Resolution Number: 2009-D025
Title: Reaffirm Participation in the Anglican Communion and Acknowledge Differences
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988 and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God” (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009 (New York: General Convention, 2009), pp. 627-628.

Legislative History

Author: Ms. D. Rebecca Snow
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on World Mission

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on World Mission presented its Report #24 on Resolution D025 (Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D025)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, parishes and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion, including but not limited to networks involving youth, women and indigenous people; networks and ministries concerned with ecumenical and interfaith work, peace and justice, liturgy, environmental issues, health and education; and companion diocese relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to maintain its full asking for the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988 and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that individuals who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church over the centuries and are currently doing so in our midst, often without the church’s recognition of their lifelong committed relationships and the blessings bestowed by such relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God may call such individuals, like any other baptized members, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested in our polity through our discernment processes carried out under Canon III of The Episcopal Church and the canons of its dioceses; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that, while the members of The Episcopal Church, like those in our sister Provinces of the Anglican Communion, are not all of one mind on this issue, and that Christians of good conscience, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, may disagree about this issue, the validity of the Church’s sacraments comes from the action of the Holy Spirit in and through them, not from the frail humans celebrating them in God’s name.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That thisthe 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, parishescongregations and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion, including but not limited to networks involving youth, women and indigenous people; networks and ministries concerned with ecumenical and interfaith work, peace and justice, liturgy, environmental issues, health and education; and companion diocese relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to maintain its full asking forparticipate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988 and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God" (2000-D039); and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention recognize that individualsgay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church over the centuriesand are currently doing so in our midst, often without the church’s recognition of their lifelong committed relationships and the blessings bestowed by such relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals like any other baptized members,to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested in our politythrough our discernment processes carried out under Canon IIIacting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and the canons of its dioceses; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 76th General Convention acknowledge that, while the members of The Episcopal Church, like those in our sister Provinces as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not all of one mindon this issue, and thatChristians of good conscience, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, may disagree about this issue, the validity of the Church’s sacraments comes from the action of the Holy Spirit in and through them, not from the frail humans celebrating them in God’s name disagree about some of these matters.

Deputy Logan of South Carolina, on behalf of the Clergy and Lay deputations of Albany, the Clergy and Lay deputations of South Carolina, and the Clergy and Lay deputations of Central Florida, called for a vote by orders.

Thirty minutes of debate having expired, the President announced that the matter was now open for amendments and procedural motions.

Deputy Garno of Albany, on behalf of the Clergy deputation of Albany, moved to divide the first three resolve clauses from the last four resolve clauses.

Deputy Hallas of Chicago, on behalf of the Clergy deputation of Vermont, the Clergy and Lay deputations of Chicago and the Clergy deputation of Western Michigan, moved for a vote by orders on the proposed division.

Ballot #1 — Vote By Orders

A Vote By Orders was taken on the motion to divide.

Ballot #1 taken by orders

Deputy Holt of Central Florida moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the fourth resolve clause, after the year “1998,” delete the rest of the resolve clause. In the fifth resolve clause, delete the words “are part of such relationships.”

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Palmore of Virginia moved to extend the time to offer amendments by 10 minutes. The President announced that this vote required a two-thirds majority. The voice vote being inconclusive, the President called for a hand vote.

Motion defeated

Results of Ballot #1: Vote By Orders on Motion to Divide

The President announced that, with a two-thirds majority, the motion to divide had been defeated.

Motion defeated

Deputy Kelly of Rio Grande moved to divide the question, to provide for a separate vote on the sixth resolve clause.

Deputy Ferrell of North Carolina moved to suspend the Rules to dispense with the vote by orders on the motion to divide.

Motion carried

Rules suspended

A vote was taken on the motion to divide.

Motion defeated

Deputy Russell of San Diego moved the previous question on the resolution.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

The President called on the Chaplain for prayer.

Ballot #2 — Vote By Orders

A Vote By Orders was taken on Resolution D025 as amended.

Ballot #2 taken by orders

Results of Ballot #2: Vote By Orders on Resolution D025

The President read the results of Ballot #2.

TypeTotalNecessaryYesNoDividedNo+DivResults
Lay:10855773100Carried
Clergy:10955743500Carried

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #110)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on World Mission presented its Report #42 on HD Message #110 on Resolution D025 (Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion) and moved the resolution, recommending rejection.

The House held table discussions for thirty minutes. The House resumed at 4:05 p.m.

The Bishop of Upper South Carolina moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the sixth resolve clause, after the words “affirm that” delete the words “God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested” and replace with the words “God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people.”

The question was called.

Motion defeated

The Bishop of Ohio moved an amendment to the amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the sixth resolve clause, after the words “affirm that” reinsert the words “God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church” and add the words “; and that” after the reinserted words. Continue with the Bishop of South Carolina amendment of adding the words “God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people.”

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Bishop of Ohio amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A roll call vote was requested.

The Bishop of East Carolina moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the first resolve clause, after the first occurrence of the words “The Episcopal Church” add the words “as a constituent member of” and delete the word “in.”

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Oklahoma moved to postpone further debate.

Motion defeated

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

Chaplain Br. Geoffrey led the House in prayer.

A roll call vote was taken on Resolution D025 as amended.

Motion carried

The House concurred with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #149)

House of Deputies

Deputy Russell of San Diego moved to suspend the Rules to expedite Resolution D025. The voice vote being inconclusive, the Vice-President called for an electronic vote. The result of the electronic vote was: Yes, 537 votes (65.8%) and No, 279 votes (34.2%).

Motion defeated

The House of Deputies Committee on World Mission presented its Report #35 on HB Message #149 on Resolution D025 (Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion) and moved concurrence.

Deputy Ihiasota of Western New York moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the third resolve clause, delete the words “financial” and “Budget.”

Deputy Moss of Western Massachusetts moved the previous question on the amendment.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

The vote was taken on the proposed amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Debate continued on the main motion.

Deputy Clark of Central Florida, on behalf of the clergy and lay deputations of Central Florida and the clergy and lay deputations of South Carolina, called for a Vote By Orders on the main motion.

The President announced that the time for debate on the resolution had expired.

Ballot #5 — Vote By Orders

A Vote By Orders was taken on Resolution D025.

Ballot #5 taken by orders

Results of Ballot #5: Vote By Orders on Resolution D025

The Secretary read the results of Ballot #5.

TypeTotalNecessaryYesNoDividedNo+DivResults
Lay:108557821930Carried
Clergy:1075577191130Carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #157)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 14.

Abstract:   The 76th General Convention recognizes the value of the experience of homosexual persons, of same-sex couples who are members, the call of these persons to ordained ministry, and that Christians of good conscience may disagree on these matters.
Notes:  

Resolutions 2009-C007, 2009-C010, 2009-C015, 2009-C024, 2009-C033, 2009-C036, 2009-C039, 2009-C045, 2009-C054, 2009-C087, 2009-D013, 2009-D021, and 2009-D022 were discharged because the matter had already been acted on in 2009-D025.