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Resolution Number: 1982-A125
Title: Establish a Policy of Congregational Giving to Accredited Seminaries
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 67th General Convention:

  1. Responding to the action of the 66th General Convention, which approved in principle a form of regular support for theological education and instructed the Board for Theological Education in consultation with others to bring to this Convention a comprehensive plan for the funding of the accredited Seminaries of the Episcopal Church, now establishes as policy that each parish and mission of the several Dioceses within the fifty states of the United States, and the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe [as well as its territories and the Diocese of Washington], shall give annually at least 1% of its net disposable budgeted income (item E less line 1754 of the Annual Parochial Report) to one or more of these accredited Seminaries;
  2. That to implement this action, each Diocese as defined above in item A shall adopt a procedure by Resolution of its Convention, or by other appropriate means, to assure that each parish and mission annually contributes at least this 1% to the support of one or more of the accredited Seminaries of the Church; this procedure to be adopted as soon as possible and by no later than January 1, 1984, and to be reported to the Board for Theological Education for presentation to the next General Convention;
  3. That each accredited Seminary of the Episcopal Church shall submit an annual report to the Board for Theological Education of its income from the parishes and missions of the Church;
  4. That each of these Seminaries shall present to the Board for Theological Education prior to each General Convention a report regarding its mission and goals, and progress in fulfilling them;
  5. That these Seminaries, their Boards of Trustees, and the Council of Deans shall take the initiative to strengthen the partnership between the Church and its Seminaries and to improve the dialogue with congregations and Dioceses by providing them with current information about the Seminaries and listening with equal concern regarding the mission, goals, and quality of theological education; and by responding directly to Dioceses and congregations about their expressed concerns;
  6. That Dioceses, parishes, and missions be encouraged also to support other programs and institutions of theological education that are of importance to their educational and missionary goals;
  7. That this General Convention requests the Presiding Bishop to continue to designate one Sunday each year as Theological Education Sunday, to be observed at that time or some other appropriate day by all parishes and missions as an occasion for interpreting the work of the Episcopal Seminaries and other programs for theological education.
Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-116.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Author: The Board for Theological Education
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Church Support

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A125)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 67th General Convention:

  1. Responding to the action of the 66th General Convention, which approved in principle a form of regular support for theological education and instructed the Board for Theological Education in consultation with others to bring to this Convention a comprehensive plan for the funding of the accredited Seminaries of the Episcopal Church, now directs each Parish and Mission of the several Dioceses within the fifty states of the United States to give annually at least 1 % of its previous year's net disposable budgeted income (item E less line 1754 of the Annual Parochial Report) to one or more of these accredited Seminaries;
  2. That to implement this action, this General Convention directs each Diocese as defined above in item A to adopt a procedure by Resolution of its Convention, or by other appropriate means, which will assure that each Parish and Mission annually contributes at least this 1 % to the support of one or more of the accredited Seminaries of the Church-this procedure to be adopted as soon as possible and by no later than January 1, 1984, and to be reported to the Board for Theological Education for presentation to the next General Convention;
  3. That each accredited Seminary of the Episcopal Church be directed to submit an annual report to the Board for Theological Education of its income from the Parishes and Missions of the Church;
  4. That each of these Seminaries, through and together with the Council of Deans, presents to the Board for Theological Education for each General Convention a report regarding its mission and goals, and progress in fulfilling them;
  5. That these Seminaries and the Council of Deans assume more responsibility for strengthening the partnership between the Church and its Seminaries and for improving the dialogue with Congregations and Dioceses by providing them with current information about the Seminaries and listening to their concerns regarding theological education;
  6. That Dioceses, Parishes and Missions be encouraged also to support other programs and institutions of theological education that are of importance to their educational and missionary goals;
  7. That this General Convention requests the Presiding Bishop to continue to designate one Sunday each year as Theological Education Sunday, to be observed at that time or some other appropriate day by all Parishes and Missions as an occasion for interpreting the work of the Episcopal Seminaries and other programs for theological education.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Not Currently Available

The Committee recommended that the resolution be adopted as amended by the Committee.

