| Resolution Number: | 1997-A053 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Implement Mandatory Rights of Women Clergy under Canon Law |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That
- 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 or Letters Dimissory on account of their sex or their theological views on the ordination of women;
- no member of this Church shall be denied a place in the life and governance of this Church on account of their sex or their theological views on the ordination of women;
- it is the mind of this Convention that, notwithstanding the legislative history surrounding the passage of those Title III canons relating to the ordination of women, and notwithstanding subsequent actions of the House of Bishops not in General Convention assembled, the provisions of the canons of the General Convention, insofar as they may relate to the ordination of women and the licensing and deployment of women clergy, are mandatory; and
- during the next triennium each Diocese where women do not have full access to ordination and where ordained women are not permitted to carry out their full ministries shall develop and implement a process to implement fully Canons III.8.1, III.16.1(d), III.16.2, and III.17.3 and that status reports on these Diocesan processes be reported to the interim House of Bishops meeting in 1999, the Executive Council in 1999, and the 73rd General Convention through the Executive Council.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997 (New York: General Convention, 1998), p. 112. |
|---|
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:
(A053)
Resolved, the House of Bishops 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 or letters dimissory solely on account of 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 theological views on the ordination of women; and (c) every person who exercises a ministry as a leader and trustee in this church is obliged to obey and implement the canon law of this church.
Proposed Committee Amendment:
In line 3, delete "solely"; after "on account of" add "their sex or".
In line 5, delete "solely"; after "account of" add "their sex or".
In lines 5 and following, delete everything from"; and (c)" on and add:
it is the mind of this Convention that, notwithstanding the legislative history surrounding the passage of those Title III canons relating to the ordination of women, and notwithstanding subsequent actions of the House of Bishops not in General Convention assembled, the provisions of the canons of the General Convention, insofar as they may relate to the ordination of women and the licensing and deployment of women clergy, are mandatory; and (d) during the next triennium each diocese where women do not have full access to ordination and where ordained women are not permitted to carry out their full ministries shall develop and implement a process to implement fully Canons III.8.1, III.16.1(d), III.16.2, and III.17.3 and that status reports on these diocesan processes be reported to the interim House of Bishops meeting in 1999, the Executive Council in 1999, and the 73rd General Convention through the Executive Council. Debate followed on Resolution A053.
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
Votes By Orders was taken on Resolution A052 (Ballot #4) and Resolution A053 (Ballot #5).
Ballot #5 taken by orders
The Secretary read the results of Ballot #5 on Resolution A053 (Rights of Those Opposing Women’s Ordination).
| Type | Total | Necessary | Yes | No | Divided | Results |
| Lay: | 111 | 56 | 72 | 23 | 16 | Carried |
| Clerical: | 111 | 56 | 73 | 28 | 12 | Carried |
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #86)
House of Bishops
The Committee on Ministry presented its Report #6 on HD Message #86 on Resolution A053a (Rights of Those Opposing Women’s Ordination), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence.
Bishop MacNaughton moved an amendment as per the minority report. [See Note field of Resolution 1997-A052 for the minority report.]
Proposed Amendment:
At the end of the resolution, add:
"It is the mind of this Convention that no presentment for violations 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." Bishop Matthews moved the previous question.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the proposed amendment to Resolution A053a.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Bishop Walmsley moved the previous question.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on concurrence with Resolution A053a.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #90)
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 affirms that the canons regarding the ordination, licensing and deployment of women are mandatory and that non-compliant dioceses shall give status reports on their progress toward full implementation. |
| Notes: | The minority report applied to three related resolutions: 1997-A052, 1997-A053, and 1997-C016. It is printed in full in the legislative history of Resolution 1997-A052. |