I.Understanding Executive Council
Episcopal News Service. November 22, 1988 [88248]
NEW YORK (DPS, Nov. 23) -- Many Episcopalians who follow the life of the Church grow accustomed to hearing about Executive Council, the body of 40 people that directs the mission of the Episcopal Church between General Conventions, but a significant number of people do not fully understand its role. To understand Executive Council, it helps to think geographically.
"It is like the Florida Keys," explained Barry Menuez, Senior Executive for Mission Operations. "Each of the keys is a General Convention, but the causeway is the Executive Council."
The Council that gathered in New York October 15-18 for its first meeting since the July 1988 General Convention will shape the actual living out of directions for mission set at Convention. When necessary, Council will propose its own initiatives for the Church's life and work.
While Executive Council may "amend or add to or subtract from" the programs established at General Convention, "it tends to live out the expression of Convention," said the Rev. Canon Donald Nickerson, Jr., Executive Officer for General Convention and Secretary of Executive Council.
As always at the first meeting of a new triennium, half the members were new, elected either from one of the nine provinces of the Church, or as "at large" members from General Convention. Eighteen members of the Council come from provinces (one layperson and one ordained person from each), and 20 are elected by General Convention (four bishops, four ordained persons, and 12 laypersons) All serve for six-year terms.
The Presiding Bishop is chair of the Council, and the president of the House of Deputies is vice chair, to round out the total membership of 40.
Over the next three years, the Council will gather as a body three times each year. It is a traditional practice that it meets once in each province. The next two meetings will be in Fort Worth, Texas, in February, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in June.
A new committee structure will organize this Council's work. The members are divided into four standing committees -- Witness and Outreach, Partnerships, Planning and Development, and Administration, Budget and Finance.
Witness and Outreach is the "primary arena" for the implementation of General Convention objectives. The range of its concerns is reflected in five subcommittees: Communication, Education, Evangelism, International Ministries, and Social and Economic Justice.
Partnerships focuses on ministries of unity and partnership through the Anglican Communion, ecumenical and interreligious organizations, and dialogues.
Planning and Development helps identify emerging mission needs and priorities.
Administration. Budget and Finance guides the budget process, oversees management of assets, and offers support for administration of the Episcopal Church Center, the Church's human resources and information systems, among other areas.