| Resolution Number: | 1997-A052 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Amend Canons III.8, 16, and 17 [Removing Discrimination on the Basis of Sex] |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That Canon III.8.1 be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
No one shall be denied access to the ordination process nor postulancy, candidacy or ordination in any parish or diocese of this church solely [sic] on account of his or her sex ; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.16.1(d) be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: The Ecclesiastical Authority shall not deny or refuse to accept Letters Dimissory on account of the applicant's sex; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.16.2 be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
No member of the clergy shall be denied a license on account of his or her sex ; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.17.3 be amended by adding the following as the penultimate sentence thereof:
Sex shall not be a factor in the Ecclesiastical Authority's determination of whether such person is a duly qualified priest.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997 (New York: General Convention, 1998), pp. 110-111. |
|---|
Legislative History
| Author: | The Executive Council: Committee for Dialogue on Canon III.8.1 |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Ministry |
House of Deputies
Original Text of Resolution:
(A052)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon III.8.1 be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
No one shall be denied access to the ordination process nor postulancy, candidacy or ordination in any parish or diocese of this church solely on account of sex; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.16.1(d) be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: The Ecclesiastical Authority shall not deny or refuse to accept Letters Dimissory solely on account of sex; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.16.2 be amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: No member of the clergy shall be denied a license solely on account of sex; and be it further
Resolved, That Canon III.17.3 be amended by adding the following as the penultimate sentence thereof: Sex alone shall not be a factor in the Ecclesiastical Authority's determination of whether such person is a duly qualified priest.
Proposed Committee Amendment:
In the second Resolved clause, line 2, delete "solely".
In the third Resolved clause, line 2, delete "solely".
In the final Resolved clause, line 2, delete "alone."
The clerical deputations of the Dioceses of South Carolina, Central Florida and the Rio Grande called for a Vote By Orders on Resolutions A052 and A053.
Deputy Croneberger of Newark moved to extend debate by ten minutes.
Motion defeated
Debate terminated
Deputy Keller of Arkansas requested that the first Resolved clause of Resolution A052 be divided from the final three Resolved clauses. Request denied.
Votes By Orders was taken on Resolution A052 (Ballot #4) and Resolution A053 (Ballot #5).
Ballot #4 taken by orders
Ballot #5 taken by orders
The Secretary read the results of Ballot #4 on A052 (Amend Canon III.8.1, III.16 and 17: On Ordination Qualifications) and Ballot #5 on A053 (Rights of Those Opposing Women's Ordination).
Deputy Wittlinger of Michigan moved to suspend the rules to request the Secretary not to read the names of the negative and divided votes on Ballot #4 on A052 as amended.
Motion defeated
The Secretary read the results of Ballot #4 on Resolution A052 (Amend Canon III.8.1, III.16 and 17: On Ordination Qualifications).
| Type | Total | Necessary | Yes | No | Divided | Results | |||
| Lay: | 112 | 57 | 69 | 30 | 13 | Carried | |||
| Clerical: | 113 | 57 | 70 | 32 | 11 | Carried |
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #85)
House of Bishops
The Committee on Ministry presented its Report #5 on HD Message #85 on Resolution A052a (Amend Canon III.8.1, III.16 and 17: On Ordination Qualifications), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence.
Bishop Ackerman spoke on the Minority Report.
Minority Report
This minority report contains the text of a resolution presented to the Ministry Committee by the subcommittee on women's ordination. It represents the subcommittee's response to A052, A053 and C016. Please note the following:
a) the subcommittee was unanimous in endorsing this proposal.
b) the proposal was a good faith attempt to
- honor the diversity in our church
- move forward in the implementation of Canon III.8.1
- promote reconciliation and dialogue
c)The subcommittee itself included a full spectrum of views regarding women's ordination.
The Rev. Canon William Coyne (Western Massachusetts)
Nancy Salmon (San Joaquin)
The Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman (Quincy)
Judy Mayo (Ft. Worth)
The Very Rev. Edward S. Little, II (San Joaquin)
The Rev. Frank Cooper (West Tennessee)
The minority report proposed the following resolution:
Resolved, the House of _________concurring, That
(a) No member of this church shall be denied access to the ordination process, postulancy, candidacy, ordination, license to officiate in a diocese, a call to a cure in a diocese of letters dimissory solely on account of their sex or their theological views on the ordination of women;
(b) No member of this church shall be denied a place in the life and governance of this church solely on account of their sex or their theological views on the ordination of women;
(c) Every person who exercises a ministry as a leader and trustee in this church is obliged to obey and implement shall uphold the canon law of this church;
(d) It is the mind of this Convention that no presentment for violation of Canons III.8.1, III.16.2. or III.17.3 may be brought against any member of the clergy canonically resident in any diocese which has made provision for the implementation of said canons by an alternative method addressing (a) and (b) above; and
(e) All dioceses adopting an alternative plan pursuant to (d) above shall report annually on the implementation of such plan to their respective provincial president or vice president and to the Executive Board Council.
