The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That since this Church acted at the 65th General Convention to authorize the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate there is a growing consensus that the large numbers of women now serving in Holy Orders have brought fresh and complementary gifts to the priestly ministry; and that, although this decision has resulted in joy in many quarters of the Church, it has also resulted in awkwardness, both for its advocates and its opponents. Accepting this tension and anticipating the probability of the election and ordination of a woman to the episcopate, this Convention strongly urges all bishops, Standing Committees, and Commissions on Ministry to strive for justice and peace and to be sensitive to the pastoral needs of all their people. In any diocese where reconciliation is necessary, the diocesan bishop should seek continuing dialogue with clergy and congregations whose convictions differ from the bishop's, so that the unity of the church will continue unimpaired and even strengthened. This Church is confident that the Bishops of the Episcopal Church will deal pastorally with those bishops, priests, deacons or lay persons who may not be able to accept women as bishops; and be it further

Resolved, That:

1. The Presiding Bishop may designate members of the House of Bishops to act as Episcopal Visitors to provide episcopal sacramental acts for congregations of this Church upon the request and under the authority and direction of the Ecclesiastical Authority of a Diocese. Nothing in this provision shall be construed as abrogating the jurisdiction of the Bishop, or Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution* and the Canonical relationships between the Diocesan Bishop and the Congregation, together with its clergy.
2. The Diocesan Bishop shall notify the Presiding Bishop's office in writing of all requests and arrangements made in each case. The Presiding Bishop shall make a report in writing to each meeting of the House of Bishops.
3. This provision is only to be used for the transition and incorporation of women into all ordained ministries and is not otherwise applicable.
4. This provision shall remain in effect until the 71st General Convention and, unless re-affirmed, it shall expire upon its adjournment.
   
5. * Sec. 3. A Bishop shall confine the exercise of his office to his own Diocese, unless he shall have been requested to perform episcopal acts in another Diocese by the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof, or unless he shall have been authorized by the House of Bishops, or by the Presiding Bishop by its direction to act temporarily in case of need within any territory not yet organized into Dioceses of this Church.