The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C026)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That in view of, and as a necessary stage in, the desire for the ultimate establishment of an autonomous church-province of the Anglican Communion in the Philippines, the Philippine Episcopal Church in National Convention enter into covenant with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in General Convention, of which we are presently a part--whereby a new level of relationship for mission in the region is established with commitments and responsibilities as follows:

1. That the PEC confirms its intention to become an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion;
2. That there shall be established a Joint Committee on Consultation to be made up of members from the PEC and the ECUSA. The task of the Committee will be to consult, cooperate and offer advice on missionary activities which shall include, but not be limited to, Partners in Mission; spiritual renewal; stewardship; development plans; education, health and agricultural programs; the training and development of clergy and lay theologians; ecumenical agreements, commitments and involvements; and other shared problems;
3. That until such time that PEC attains Constitutional Autonomy, the Bishops of the PEC shall continue to be members of the House of Bishops of the ECUSA; and that deputies of the PEC dioceses shall continue to have seat, voice and vote in the House of Deputies of the ECUSA;
4. That during the Covenant period the PEC shall provide ECUSA with a completed copy of the Constitution and Canons of the Autonomous Church Province as envisioned, and in accordance with the regulations of the Anglican Consultative Council;
5. That the PEC shall evolve a Book of Common Prayer which shall be authorized for the use of the Church Province;
6. That the PEC shall continue to contribute to the general apportionment to ECUSA while at the same time developing its own national church apportionment;
7. That PEC may seek and ECUSA will encourage the development of companion diocese relationship programs between PEC or its constituent dioceses and the dioceses and provinces of the ECUSA;
8. That the ECUSA will continue to promote the Venture in Mission Project in the Philippines and it will carry out the financial assistance as shall be outlined by the Joint Committee on Consultation;
9. That because of the historic nature of Saint Andrew's Theological Seminary (SATSEM) as an Anglican Institution of higher theological education in East Asia and the South Pacific, the ECUSA will continue to give moral and financial assistance to PEC in its support to said Seminary;
10. That the ECUSA shall continue to support the PEC commitment in its conciliar relationship with the Philippine Independent Church (PIC);
11. That prior to its becoming an autonomous church province, the PEC with the assistance of ECUSA will develop a pension scheme for PEC clergy and lay employees, and that meanwhile the present pension scheme of the ECUSA be retained;
12. That this Covenant shall take effect upon approval by the ECUSA General Convention of 1982;
13. That this Covenant relation shall be subject to review not less than once every two (2) years to enable changes and modifications as may become necessary, and will continue in force until agreement by both parties terminate; and be it further

Resolved, That the members of the Joint Committee on Consultation of the ECUSA be appointed by the Presiding Bishop; and be it further

Resolved, That the review shall include any reports and recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Consultation referred to in Item 2 of the Covenant.

The Committee recommended that the matter be referred to the Committee on Church Pension Fund.

Motion carried

Referred to Committee on Church Pension Fund

The Committee on World Mission presented its Report #3 on Resolution C-26 (P.E.C. Covenant) and asked to be discharged from further consideration of the resolution.

The Committee recommended re-referral to the Committee on The Church Pension Fund.

Committee discharged

Re-referred to Committee on Church Pension Fund

The Committee on The Church Pension Fund presented its Report #18, on Resolution C-26A (Covenant relationship between PEC and PECUSA).

The Committee recommended adoption of the resolution as amended by the Committee.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(This action on Resolution C-26A was subsequently reconsidered.)

The Chairman of the Committee on The Church Pension Fund, Deputy Ross Sidney, of Iowa, moved reconsideration of the Committee's Report #6 on Resolution C-26A (PEC covenant).

Debate followed.

Motion carried

The House voted on the report on Resolution C-26A.

Motion lost

The Chairman of the Committee on The Church Pension Fund offered an amendment to the Committee's Report #6 on Resolution C-26:

Proposed Amendment:

[Change] to read:

"referring only Section 11 to the Trustees of The Church Pension Fund for report back to the 68th General Convention."

Following debate, Deputy Bartlett, of Kentucky, moved that Resolution C-26A be recommitted to the Committee on The Church Pension Fund.

Motion carried

Resolution re-committed

The Committee on The Church Pension Fund presented its Report #10, on Resolution C-26 (Covenant with Philippine Episcopal Church), paragraph 11.

The Committee recommended that this paragraph be referred to the trustees of the Church Pension Fund, for report to the 68th General Convention:

11. That prior to its becoming an autonomous church Province, the PEC, with the assistance of ECUSA, will develop a pension scheme for PEC Clergy and Lay employees, and that meanwhile the present pension scheme of the ECUSA be retained;

Motion carried

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #138)

Paragraph 11 referred to Church Pension Fund for report to General Convention.