Bishop Henderson moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
In line 12, delete the period and add the following:
"; and be it further
Resolved, that these amendments shall become effective in the respective diocese of this church immediately upon the installation of the next succeeding diocesan bishop thereof."
Motion carried
The question was called to terminate debate on A052a (Amend Canon III.8.1, III.16 and 17: On Ordination Qualifications).
Motion carried
Debate terminated
Bishop Dixon and others requested roll call votes on all motions on this subject. The Chair so ordered.
| Yes = 51 | No = 138 | Abstained = 11 | [See Results of Votes below.] |
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Debate resumed on Resolution A052a.
The question was called to terminate debate on Resolution A052a.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
Results of votes on A052a and A052:
| Yes = 142 | No = 44 | Abstained = 11 |
| Amend A052 | A052 | |
| Bishop Montgomery - 587 | A | A |
| Bishop Barrett - 594 | N | Y |
| Bishop Putnam - 595 | N | Y |
| Bishop Reed - 603 | Y | Y |
| Bishop Bailey - 604 | Y | N |
| Bishop Van Duzer - 614 | N | Y |
| Bishop Martin - 620 | A | A |
| Bishop Frey - 627 | Y | Y |
| The Presiding Bishop - 630 | A | A |
| Bishop Gilliam - 634 | N | Y |
| Bishop Haynsworth - 640 | Y | N |
| Bishop Spofford - 643 | A | A |
| Bishop Philip Smith - 647 | N | Y |
| Bishop Folwell - 648 | Y | N |
| Bishop Stewart - 653 | Y | A |
| Bishop Stough - 658 | N | Y |
| Bishop Garnier - 660 | ||
| Bishop Vogel - 662 | Y | Y |
| Bishop Henton - 663 | A | |
| Bishop Charles - 665 | N | Y |
| Bishop McGehee - 667 | N | Y |
| Bishop Righter - 671 | N | Y |
| Bishop Isaac - 678 | A | A |
| Bishop Sheridan - 682 | Y | N |
| Bishop Primo - 683 | N | Y |
| Bishop Cox - 684 | Y | N |
| Bishop Carral - 686 | N | Y |
| Bishop Atkinson - 687 | N | Y |
| Bishop Weinhauer - 690 | A | A |
| Bishop Parsons - 691 | Y | N |
| Bishop Cerveny - 699 | N | Y |
| Bishop Witcher - 703 | ||
| Bishop Robert Cochrane - 709 | Y | Y |
| The Bishop of Louisiana - 711 | Y | N |
| Bishop Vach - 712 | A | |
| The Bishop of Newark - 713 | N | Y |
| Bishop Heistand - 714 | ||
| Bishop McAllister - 718 | Y | Y |
| The Bishop of Indianapolis - 719 | N | Y |
| Bishop Bob Jones (Dean, Jerusalem) - 721 | N | Y |
| The Assistant Bishop of Los Angeles - 722 | N | Y |
| Bishop Burgreen - 724 | N | N |
| The Assistant Bishop of Central Florida - 725 | Y | N |
| Bishop Wallace - 727 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Southeast Florida - 728 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Colombia - 730 | ||
| The Bishop of California - 732 | N | Y |
| Bishop Beckham - 733 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of New York (Dennis) - 734 | N | Y |
| Bishop Walmsley - 736 | N | Y |
| Bishop David Lewis - 739 | N | Y |
| Bishop Hopkins - 740 | N | Y |
| Bishop Hunt - 744 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Eastern Oregon - 745 | N | Y |
| Bishop Benitez - 747 | Y | N |
| Bishop Donovan - 748 | N | Y |
| Bishop Allison - 749 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Eau Claire - 750 | Y | N |
| Bishop McNutt - 752 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Northwest Texas - 753 | N | Y |
| Bishop Wolfrum - 754 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast - 755 | N | Y |
| The Assistant Bishop of Southern Virginia - 756 | N | Y |
| Bishop Ashby - 757 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of New York - 758 | N | Y |
| Bishop George Harris - 759 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Pittsburgh - 761 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Connecticut - 763 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Guatemala - 765 | N | Y |
| Bishop Eastman - 767 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Northern Michigan - 769 | N | Y |
| Bishop Charlton - 770 | Y | |
| Bishop Dyer - 772 | N | Y |
| Bishop Dickson - 773 | Y | N |
| Bishop James Moodey - 774 | ||
| Bishop Sorge - 775 | A | |
| Bishop Shipps - 778 | A | |
| The Bishop of Honduras - 780 | Y | Y |
| Bishop Pettit - 781 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Albany - 782 | N | N |
| The Bishop of Rochester - 784 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Virginia - 785 | N | Y |
| Bishop Craig Anderson - 786 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Milwaukee - 787 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Lexington - 789 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Nicaragua - 793 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Chicago - 794 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Southwest Florida - 795 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Southern Virginia - 796 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Oregon - 801 | N | Y |
| Bishop MacNaughton - 802 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Montana - 803 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Pennsylvania - 804 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of New Hampshire - 805 | ||
| Bishop Swenson - 806 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Alabama - 808 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Nevada - 809 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Western New York - 811 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Ohio - 812 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Washington - 814 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Northern Indiana - 815 | Y | A |
| The Bishop of Delaware - 816 | N | Y |
| Bishop Hart - 817 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Atlanta - 818 | N | Y |
| The Assistant Bishop of New York - 819 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop for American Churches in Europe - 821 | N | Y |
| Bishop McArthur - 822 | Y | N |
| Bishop MacBurney - 823 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Oklahoma - 824 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Taiwan - 825 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Long Island - 826 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Los Angeles - 828 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Southern Ohio - 829 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Iowa - 830 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Pennsylvania - 831 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of San Joaquin - 832 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Michigan - 833 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts - 834 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of West Missouri - 835 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Rio Grande - 836 | N | N |
| The Bishop of Western North Carolina - 837 | N | Y |
