The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on World Mission presented its Report #16 on Resolution B005 (Ongoing Commitment to The Anglican Covenant Process) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution

(B005)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention express its profound gratitude to those who so faithfully worked at producing the Anglican Covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church commit itself to continued participation in the wider councils of the Anglican Communion and to continued dialogue with our brothers and sisters in other provinces to deepen understanding and to ensure the continued integrity of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church recommit itself to dialogue with the several provinces when adopting innovations which may be seen as threatening to the unity of the Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That as a demonstration of The Episcopal Church’s dedication to the unity of the Anglican Communion, the 77th General Convention embraces the affirmations and commitments of the “Preamble,” “Section One: Our Inheritance of Faith,” “Section Two: The Life we share with Others; Our Anglican Vocation,” and “Section Three: Our Unity and Common Life” of The Anglican Communion Covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention asks the Presiding Officers to appoint a task force of Executive Council to consult with The Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons, at least one church historian, and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council in order to: monitor the ongoing development of The Anglican Covenant with particular attention to the interpretation and practice of “Section Four: Our Covenanted Life Together;” document specific changes that would need to be made to the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church in order to adopt the covenant; analyze how those changes may alter the identity and polity of The Episcopal Church; and consider other such matters helpful to The Episcopal Church’s continued unity with the other churches of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council Task Force on the Anglican Covenant report its findings and recommendations to The Executive Council, and through the Council, to the 78th General Convention.

Committee Substitute

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention express its gratitude to those who so faithfully worked at producing and responding to the proposed Anglican Covenant (www.anglicancommunion.org/commission/covenant/final/text.cfm); and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention acknowledge that following extensive study and prayerful consideration of the Anglican Covenant there remain a wide variety of opinions and ecclesiological positions in The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That as a pastoral response to The Episcopal Church, the General Convention decline to take a position on the Anglican Covenant at this convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention ask the Presiding Officers to appoint a task force of Executive Council (Blue Book, p. 637) to continue to monitor the ongoing developments with respect to the Anglican Covenant and how this church might continue its participation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council task force on the Anglican Covenant report its findings and recommendations to the 78th General Convention.

Deputy Newman of Los Angeles moved to amend the substitute resolution.

Proposed Amendment

Delete “and be it further Resolved, that as a pastoral response to The Episcopal Church, the General Convention decline to take a position on the Anglican Covenant at this convention; and be it further Resolved, that the General Convention ask the Presiding Officers to appoint a task force of Executive Council (Blue Book, 637) to continue to monitor the ongoing developments with respect to the Anglican Covenant and how this church might continue its participation; and be it further Resolved, that the Executive Council task force on the Anglican Covenant report its findings and recommendations to the 78th General Convention.”

Deputy Sevigny of Lexington moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Continuation of Debate on Resolution B005

Deputy Watkins of Minnesota moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the substitute resolution.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #172)