The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Structure presented its Report #28 on Resolution B027 (Amend Canon I.1.2(n) (Re-envisioning Committee Structure)) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(B027)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.1.2(n) be amended to read as follows:

(n) There shall be the following Standing Commissions:

(1) A Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop recommendations and strategies regarding common ministry opportunities and concerns with other Provinces of the Anglican Communion as to the work of this Church and the Anglican Communion on issues of international peace with justice and to make recommendations pertaining thereto to the Presiding Bishop, the Executive Council and the General Convention.

(2) A Standing Commission for Small Congregations. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and recommend to General Convention policies, priorities, and opportunities to affirm and strengthen the health and development of small congregations.

(3) A Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Review such proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons as may be submitted to the Commission, placing each such proposed amendment in proper Constitutional or Canonical form including all amendments necessary to effect the proposed change. The Commission shall express its views with respect to the substance of any such proposal only to the proponent thereof; Provided, however, that no member of the Commission shall, by reason of membership, be deemed to be disabled from expressing, before a Legislative Committee or on the floor of the House of membership, personal views with respect to the substance of any such proposed amendment.

(ii) Conduct a continuing comprehensive review of the Constitution and Canons with respect to their internal consistency and clarity, and on the basis of such a review propose to the General Convention such technical amendments to the Constitution and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are necessary or desirable in order to achieve such consistency and clarity without altering the substance of any Constitutional and Canonical provisions; Provided, however, that the Commission shall propose, for the consideration of the appropriate Legislative Committees of the two Houses, such amendments to the Constitution and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are technically desirable but involve a substantive alteration of a Constitutional or Canonical provision.

(iii) On the basis of such review suggest to the Executive Council and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society such amendments to their respective By-laws as in the opinion of the Commission are necessary or desirable in order to conform the same to the Constitution and Canons.

(iv) Conduct a continuing and comprehensive review and update of the authorized "Annotated Constitution and Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as The Episcopal Church" to reflect actions of General Convention which amend the Constitution and Canons and, in the discretion of the Commission, develop other materials which are appropriate to the purpose of the "Annotated Constitution and Canons," and facilitate the publication of this document and related materials. The Commission may provide or support forums to promote commentary, discussion, and understanding of the Constitution and Canons.

(v) Discharge such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the General Convention.

(4) A Standing Commission on the Mission and Evangelism of The Episcopal Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and consider policies, priorities and concerns as to the effectiveness of The Episcopal Church in advancing, within this Church's jurisdictions, God's mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, including patterns and directions for evangelism, Church planting, leadership development, and ministries that engage the diversity of the Church's membership and the communities it serves, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(5) A Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. It shall be the duty of the Commission to recommend to the General Convention a comprehensive and coordinated policy and strategy on relations between this Church and other Churches, and this Church and other religions, and to make recommendations to General Convention concerning inter-Church cooperation and unity, and interreligious dialogue and action.

(6) A Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer shall be a member ex officio with voice, but without vote. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Discharge such duties as shall be assigned to it by the General Convention as to policies and strategies concerning the common worship of this Church.

(ii) Collect, collate and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions of the Book of Common Prayer.

(iii) Cause to be prepared and to present to the General Convention recommendations concerning the Lectionary, Psalter, and offices for special occasions as authorized or directed by the General Convention or House of Bishops.

(iv) Recommend to the General Convention authorized translations of the Holy Scripture from which the Lessons prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer are to be read.

(v) Receive and evaluate requests for consideration of individuals or groups to be included in the Calendar of the Church year and make recommendations thereon to the General Convention for acceptance or rejection.

(vi) Collect, collate, and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions of The Hymnal 1982 and other musical publications regularly in use in this Church and encourage the composition of new musical materials.

(vii) Cause to be prepared and present to the General Convention recommendations concerning the musical settings of liturgical texts and rubrics, and norms as to liturgical music and the manner of its rendition.

(viii) At the direction of the General Convention, to serve the Church in matters pertaining to policies and strategies concerning Church music.

(7) A Standing Commission on Ministry Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention for the affirmation, development, and exercise of ministry by all baptized persons (lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons).

(ii) Recommend strategies to General Convention for the development and support of networks of individuals, diocesan Committees and commissions, agencies and institutions engaged in recruitment, gifts discernment, education and training for ministry, leadership development, and deployment.

(iii) Study the needs and trends of theological education for all baptized persons, including seminary education and life-long learning, and recommend strategies to General Convention to strengthen theological education for all baptized persons.

(8) A Standing Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and theologically interpret social justice issues facing the United States and their impact on other nations, and to develop and recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention.