| The Assistant Bishop of Olympia - 838 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Central Florida - 839 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania - 840 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of West Virginia - 841 | ||
| The Bishop of Western Louisiana - 842 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Olympia - 843 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Texas (Sterling) - 845 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Nebraska - 846 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Western Michigan - 847 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Maryland - 848 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of North Dakota - 850 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Kansas - 851 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of South Carolina - 852 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of the Navajoland Area Mission - 853 | N | A |
| The Suffragan Bishop to the Armed Forces - 854 | N | Y |
| Bishop Huntington Williams - 855 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Central Ecuador - 856 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Idaho - 857 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of El Camino Real - 858 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Colorado - 860 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles - 861 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Missouri - 863 | N | Y |
| Bishop Scantlebury (Rector, Jackson, MS) - 864 | N | Y |
| Bishop Charleston (Chaplain, Trinity College) - 865 | ||
| The Suffragan Bishop of Newark - 866 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of East Tennessee - 867 | ||
| The Bishop of Northern California - 868 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Mississippi - 869 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of the Dominican Republic - 870 | Y | A |
| The Bishop of Central New York - 871 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Springfield - 872 | A | N |
| The Bishop of El Salvador - 873 | A | Y |
| The Bishop of San Diego - 874 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Arizona - 875 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Washington - 876 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Easton - 877 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Dallas - 879 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Fort Worth - 880 | N | N |
| The Bishop of Haiti - 881 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Tennessee - 882 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Virginia (Matthews) - 883 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Texas - 884 | Y | Y |
| The Bishop of Minnesota - 885 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of New Jersey - 886 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Vermont - 887 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of West Tennessee - 888 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of West Texas - 889 | Y | Y |
| The Bishop of Ohio - 890 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Kentucky - 891 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Florida - 892 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of North Carolina - 893 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Fond du Lac - 894 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Arkansas - 895 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of South Dakota - 896 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Quincy - 897 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Massachusetts - 898 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Litoral - 899 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Southern Ohio - 900 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Georgia - 901 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Upper South Carolina - 902 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Southeast Florida - 903 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Western Kansas - 904 | Y | N |
| The Bishop of Panama - 905 | N | Y |
| The Assistant Bishop of Atlanta - 906 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Virginia (Jones) - 907 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Texas (Alard) - 908 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Maryland - 909 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Central Pennsylvania - 910 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of West Texas - 911 | Y | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of New York (Roskam) - 912 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Rhode Island - 913 | N | Y |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Southwest Florida - 914 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of South Carolina - 915 | Y | N |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Pittsburgh - 916 | Y | N |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Connecticut - 917 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Utah - 918 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Bethlehem - 919 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of North Carolina - 920 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Eastern Michigan - 921 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of East Carolina - 922 | N | Y |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Alabama - 923 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Western Massachusetts - 924 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Southwestern Virginia - 925 | N | Y |
| The Bishop of Hawaii - 926 | N | Y |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Pennsylvania - 927 | N | Y |
| The Suffragan Bishop of Long Island - 928 | N | Y |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Indianapolis - 929 | N | Y |
| The Bishop Coadjutor of Northwest Texas - 930 | N | N |
| The Bishop of the Virgin Islands - 931 | N | Y |
| A052 Amendment: | Yes = 51 | No = 138 | Abstain = 11 | |||||
| A052 | Yes = 142 | No = 44 | Abstain = 11 |
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #89)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 19.
| Report Reference: | Executive Council: Committee on the Status of Women, Reports to the 72nd General Convention, 1997, pp. 167-185. |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The 72nd General Convention amends Canons III.8, 16 and 17 concerning issues of sexual discrimination among clergy. |
| Notes: | The word "solely" was struck from the first Resolved clause by the Journal editor contrary to the vote of General Convention. The deletion was carried into the Constitution and Canons 1997, p.75. The minority report on this resolution, 1997-A052, applies also to related Resolution 1997-A053. |