Structural Changes Acted on by General Convention
Diocesan Press Service. October 5, 1967 [58-2]
In the face of such issues as Vietnam and the urban crisis, the structural changes recommended by several sources to the 62nd General Convention were not widely reported in the daily press, yet they will have an important impact throughout the Episcopal Church.
Just what are these changes to the national church structure? The office of the Presiding Bishop has been defined, filling in a large blank space in former canonical provisions. The Executive Council, likewise, has been given a more detailed definition, as has its relation to Convention. Finally, a plan for an every-diocese visitation program is to be initiated. All these were changes recommended by the Mutual Responsibility Commission.
Who, or what, is the Presiding Bishop? According to Canon 2 as it has read he "shall preside over meetings of the House of Bishops, and take order for the consecration of Bishops, when duly elected. He shall also perform all others duties prescribed for him by other Canons of the General Convention." The problem with this apparently full, but general description of the Presiding Bishop's function is that there are no other canonical provisions prescribing his duties. He is expected to be a leader, and a spokesman for the Episcopal Church nationally, but he has never had the authority to perform these functions. The changes which go into effect on Jan. 1, as they are canonical changes, will establish the Presiding Bishop as "chief pastor", with responsibility "for giving leadership in initiating and developing the policy and strategy of the Church. He is also charged to speak God's word to the Church and the world "as the chief representative of this Church and its episcopate in its corporate capacity." He, likewise, may issue pastoral letters in his own persons.
The Presiding Bishop has also been a "bishop without a see, or jurisdiction". This too has been modified by giving the Presiding Bishop visitation rights similar to those of a diocesan bishop - to hold pastoral consultations, preach the word and celebrate the Lord's Supper in every diocese.
He is also given the authority to call joint sessions during General Convention, to recommend legislation to either House and to address the House of Deputies. If he addresses the Convention upon the state of the church, the Convention must consider and act upon these recommendations.
The Presiding Bishop's term of office is likewise now limited by canon - to twelve years, or to the age of 65. This term shall begin one year after the close of the Convention which elects him. The canons had formerly defined his term as until November 15 succeeding the General Convention which follows his 65 birthday. A resolution calling for election of a Presiding Bishop jointly by both Houses of Convention was defeated by the bishops, as was a similar resolution calling for a joint nominating committee.
The Executive Council will on Jan. 1 be given the duty to "carry out the program and policies adopted by General Convention" in addition to its already established duty under canon law to "have the charge of the unification, development and prosecution of the missionary, education and social work of the Church ..." It will also be "accountable to the General Convention and shall render a full report concerning the work with which it is charged ..." and shall submit to Convention a program for the triennium, including a detailed budget for the ensuing year, and estimates for the two succeeding years. The Council membership is also increased by two, for Convention now can elect twenty-four members.
The original proposal to define the Executive Council as "responsible to act on behalf of the General Convention in the recess thereof" was amended, and the definition above adopted.
The MRI report called for the 62nd General Convention to recess until 1969 and to then consider in detail the structure of the Episcopal Church nationally. Although this proposal was not itself adopted, there will be a special meeting of the General Convention in the summer of 1909 at the call of the Presiding Bishop.
Also adopted was a plan whereby the bishops and deputies "pledge themselves jointly and severally to secure financial and moral support" for the General Church Program, and the elected members of the Executive Council will interpret, where requested by the diocese, this program and conduct "an annual program of visitations in every jurisdiction" particularly in order to increase communication.
Several other proposals having to do with the structure of the Episcopal Church were also acted upon. These proposals, which came through the Joint Commission on the Structure of General Convention and the Provinces and were adopted, called for the change of the name "Missionary District" to "Missionary Diocese"; the seating of women; the translation of bishops; the seating of bishops without jurisdiction; and for a study of the realignment of provinces. As has been widely publicized, the 62nd General Convention did vote to allow women to sit in the House of Deputies. The Convention, however, did not pass a proposal calling for proportional representation in the House of Deputies. The proposal to give Bishops without jurisdiction full membership concerned those who had resigned for reasons of missionary strategy and who still function primarily in an episcopal capacity. All the above are constitutional changes and will require ratification by the next General Convention.
The fact that the committee of preparation for a Council of Renewal has been continued and that there will be a special meeting of the General Convention means changes in the future, changes perhaps more far-sweeping than anticipated before the recent General Convention. What these changes will be no one can say for certain, but that there will be more change is inevitably.