Resolution Number: 2006-B033
Title: Exercise Restraint in Consecrating Candidates
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 (New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 650-653.

Legislative History

Author: The Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson Jr. (Upper South Carolina)
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on Dispatch of Business

House of Bishops

The Bishop of Virginia moved that debate on Resolution B033 be limited to thirty minutes with speakers limited to two minutes each.

Motion carried

The House of Bishops Committee on Dispatch of Business presented its report on Resolution B033 (On Election of Bishops) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(B033)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.

The Bishop Suffragan of Alabama moved to substitute the resolution.

Substitute Resolution:

The Episcopal Church unreservedly embraces the spirit of The Windsor Report, the maintenance of the unity of the Anglican Communion for the purposes of witness and mission.

We see the hurt, confusion, anger, and pain caused by our actions and we express our sorrow for this, and we seek a new mind with our communion partners to be led by the Holy Spirit into all truth.

In addition to resolutions of the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church that already addressed several suggestions of the Windsor Report we resolve the following:

Resolved, That Dioceses, Diocesan Conventions, Standing Committees, and Bishops with Jurisdictions exercise caution and have in mind the Body of Christ and the good of the Anglican Communion when nominating, electing, and giving consent to candidates for the episcopacy.

A roll call vote was requested.

A Point of Order was raised as to whether the proposed substitute is in proper resolution form. The Chair ruled the substitute out of order. The Bishop Suffragan of Alabama withdrew the substitute.

The Bishop of Washington moved to amend the Resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the second resolve clause, delete the words "by not consenting” and replace with “in considering consent.”

The Bishop of Southern Virginia moved to amend the amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the second resolve clause, delete the words “by not” and replace with “in."

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Bishop of Southern Virginia amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on the Bishop of Washington amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution B033.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #252)

House of Deputies

The Secretary announced that the following message had been received from the House of Bishops.

HB Message #252: B033 (On Election of Bishops) Adopted.

The House of Deputies Committee on Dispatch of Business moved, under the Provisions of Rule 45, that Resolution B033 (On Election of Bishops) be brought to the floor without reference to a Committee.

Motion carried

The House of Deputies Committee on Dispatch of Business moved to suspend House Rule 28 as it applies to Reconsideration on Resolution B033.

Deputy Bradberry of Southern Virginia moved the previous question.

A vote was taken to terminate debate.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the motion to suspend the rules.

Motion carried

Rules suspended

The House of Deputies Committee on Dispatch of Business moved a Special Order of Business.

Resolved, That there be set at this time a Special Order of Business and of Debate for the purpose of considering Resolution B033 to be implemented immediately; and be it further

Resolved, That in the consideration of the same the following rules of debate shall be followed:

  1. The Committee Chair shall have zero minutes to speak with respect to the report, and zero minutes to respond to questions of information or clarification;
  2. The entire debate of the report thereafter shall be limited to 30 additional minutes;
  3. Each speaker shall be limited to two minutes and no speaker shall speak more than once on the same question;
  4. The Chair shall recognize, to the extent practicable, speakers of opposite views in alternate succession;
  5. No amendments or procedural motions shall be entertained during the first ten minutes of debate.
  6. Debate may be terminated prior to the expiration of the 30 minute period, or any extension thereof, or extended only by two-thirds vote of the House.

Motion carried

Special Order adopted

Debate followed on Resolution B033.

At the invitation of the Vice-President, Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori addressed the House regarding the resolution.

Debate resumed.

Deputy Clark of Central Florida, on behalf of the lay and clergy deputations of South Carolina, Quincy, Fort Worth and Central Florida, called for a vote by orders on the perfected resolution. The Vice-President declared the motion in order.

Deputy Clark of Newark moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the second resolve clause, after the words “the wider church” add the words “until General Convention 2009.”

Deputy Coyne of Western Massachusetts moved the previous question on the amendment and the main motion.

A vote was taken to terminate debate.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Vice-President called on Chaplain Baskerville-Burrows for prayer.

Ballot #8—Vote By Orders

A Vote By Orders was taken on Resolution B033.

Ballot #8 taken by orders

The Secretary noted that more than two-thirds had been received on the prevailing side (the threshold set earlier in the Convention) and the results of the electronic ballot could be read. The Vice-President ruled that the Secretary would report the results of the electronic ballot.

Results of Ballot #8 Vote By Orders on Resolution B033

The Secretary read the electronic results of Ballot #8.

TypeTotalNecessaryYesNoDividedNo+DivResults
Lay:1045372211132Carried
Clergy:1095575241034Carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #190)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 21.

Abstract:   The 75th General Convention calls upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint in consecrating candidates whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.