| Resolution Number: | 2000-A045 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Continue Monitoring Implementation of Canons on Ordination of Women |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention note the progress made by the Diocese of San Joaquin and note the responses and lack of progress of the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy regarding the implementation of Canons III.8.1, III.16.1(d), III.16.2, and III.17.3 as required by Resolution 97-A053a; and be it further
Resolved, That the Executive Council and the House of Bishops continue to monitor progress in all dioceses toward the full implementation of the above-mentioned canons, in particular in the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy; and be it further
Resolved, That the Executive Council establish a Task Force by January 1, 2001 to visit, interview, assess, and assist the people and the Commissions on Ministry, Standing Committees, and Bishops of the three dioceses in the development and implementation of an action plan for full compliance with the canon by September 1, 2002. Status reports of these action plans shall be made semi-annually to the Executive Council and the House of Bishops, and a final report shall be made to the 74th General Convention.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 340. |
|---|
Legislative History
| Author: | The Executive Council: Congregations in Ministry Committee |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Dispatch of Business |
House of Deputies
Original Text of Resolution:
(A045)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention commend the progress made by the Diocese of San Joaquin and note the responses of the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy regarding the implementation of Canons III.8.1, III.16.1(d), III.16.2, and III.17.3 as required by Resolution 97-A053a; and be it further
Resolved, That the Executive Council and the House of Bishops continue to monitor progress in all dioceses toward the full implementation of the above-mentioned canons, in particular in the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy; and be it further
Resolved, That the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy be encouraged to honor the above-mentioned canons of the church by bringing women into the full life and ministry of the church; and be it further
Resolved, That reports of this monitoring be received prior to the Fall 2002 meetings of the Executive Council and the House of Bishops, and be presented to the 74th General Convention.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention commend note the progress made by the Diocese of San Joaquin and note the responses and lack of progress of the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy regarding the implementation of Canons III.8.1, III.16.1(d), III.16.2, and III.17.3 as required by Resolution 97-A053a; and be it further
Resolved, That the Executive Council and the House of Bishops continue to monitor progress in all dioceses toward the full implementation of the above-mentioned canons, in particular in the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy; and be it further
Resolved, That the Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy be encouraged to honor the above-mentioned canons of the church by bringing women into the full life and ministry of the church; and be it further
Resolved, That reports of this monitoring be received prior to the Fall 2002 meetings of the Executive Council and the House of Bishops, and be presented to the 74th General Convention.
Resolved, That the Executive Council establish a Task Force by January 1, 2001, to visit, interview, assess, and assist the people and the Commissions on Ministry, Standing Committees, and Bishops of the three dioceses in the development and implementation of an action plan for full compliance with the canon by September 1, 2002. Status reports of these action plans shall be made semi-annually to the Executive Council and the House of Bishops and a final report shall be made to the 74th General Convention.
Minority Report of the Ministry Committee
We oppose the current Resolution and we strongly encourage opposition on the following grounds:
- The dioceses in question that are singled out by this resolution have elected their bishops having full knowledge of their "recognized theological position."
- The Standing Committees and Commissions on Ministry of these dioceses continue to uphold the same "recognized theological position."
- The Episcopal Church will continue to be in opposition to the Eames Commission and the Lambeth Conference resolutions. (Lambeth Resolution III.2 "...calls upon the provinces of the Communion to affirm that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans..." and "...calls upon the Provinces of the Communion to make such provision, including appropriate episcopal ministry, as will enable them to live in the highest degree of Communion possible, recognizing that there is and should be no compulsion on any bishop in matters concerning ordination or licensing....")
- The negative repercussions will have wide reaching impact upon the greater Anglican Communion, on our ecumenical partners, on these dioceses, their individual parishes and missions, and the members thereof.
- In this year of Jubilee, this resolution is inconsistent with the stated desires of the Presiding Bishop as expressed to both Houses, meeting in joint session at this Convention.
