| Resolution Number: | 1982-A014 |
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| Title: | Amend Constitution Article X [The Book of Common Prayer--First Reading] |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That Article X of the Constitution be amended by striking therefrom references to Missionary Dioceses and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, so that said Article X will read:
The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, the Form of Consecration of a Church or Chapel, the Office of Institution or Ministers, and Articles of Religion, as now established or hereafter amended by the authority of this Church, shall be in use in all the Dioceses and Missionary Dioceses, and in the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, of this Church. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the same shall be first proposed in one regular meeting of the General Convention and by a Resolve thereof be sent within six months to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese, and of the Convocation of every Missionary Diocese and of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention or Convocation of the Missionary Diocese or of the Convention of the American Churches in Europe, at its next meeting, and be adopted by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies of all the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies and all the Missionary Dioceses, and of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, voting by orders, each to have the vote provided for in Article I, Sec. 5. a vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Article I. Sec. 4, except that concurrence by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.
But notwithstanding anything hereinabove contained, the General Convention may at any one meeting, by a majority of the whole number of the Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies of all the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies, and all the Missionary Dioceses, and the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, voting by orders as previously set forth in this Article:
(a). Amend the Table of Lessons and all Tables and Rubrics relating to the Psalms;
(b). Authorize for trial use throughout this Church, as an alternative at anytime or times to the established Book of Common Prayer or to any section or Office thereof, a proposed revision of the whole Book or of any portion thereof, duly undertaken by the General Convention.
And Provided, that nothing in this Article shall be construed as restricting the authority of the Bishops of this Church to take such order as may be permitted by the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer or by the Canons of the General Convention for the use of special forms of worship.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-27. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | The Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons |
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| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Constitution |
House of Bishops
Original Text of Resolution:
(A014)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Article X of the Constitution be amended by striking therefrom references to Missionary Dioceses and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, so that said Article X will read:
The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, the Form of Consecration of a Church or Chapel, the Office of Institution of Ministers, and Articles of Religion, as now established or hereafter amended by the authority of this Church, shall be in use in all the Dioceses and Missionary Dioceses, and in the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, of this Church. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the same shall be first proposed in one regular meeting of the General Convention and by a Resolve thereof be sent within six months to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese and of the Convocation of every Missionary Diocese and of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe; to be made known to the Diocesan Convention or Convocation of the Missionary Diocese or of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, at its next meeting, and be adopted by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies of all the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies and all the Missionary Dioceses, and of the of the American Churches in Europe, voting by orders, each to have the vote provided for in Article 1, Sec. 4.
But notwithstanding anything hereinabove contained, the General Convention may at any one meeting, by a majority of the whole number of the Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies of all the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies, and all the Missionary Dioceses, and the Convention of the American Churches in Europe, voting by orders as previously laid down in this Article:
(a). Amend the Table of Lessons and all Tables and Rubrics relating to the Psalms;
(b). Authorize for trial use throughout this Church, as an alternative at any time or times to the established Book of Common Prayer or to any section or Office thereof, a proposed revision of the whole Book or of any portion thereof, duly undertaken by the General Convention.
And Provided, that nothing in this Article shall be construed as restricting the authority of the Bishops of this Church to take such order as may be permitted by the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer or by the Canons of the General Convention for the use of special forms of worship.
The Committee moved the adoption of Resolution A-14A (Missionary Dioceses).
Seconded by the Bishop Suffragan of Tennessee.
Motion carried
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #20)
House of Deputies
On the eighth day, the Committee on Constitution presented its Report #13S, on Resolution A-14A (Elimination of "Missionary Dioceses" and Votes by Orders).
The Committee recommended concurrence, with amendment, with House of Bishops Message #20, and that the resolution be adopted as amended by the Committee.
Motion carried
The House concurred with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #122)
House of Bishops
On the ninth day, the Secretary read:
HD Message #122 --A-14A, Amend Article X.
The House concurred
(Communicated to House of Deputies in HB Message #217)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, September 14.
| Report Reference: | Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons, Reports to the 67th General Convention, 1982, pp. 5-29. |
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| Abstract: | The 67th General Convention amends Constitution Article X to delete references to Missionary Dioceses and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe and to clarify the procedure for voting in the House of Deputies on alterations to the Prayer Book. |