the existing system of provinces, although it suggests that the resolution is an attempt to give the convention an opportunity to express its will.
On the other hand, a resolution that emerged from a recent meeting of the Provincial Leadership Conference, which represents presidents and vice presidents of provinces and their coordinators as well as national staff, takes another approach. A resolution filed with the House of Bishops "reaffirms the current system" and urges provinces to "utilize and broaden existing networks and resources to strengthen and expand their capacity to facilitate, coordinate and support their mission and ministry initiative." The resolution argues that the provinces can be "ties that bind" together several aspects of the church's common life.
As in the past, several resolutions attempt to reshape the way the church does business through the General Convention. The Diocese of Colorado, for example, has filed resolutions calling for conventions every five years, a decrease in size of delegations to the House of Deputies from four in each order to three, and a limit of six legislative days for convention.
The convention must also act on the proposed budget of $136,444,000 for the next triennium, a budget that reflects the priorities of the church and yet has more flexibility than in the past, according to Treasurer Steve Duggan, so that it will be vision driven rather than issue driven.
As the host diocese, Colorado is planning what Bishop Jerry Winterrowd described in a letter to bishops and deputies as "a festive and entertaining event on the theme of 'How the West was Fun.'" The event, to be held July 12 in Currigan Hall near the convention center, will feature a special performance of the singing group, "Up with People."
Although not a part of the convention, a national youth event will be held in nearby Boulder at the same time as the convention. Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who grew up in the Episcopal Church, said that he was "looking forward to sharing my story and learning about the faith of others, too." He will meet with participants on the concluding day of the July 7-12 event on the University of Colorado campus.
"I know from my own experience of last summer's Episcopal Youth Event that gatherings of young people can provide a valuable opportunity to reflect with their peers on their life in Christ and strengthen their sense of being members of Christ's risen body," said Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.
In keeping with the Jubilee theme, drawing on the vision in Leviticus emphasizing forgiveness and reconciliation, on the first evening the convention participants will divide into five conversation groups:
- The end-of-life task force has planned a conversation on "God, Death and Decisions Near the End of Life," featuring Dame Cicely Saunders of England, founder of the Hospice Movement. Panelists will include Cynthia Cohen of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University, Bruce Jennings of the Hastings Center in New York, David Smith of the Poynter Institute for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions in Indiana, and Prof. Timothy Sedgwick of Virginia Theological Seminary.
- A conversation moderated by the Rev. Titus Presler of Boston on "Mission in a Hurting World" will feature Bishop Leo Frade of Honduras, Prof. Kwok Pui-lan of Episcopal Divinity School in Massachusetts, the Rev. Marc Nikkel, missionary in the Sudan, Edwina Thomas of Virginia who is national director, USA of Sharing of Ministries Abroad, and Bishop Joseph Wasonga, of Maseno West, Kenya.
- A conversation on racism will be led by the Rev. Sheryl Kujawa of Episcopal Divinity School in Massachusetts and the Rev. Ed Rodman, canon missioner of the Diocese of Massachusetts. It was added to the schedule in the wake of the controversy with the Adam's Mark chain of hotels and allegations of a pattern of racial discrimination. The Executive Council decided not to use the Denver hotel as convention headquarters. The hotel has since agreed to a settlement.
- A conversation on the church's role in confronting violence, moderated by the Hon. Byron Rushing, a state legislator in Massachusetts. Among participants: Owanah Anderson, former director of Native American Ministries, discussing racial and ethnic violence; Tessie Adams of Massachusetts on spousal abuse and stalking; Joseph King from Chicago, who will share a personal story on violence against youth in urban society; and a participant not yet announced who will discuss violence against gays and lesbians.
- A conversation is also being planned by the church's Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, moderated by the Rev. Bruce Jenneker of Boston, who chairs the commission.
