The Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church discussed comments received in response to the Common Draft Report it issued [TLC, July 21] when it met Nov. 18-20 at the Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center in Oviedo, Fla.

The commission continued to revise and draft the report in light of the 145 comments and responses it received.

"The commission has tried to more clearly define terms used in the report so as to more carefully convey the theology underlying the report," said the Rev. Canon John Kitagawa of the Diocese of Maryland. "'Mission' is used to express God's mission of redemption and reconciliation restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, while 'ministry' is used to mean the many and diverse ways that Christians participate in the one mission of God as articulated by the baptismal covenant to worship, forgive, proclaim, serve and secure justice."

Among the amendments to the commission's Common Draft Report is a proposal for a new Standing Commission on Anglican and International Affairs to work in the areas of strategies for common ministry opportunities within the Anglican Communion and as to issues of international peace and justice.

Other commission proposals would add the duties of evangelism to the previously proposed Standing Commission on Domestic Mission, and form a new Standing Commission on National Concerns to work on theological, ethical and pastoral issues affecting domestic service and the securing of domestic peace and justice.

Clarifications were made as to the role and duties of the Presiding Bishop and the national Executive Council to make it more clear that the Presiding Bishop, in the role of chair of that council, bears ultimate responsibility and accountability for the programs and strategies adopted by General Convention and Executive Council. The commission also re-stated the proposed relationship between the Presiding Bishop and the proposed executive director to make it clear that the executive director would report through and be accountable to the Presiding Bishop.

"The revised report more clearly affirms the nature of the partnership relationship between congregations, dioceses and provinces and the church on the national level, while focusing on where mission and ministry may more effectively be done," said Robert C. Royce, of the Virgin Islands.

The commission will meet again in January to consider and adopt the final draft of its report.