Search the Episcopal Press and News

Structure Commission Moves Toward Final Report on Reordering National Church Committees

Episcopal News Service. December 5, 1996 [96-1639]

(ENS) The Standing Commission on Structure took a step closer to a plan for the possible reordering of the church's national committees and other institutions when it met outside Orlando, Florida, November 18-20. The committee made "numerous amendments" to its initial draft report, according to a news release, in response to nearly 150 written and innumerable spoken comments on the far-reaching proposals.

Many of the comments addressed a suggestion that the responsibilities of the presiding bishop be split between an executive director, who would essentially oversee administration of the national church, and a presiding bishop who would serve as the church's spiritual leader and as a prophetic voice, reported the Rev. John Kitagawa of Baltimore, the committee's vice chair.

The clarifications underscore that "the presiding bishop, in the role of chair of Executive Council, bears ultimate responsibility and accountability for the programs and strategies adopted by General Convention and Executive Council," the release noted. "In addition, the relationship between the presiding bishop and the proposed executive director has been re-stated to make it clear that the executive director would report through and be accountable to the presiding bishop."

Adjusting the report

In other amendments, the committee:

  • proposed a new Standing Commission on Anglican and International Affairs to work on strategies for common ministry opportunities within the Anglican Communion, and on issues of peace and justice;
  • added the duties of evangelism to the previously proposed Standing Commission on Domestic Mission;
  • proposed a new Standing Commission on National Concerns to work on theological, ethical and pastoral issues that confront the Episcopal Church, including domestic issues of peace and justice.

The revised report "more clearly affirms the nature of the partnership relationship between congregations, dioceses and provinces, and the church on the national level," said Robert Royce of Bay Shore, New York, the commission's secretary. The report also communicates more clearly "the traditional polity of this church" that the diocese is "the fundamental unit of organization expressive of the historic episcopate."

The revised report is being circulated among commission members for additional comments, and will be put into final form when the commission meets again in Florida January 6-8, 1997, Kitagawa said. While that is the version that will be presented to General Convention, input will still be possible. The text of the report will be posted on QUEST electronic bulletin board and on the Episcopal Church's World Wide Web page. Members of the committee also will be attending provincial meetings to explain the report and hear additional comments.

What happens with the report ultimately is up to General Convention, Kitagawa said. "We just offer something and the church will do as it wills."

[thumbnail: Structure Commission Move...]