On the following morning, the convention will suspend its business, gather in the morning for a Liturgy of the Word, then move to tables for conversation, and return to the worship space for the Liturgy of the Table. "The morning is essentially an opportunity for the convention to set itself free from the usual pattern of business," said Rosemari Sullivan. She described it as a "mini retreat," a time of prayer, reflection and quiet conversation.
"Once again the General Convention will address a wide range of resolutions dealing with public policy and social justice," said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director of peace and justice ministries for the Episcopal Church.
The Standing Commission on National Concerns dealt with end-of-life issues but is also introducing a resolution that calls on the church to reaffirm its opposition to capital punishment and "calls on the dioceses and members of this church to work actively to abolish the death penalty in their states...." And it calls for "an immediate moratorium on the use of capital punishment." Another resolution commends educational materials on violence produced by the Quakers.
The Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns dealt with the ethical and theological implications of globalization, calling on the church to adopt guidelines that draw on partnership, respect, empowerment and people-centered development.
Other resolutions urge the U.S. to "increase aid and private investment in South Africa specifically targeted to improve the education system and other programs to lift the poor out of their poverty," and another that commends the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and its chair Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for setting "a splendid example of Christian principle at its best in forgoing revenge and forgiving the perpetrators of injustice under apartheid who have been willing to confess their deeds." Another calls on the U.S. government to "apologize to the people of South Africa for our long complicity in supporting the apartheid government and our long delay in instituting economic sanctions to support the democratic movement."
Another resolution calls on the Executive Council to "establish an Episcopal Youth Corps to engage in servant ministry throughout the Anglican Communion."
Among the resolutions emerging from the Executive Council is one that calls on the church to commit itself to address racism for the next nine years "in order that we become a church committed to ending institutional and other forms of racism within our polity, within our society, and throughout the world." And it calls for racism training for staff, lay and clergy leaders and all members of committees and commissions.
The council has also been monitoring implementation of the canons mandating an open process in all dioceses for the ordination of women. The resolution calls for encouraging the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy to honor the canons by "bringing women into the full life and ministry of the church," with a report on progress by the fall of 2002, in time for the next General Convention.
The Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism is proposing a number of ways to build church membership through a "domestic mission imperative." A resolution calls for the church to adopt "20/20: A Clear Vision," an effort to double the church's baptized membership by the year 2020 through creative strategies of evangelism, recruiting and equipping innovative leaders and strengthening congregational life. The effort calls on the Executive Council to "invest in diocesan and congregational mission and evangelism with 10 percent of the aggregate income of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society derived from diocesan support and investment income...to be dispersed equally to the provinces."
Another resolution calls for the creation of "The Alleluia Fund -- Build My Church," which is described as "a new initiative in planning, giving and spiritual transformation throughout the dioceses of the Episcopal Church, centered in the Easter season." A resolution sets aside funds to recruit and train evangelists and church planters who were born after 1964. And another calls for a demographic census of the entire church to be conducted by 2005.
Efforts to shape a different kind of convention, one that is able to conduct the church's business in a respectful environment and yet provide an inspiring and educational component, are picking up steam. Sullivan says that conventions in the future could be "more like a council of wisdom than a political convention."
And yet some church leaders are worried that efforts to reshape General Convention could increase tension between the two houses. Speaking to the Executive Council at its recent meeting, Griswold said that he deplored efforts to create a sense of division between the two houses of General Convention. The bishops are looking for ways to be a "positive and helpful presence," he said, as they urge the church to ground its decisions in the mysteries of faith.
Pamela Chinnis, president of the House of Deputies, welcomes the partnership with the House of Bishops as long as it does not include an effort to avoid the importance of making decisions that chart the course for the church. Unless handled carefully, an attempt by the bishops to exercise their pastoral and teaching role could provoke resentment among the deputies and set back a relationship that has "improved substantially" in recent years.
After several conventions marked by rancor and confusion, the church seems ready to explore some new avenues to be a community of moral discourse together.