Memorials on Many Subjects Received by General Convention
Diocesan Press Service. June 5, 1967 [55-7]
Some 130 memorials have already been received by the secretary of the General Convention and will be transmitted to the Convention when it meets Sept. 17 - 27 in Seattle.
These memorials range in concern from current social issues to clergy pensions, to communion discipline and are sent to Convention from dioceses, provinces and other official or semi-official bodies.
The largest number of memorials on one subject is 18, calling for the seating of women at General Convention.
Following this concern seems to be proposals for changing the structure of General Convention itself. These call for such changes as proportional representation, biennial conventions, shorter conventions and the payment of deputies' expenses.
A number of memorials were also received which concerned themselves with liturgics. One diocese has proposed the use of any revised Anglican liturgy; another, the use of the translation of the Nicene Creed proposed in the new Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, even if the Liturgy itself is not approved for trial use. Several memorials call for permission for lay administration of the chalice and several have been received which support or take issue with the report of the Joint Commission on Ecumenical Relations on the subject of Communion discipline.
Clergy deployment, the development of a self-supporting priesthood, the role of suffragan bishops, and the Clergy Pension Fund were the subject of several memorials, as was the participation of other ministers in Episcopal services.
Two church offerings also received attention. There have been more than one memorial asking that the Church and Race Fund be included in the general church budget and two on the Church School Missionary Offering.
Memorials were also received on the subject of abortion law reforms and on alcoholism.
In the ecumenical arena, the question of the Episcopal Church's participation in the Consultation on Church Union concerned a number of dioceses, judging from the memorials, both pro and con, on the subject. A few memorials critical of the National Council of Churches have also been sent to Convention. Finally, a memorial has been received calling for intercommunion with the United Church of Nigeria when and if it comes into existence.
Economy in national church operations, the division of the Missionary District of Central America, the abolition of the term and status of missionary district, and the reopening of the question of the status of deaconesses round up concerns expressed in memorials already received.