(9) A Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to recommend policies that foster within The Episcopal Church a broad understanding of Christian stewardship, both individual and corporate. The Commission shall recommend strategies to General Convention for stewardship, including education, development, and planned giving, with special sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Church.

(10)(2) A Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the structure of the General Convention and of The Episcopal Church. It shall, from time to time, review the operation of the several Committees, Commissions, and Boards on a triennial basis to determine the necessity for their continuance and the effectiveness of their functions and to bring about a coordination of their efforts.Whenever a proposal is made for the creation of a new Committee, Commission, Board or Agency, it shall, wherever feasible, be referred to the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church for its consideration and advice.

(11) A Standing Commission on World Mission, whose members shall include persons broadly representative of jurisdictions outside the United States of America, as well as persons having direct engagement with and experience in world mission. It shall be the duty of the Commission, to review and evaluate policies, priorities, and strategies for global mission, and to make recommendations regarding global mission to General Convention.

(12) A Standing Commission on Communication and Information Technology. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and recommend to General Convention communication strategies, policies, priorities, and technologies to strengthen the Church's communication of the Gospel and the mission of the Church to the world at large and to improve information management and exchange within The Episcopal Church.

(13) A Standing Commission on Health. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and study national and international healthcare issues, practices, and policies and the Church's healthcare ministries, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(14) A Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop and recommend to the General Convention comprehensive and coordinated policies for children, youth, adults, and seniors for lifelong Christian formation.

(3) (i)Within 60 days after the adjournment of the General Convention, the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, in consultation with the Executive Officer of the General Convention, shall review legislation adopted by the General Convention and shall establish Task Forces where necessary to carry out the mandates of the General Convention. Task Forces thereby established shall consist of no more than eight people.

(ii) The Presiding Bishop and the President of House Deputies shall jointly appoint the membership of all Task Forces. Appointments to Task Forces are subject to the consent of the Executive Council. Such consent shall be considered at the first meeting of the Executive Council after the General Convention.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.1.2(n) be amended to read as follows:

(n) There shall be the following Standing Commissions:

(1) A Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop recommendations and strategies regarding common ministry opportunities and concerns with other Provinces of the Anglican Communion as to the work of this Church and the Anglican Communion on issues of international peace with justice and to make recommendations pertaining thereto to the Presiding Bishop, the Executive Council and the General Convention.

(2) A Standing Commission for Small Congregations. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and recommend to General Convention policies, priorities, and opportunities to affirm and strengthen the health and development of small congregations.

(3) A Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Review such proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons as may be submitted to the Commission, placing each such proposed amendment in proper Constitutional or Canonical form including all amendments necessary to effect the proposed change. The Commission shall express its views with respect to the substance of any such proposal only to the proponent thereof; Provided, however, that no member of the Commission shall, by reason of membership, be deemed to be disabled from expressing, before a Legislative Committee or on the floor of the House of membership, personal views with respect to the substance of any such proposed amendment.

(ii) Conduct a continuing comprehensive review of the Constitution and Canons with respect to their internal consistency and clarity, and on the basis of such a review propose to the General Convention such technical amendments to the Constitution and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are necessary or desirable in order to achieve such consistency and clarity without altering the substance of any Constitutional and Canonical provisions; Provided, however, that the Commission shall propose, for the consideration of the appropriate Legislative Committees of the two Houses, such amendments to the Constitution and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are technically desirable but involve a substantive alteration of a Constitutional or Canonical provision.

(iii) On the basis of such review suggest to the Executive Council and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society such amendments to their respective By-laws as in the opinion of the Commission are necessary or desirable in order to conform the same to the Constitution and Canons.

(iv) Conduct a continuing and comprehensive review and update of the authorized "Annotated Constitution and Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as The Episcopal Church" to reflect actions of General Convention which amend the Constitution and Canons and, in the discretion of the Commission, develop other materials which are appropriate to the purpose of the "Annotated Constitution and Canons," and facilitate the publication of this document and related materials. The Commission may provide or support forums to promote commentary, discussion, and understanding of the Constitution and Canons.

(v) Discharge such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned by the General Convention.

(4) A Standing Commission on the Mission and Evangelism of The Episcopal Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and consider policies, priorities and concerns as to the effectiveness of The Episcopal Church in advancing, within this Church's jurisdictions, God's mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, including patterns and directions for evangelism, Church planting, leadership development, and ministries that engage the diversity of the Church's membership and the communities it serves, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(5) A Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. It shall be the duty of the Commission to recommend to the General Convention a comprehensive and coordinated policy and strategy on relations between this Church and other Churches, and this Church and other religions, and to make recommendations to General Convention concerning inter-Church cooperation and unity, and interreligious dialogue and action.