As this matter is extremely important to these dioceses, and many others within this House, we respectfully request as the President of the House of Deputies has directed us, a time of prayer for this chamber. And if allowed, I would ask that the Chaplain of the House lead us all in the recitation of the Prayer for the Unity of the Church, BCP page 818.
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Signed:
The Rev. Canon Charles Hough, Deputation Chair, Diocese of Fort Worth
Debate followed on Resolution A045 as amended.
Deputy Mundy of Quincy requested a division of the question to vote on the final (the new third) resolve separately.
The Clerical and Lay deputations of Fort Worth, Quincy, San Joaquin, and South Carolina, and the Lay deputations of West Tennessee and Albany requested a vote by orders on all three resolves of Resolution A045 as amended.
Deputy McConnell of Olympia moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Delete the committee's third resolve and restore the original, final two resolves the committee had deleted.
The Chair entertained a motion to extend debate on the resolution by ten minutes.
Motion carried
Debate extended
Debate followed on the resolution.
The question was called.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on the McConnell amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the McConnell amendment.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Debate continued on Resolution A045.
The question was called.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on Resolution A045.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
Ballot #7 was taken on Resolution A045, first two resolves.
Ballot #7 taken by orders
Ballot #8 was taken on Resolution A045, third resolve.
Ballot #8 taken by orders
The Secretary reported the results on Ballot #7 on Resolution A045 (Continue Monitoring Implementation of Ordination of Women) as amended.
| Type | Total | Necessary | Yes | No | Divided | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay | 105 | 53 | 90 | 10 | 5 | Carried |
| Clerical | 105 | 53 | 95 | 7 | 3 | Carried |
Motion carried
First two resolves adopted
The Secretary reported the results on Ballot #8 on Resolution A045 (Continue Monitoring Implementation of Ordination of Women) as amended.
| Type | Total | Necessary | Yes | No | Divided | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay | 105 | 53 | 73 | 22 | 10 | Carried |
| Clerical | 105 | 53 | 73 | 18 | 14 | Carried |
Motion carried
Third resolve adopted
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #179)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Ministry presented its Report #26 on HD Message #179 on Resolution A045 (Continue Monitoring Implementation of Ordination of Women) and moved concurrence.
The Chair noted an editing change to strike the sentence "Status of an action plan for full compliance with the canon by September 1, 2002" from the resolution.
The Bishop of Southwest Florida moved to substitute the resolution.
Proposed Substitute:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention affirm that to achieve further progress in the implementation of the canons concerning ordination of women, there should be a non-adversarial conversation in the manner of the continuing dialogue concerning human sexuality; and be it further
Resolved, That to affirm that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to, the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal to the Anglican tradition; and that there is a need for courtesy, tolerance, mutual respect, and prayer for one another, and that our desire to know or be with one another, remains binding on us as Christians; and be it further
Resolved, That with the intent of furthering the continuing development of Women's Ministries at all levels of the Episcopal Church, the Presiding Bishop, in consultation with the Executive Council in the spirit of Jubilee, continue the process set out in Resolution A053a of the 72nd General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop sponsor and oversee this intended dialogue regarding the implementation of Canons III.8.1 with the bishops of Fort Worth, San Joaquin, and Quincy.
The Bishop of North Dakota moved to call the question.
A vote was taken to terminate debate.
Motion defeated
Debate continued on the resolution.
The Bishop of Ohio and the Bishop of Utah moved a friendly amendment to add a further resolve to the substitute, which was accepted.
Proposed Amendment:
Resolved, That visible progress in fulfillment of the Canons of the church is expected by the 74th General Convention.
The question was called.
A vote was taken to terminate debate.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the Bishop of Southwest Florida's substitute resolution.
Motion defeated
Substitute resolution rejected
A vote was taken on Resolution A045.
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #244)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 14.
| Report Reference: | Executive Council: Congregations in Ministry Committee, Reports to the 73rd General Convention, 2000, pp. 119-182. |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The 73rd General Convention requests that the Executive Council and the House of Bishops continue to monitor progress in all dioceses toward the full implementation of the canons on the ordination of women. |