Deputy Silvis, of Upper South Carolina, requested a point of personal privilege to commend the Chairman of the Committee on Church Support, George Lockwood, of California, for his fairness and openness in presenting this matter.

Several Deputies directed inquiries of personal privilege to the Vice-President concerning the presentation which was about to commence.

Deputy Stracestberger, of El Camino Real, moved to suspend the Rules and allow sufficient time to complete the introduction of this matter.

Motion carried

Time extended

The House directed questions to the Committee on Church Support regarding Resolution A-125. The Vice-President voluntarily extended the time for deputies then at the microphones to direct their questions to the Committee.

Deputy Wood, of Connecticut, moved to Amend Resolution A-125.

Motion lost

Amendment failed

A motion was made to end debate.

Motion carried

Deputy Bertram Herlong, of Michigan, moved to amend the resolution.

Motion lost

Deputy Annis, of Iowa, moved the previous question, i.e. that debate be terminated.

Motion carried

Deputy Rogers, of Lexington, moved to amend Resolution A-125A.

Proposed Amendment:

Insert the words [at the end of item E]:

"and by responding directly to dioceses and congregations about their expressed concerns."

The Committee agreed to the amendment.

Motion carried

A motion was made to suspend the Rules and to extend the debate one-half hour.

Motion lost

Deputy Carlson Gerdau, of Missouri, moved that debate be extended for ten minutes, for amendments only.

Motion lost

A motion was made to suspend the Rules so as to allow one deputy, Mr. Konrad, of the Virgin Islands, to speak.

Motion carried

A motion was made to suspend the Rules to permit an amendment.

Motion lost

Deputy Robert Scott, of Delaware, moved, on behalf of the Deputations of Delaware, Northwest Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania, that the vote on Resolution A-125A be taken by orders.

Motion carried

A vote by orders was taken--Ballot #9, Resolution A-125A.

On the sixth day, the Secretary announced the results of Ballot #9, Resolution A-125A (Support for Theological Education).

Needed to pass: 57 lay votes, 56 clerical votes.

Lay:   Yes--81   No--22   Divided--10
Clerical:   Yes--79   No--18   Divided--13

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #62)

House of Bishops

On the sixth day, the Bishop of Massachusetts, on behalf of the Committee on Church Support, moved to concur with the following HD Message: HD Message #62 --A-125A, Support for Theological Education.

Seconded by the Bishop of Rochester.

Two lay resource persons, Mr. Karl Mathiasen and Mr. George Lockwood, were introduced to the House to answer questions on the A-125A proposal.

The Bishop of the Virgin Islands moved the adoption of the following amendment:

Proposed Amendment:

In paragraph A, line 8:

after word "Europe," add the words, "as well as its territories and the Diocese of Washington."

Seconded by the Bishop of Arizona.

Amendment carried

The Bishop of Kentucky moved the adoption of the following resolution:

Proposed Amendment:

That A-125A be amended with an additional subsection as follows: H. That the Board for Theological Education be directed to make a study concerning the present and projected needs for Theological Education for the ordained Clergy of the Church and make recommendations to the 68th General Convention on desirable mergers of the accredited seminaries being supported by the Church, towards the end of reducing the total number of seminaries to the needs of this Church.

Motion seconded by Bishop Rose.

Amendment defeated

The Bishop of Central Florida moved the adoption of the following amendment to A-125.

Proposed Amendment:

That to implement this policy, each Diocese as defined above in Item A, shall adopt a procedure whose intention it will be to raise an amount equivalent to 1 % of net disposable budgeted income from all the congregations in the diocese as a contribution to the support of one or more of the accredited seminaries of the Church.

Seconded by the Bishop of Chicago.

Amendment failed

There being no further discussion, the motion to adopt A-125A as amended was passed.

Motion carried

The House concurred with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #126)

House of Deputies

On the ninth day, the Chairman of the Committee on Church Support presented Report #11 and recommended that the House concur with Message #126 of the House of Bishops on Resolution A-125A (Support for Theological Education).

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #225)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, September 13.

Reference: The Blue Book, p. 375f.
Abstract: The 67th General Convention directs each congregation to give 1% of its annual income to accredited seminaries.
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