(6) A Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer shall be a member ex officio with voice, but without vote. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Discharge such duties as shall be assigned to it by the General Convention as to policies and strategies concerning the common worship of this Church.

(ii) Collect, collate and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions of the Book of Common Prayer.

(iii) Cause to be prepared and to present to the General Convention recommendations concerning the Lectionary, Psalter, and offices for special occasions as authorized or directed by the General Convention or House of Bishops.

(iv) Recommend to the General Convention authorized translations of the Holy Scripture from which the Lessons prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer are to be read.

(v) Receive and evaluate requests for consideration of individuals or groups to be included in the Calendar of the Church year and make recommendations thereon to the General Convention for acceptance or rejection.

(vi) Collect, collate, and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions of The Hymnal 1982 and other musical publications regularly in use in this Church and encourage the composition of new musical materials.

(vii) Cause to be prepared and present to the General Convention recommendations concerning the musical settings of liturgical texts and rubrics, and norms as to liturgical music and the manner of its rendition.

(viii) At the direction of the General Convention, to serve the Church in matters pertaining to policies and strategies concerning Church music.

(7) A Standing Commission on Ministry Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) Recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention for the affirmation, development, and exercise of ministry by all baptized persons (lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons).

(ii) Recommend strategies to General Convention for the development and support of networks of individuals, diocesan Committees and commissions, agencies and institutions engaged in recruitment, gifts discernment, education and training for ministry, leadership development, and deployment.

(iii) Study the needs and trends of theological education for all baptized persons, including seminary education and life-long learning, and recommend strategies to General Convention to strengthen theological education for all baptized persons.

(8) A Standing Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and theologically interpret social justice issues facing the United States and their impact on other nations, and to develop and recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention.

(9) A Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to recommend policies that foster within The Episcopal Church a broad understanding of Christian stewardship, both individual and corporate. The Commission shall recommend strategies to General Convention for stewardship, including education, development, and planned giving, with special sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Church.

(10)(2) A Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the structure of the General Convention and of The Episcopal Church. It shall, from time to time, review the operation of the several Committees, Commissions, and Boards on a triennial basis to determine the necessity for their continuance and the effectiveness of their functions and to bring about a coordination of their efforts.Whenever a proposal is made for the creation of a new Committee, Commission, Board or Agency, it shall, wherever feasible, be referred to the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church for its consideration and advice.

(11) A Standing Commission on World Mission, whose members shall include persons broadly representative of jurisdictions outside the United States of America, as well as persons having direct engagement with and experience in world mission. It shall be the duty of the Commission, to review and evaluate policies, priorities, and strategies for global mission, and to make recommendations regarding global mission to General Convention.

(12) A Standing Commission on Communication and Information Technology. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and recommend to General Convention communication strategies, policies, priorities, and technologies to strengthen the Church's communication of the Gospel and the mission of the Church to the world at large and to improve information management and exchange within The Episcopal Church.

(13) A Standing Commission on Health. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and study national and international healthcare issues, practices, and policies and the Church's healthcare ministries, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(14) A Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop and recommend to the General Convention comprehensive and coordinated policies for children, youth, adults, and seniors for lifelong Christian formation.

(3) (i)Within 60 days after the adjournment of the General Convention, the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, in consultation with the Executive Officer of the General Convention, shall review legislation adopted by the General Convention and shall establish Task Forces where necessary to carry out the mandates of the General Convention. Task Forces thereby established shall consist of no more than eight people.

(ii) The Presiding Bishop and the President of House Deputies shall jointly appoint the membership of all Task Forces. Appointments to Task Forces are subject to the consent of the Executive Council. Such consent shall be considered at the first meeting of the Executive Council after the General Convention; and be it further

Resolved,that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon the adjournment of this 77th General Convention.

Deputy Cunningham of Southern Virginia moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment

After “shall establish Task Forces” add “of Executive Council.” Also, after “no more than 8 people” add “; such Task Forces to complete their work prior to the next General Convention and disband.”

Deputy Coyne of Western Massachusetts moved the previous question on the amendment and the main motion. The President ruled that Deputy Coyne could move the previous question on the amendment, but not the main motion due to the Rule of the House adopted earlier in the session.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Bingham of Kansas moved that the resolution be referred to the task force created by Resolution C095.

Motion defeated

Deputy King of Western New York moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the resolution as amended.

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #236)