Convention Executive Officer Reports to Council
Diocesan Press Service. June 11, 1974 [74178]
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The three substantive issues which appear to be developing as major concerns of the 1976 General Convention of the Episcopal Church are liturgy, ecumenical relations, and ministry, the Executive Council was told at its meeting here June 11-13.
The Rt. Rev. Scott Field Bailey, Suffragan Bishop of Texas, and interim executive officer of the General Convention, gave a preliminary report of the work of the Convention's joint committees and commissions, councils, boards, and other agencies. This was the first time such an interim convention report has been made to the Council.
The executive officer position was established by General Convention in Louisville, Ky., last fall to coordinate the various programs of the agencies, to relate them to the work of the Executive Council, and to help prepare for the 1976 General Convention.
Bishop Bailey said that the Joint Committee on Agenda and Arrangements has officially designated the next convention as "The General Convention of 1976," though it will also be known as "The 65th General Convention" and "The Minnesota Convention." The dates of the next triennial convention, which will meet in Minneapolis/St. Paul, are September 11-23, 1976.
He said that the work group process of the past several conventions will not be recommended for 1976, but rather the basic issues will be brought to plenary sessions of the two houses, where there will be opportunity for discussion, and then referred to the legislative committees. There will be every encouragement, he said, for the committees of the two houses to work together to avoid duplication.
The Triennial Meeting of the Women of the Church will continue to meet concurrently with the General Convention for the first week, and delegates will receive all material made available to bishops and deputies.
Bishop Bailey said that attention is being given to minorities and special interest groups in the planning. A caucus room will be provided for any group desiring to use it. Youth facilities for meeting, sleeping and perhaps eating will hopefully be provided.
Bishop Bailey said that the committee will recommend that no "additional representatives" be specified, but that dioceses would be encouraged to "spread its representatives over as broad a base as possible as to age, race and sex."
He reported that the Standing Liturgical Commission is continuing its work of preparing a draft proposed Book of Common Prayer, which the commission plans to "put before the church no later than Easter, 1976," and to submit to the convention for a first vote in the fall of 1976.
Bishop Bailey also gave a brief report on the organization and work of the following groups of the church: Clergy Deployment Board; Joint Commission on Ecumenical Relations ; Board of Examining Chaplains; Joint Commission on the Church in Human Affairs; Joint Commission on the Church in Metropolitan Areas; Council on Ministry; Standing Commission on Church Music; Joint Committee on Nominations; Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance; Office of Pastoral Development; Joint Commission on the Church in Small Communities; Joint Commission on the Structure of the Church; Board for Theological Education; and the Joint Commission on World Mission.