MRI Commission Meets, Proposes
Diocesan Press Service. May 5, 1967 [54-1]
"I believe instead that a decade from now will see mases flocking to the masses. Why is this so? It is because the critical problems that beset civilization everywhere are rapidly approaching the point where they will become totally insolvable - unless there is a reference to the one, veritable Truth of all time, Jesus Christ Himself."
Report of the Executive Officer to the Mutual Responsibility Commission
April 4/5, 1967
In order that the Episcopal Church may meet the challenge of the next decade - a challenge foreseen even by social scientists - it must change its present structures. This was the overriding conviction of the Mutual Responsibility Commission at its meeting April 4-5 in New York City.
These changes were felt to be so far reaching and complex that many members of the Commission expressed the desire for a special General Convention in 1969, and the Commission intends to recommend such to the General Convention in Seattle.
Changes proposed by the Mutual Responsibility Commission will involve initially three major bodies of the Episcopal Church: the Presiding Bishop, the General Convention and the Executive Council. The Commission felt that each ought to have more clearly defined functions, sufficient resources and authorization to carry out these functions, and a continuing relationship with the other two bodies.
The Commission felt that the Presiding Bishop should be clearly identified as the chief pastor of the Church and be charged with responsibility for giving leadership in initiating and developing the policy and strategy of the Church. In order to carry out these functions, which would include pastoral visits in each diocese, he should be given adequate personal assistance. He would be elected for a term of 12 years and his successor chosen a year before his term of office ended. The Presiding Bishop-elect would remain in his jurisdiction during that year, but would have opportunity to acquaint himself with his new and vastly different responsibilities. His jurisdiction would also have adequate time to elect his successor and have an orderly transfer of administration. Presiding Bishop Hines, who had ten weeks to prepare himself for his new office, expressed strong feelings that both a limited term of office and sufficient time for preparation were essential.
The General Convention, itself, received much consideration and many members of the Commission felt that more frequent Conventions were essential. Mrs. Theodore Wedel, associate general secretary, Division of Christian Unity, NCC, stated that her work with many denominations had shown her that those which had annual conventions or assemblies were most able to respond, for they could speak to important situations as they occurred. She mentioned that several denominations, similar in size and financial resources to the Episcopal Church, had annual conventions. The Commission also expressed their feeling that exclusion of women from the House of Deputies "is a denial of the wholeness which the gospel demands," and stated their support of the recommendation of the Joint Commission on Structure that this situation be changed.
The Commission then considered the Executive Council and will recommend a number of changes. They felt that membership of the Council should be increased to 45 and should include the President of the House of Deputies ex-officio, who would serve as Vice-Chairman, the Secretary of the Executive Council and 24 instead of 22 members elected direct by Convention. The remaining members are nine provincial representatives and six women, nominated by Triennial and elected by Convention. The Commission also felt that the Council should be recognized as General Convention ad interim with responsibility to act on its behalf in the recess thereof, and should account to Convention for the manner in which it carries out this function and propose future programs to it. Members of Council would also serve as liaison members of every Joint Commission of General Convention, thus opening up channels of communication.
The Commission pointed out that such changes were, indeed, structural but it felt that such changes had to be made before the Episcopal Church could respond fully to the challenges confronting Christianity, challenges echoed in the MRI document adopted at the Toronto Anglican Congress.
In a separate section of its report, the Commission voiced support of the Partnership Plan and stated that the system of voluntary support for the national Church budget, even though it would involve much work, planning and faith, was essential. Such plan would insure "aggressiveness on the part of leadership, responsiveness to the constituency and a counterbalance to proposals for centralization."
The Executive Committee of the Commission will meet to redraft the report in light of the suggestions made during the meeting and will, after consultation with the full membership, mail a final report to deputies to General Convention and delegates to Triennial in the beginning of August.