By the passing of Resolution A045 of the 2000 General Convention, a "whole can of worms" has been opened. The resolution targeted the dioceses of Fort Worth, Quincy and San Joaquin and directed the Executive Council to establish a task force by Jan. 1 to "visit, interview, assess and assist the people and the Commissions on Ministry, Standing Committees and Bishops of the three dioceses in the development and implementation of an action plan for full compliance with the canon mandating ordination of women by September 1, 2002." These dioceses can expect at least four, if not more, visitations from the appointed task force. Presumably, ample funds will be available for the visits.

Subsequent General Conventions may follow the example of the 73rd, with task forces appointed eventually to assess and assist dioceses in guaranteeing that at least one gay or lesbian priest serves in each diocese. Perhaps task forces will be appointed to guarantee that at least one priest from each minority group serves in each diocese. Task forces might eventually be appointed to monitor the investment programs of dioceses, or to assist and assess the way in which vestries and search committees function. The possibilities are without number.

The appointment of task forces contradicts the numerous promises made during the past 25 years that "no recriminations ... no sanctions ... no coercion" will be exerted regarding the ordination of women. Initially the promises were made because such ordinations would be permissive, not mandatory. None of the promises included the words "Until the General Convention of 2000." Credibility has certainly been stretched. No regard has been paid to the Lambeth Conference of 1998.

The action of General Convention implies that it is now a "must" in this part of the Anglican Communion to believe in the ordination of women. In Roman Catholicism, "additional" beliefs have been required of its members regarding papal infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Mary in order for one to be a member "in good standing." The Episcopal Church thus follows this example if it adds the requirement of belief in the ordination of women if one is to be in good standing. This is a new development in this part of the Anglican Communion, and one with far-reaching implications.

One of the ironies of General Convention's decision to authorize task forces is that during the 20-year episcopate of Bishop John Spong, while he discarded many of the basic beliefs of Christianity and "did his own thing," General Convention sent no task force to deal with him, whereas while these three bishops continue to "do their own thing," obey their consciences, basing their decisions on theology, doctrine and scripture, task forces are sent to deal with them and their dioceses. One gets the impression that perhaps what most matters in the eyes of General Convention is power.

It is to be assumed that General Convention recognized the strain and stress that the visits of the task forces will place upon the bishops, dioceses, clergy and laity involved, and the distraction to the life of the dioceses that these task forces will cause, as well as the amount of money that the trips will cost, and the costs to the dioceses that receive the visitations. Is this the best use of the church's funds?

In anticipating the visits of the task force to the Diocese of Quincy, one can't help but wonder how the first Bishop of Illinois, the redoubtable Philander Chase, would have reacted had he been informed that any task force sent by General Convention was on its way to straighten him out and tell him how to run his diocese.

The Rev. William Joseph Barnds is rector of Grace Church, Galesburg, Ill.