The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(B016)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.1.2(n)(4) be amended to read as follows:

(4). A Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, consisting of 12 members (3 Bishops, 3 Presbyters or Deacons, and 6 Lay Persons, who shall include representation of a broad diversity of scientific and medical disciplines.) It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and concern itself with the theological, ethical and pastoral questions inherent in such aspects as human health, sexuality and bioethical problems, marriage, and institutional racism, migrant workers and homelessness. The Commission may cooperate with bodies having allied concerns established by other religious, scientific or lay groups and organizations, and shall coordinate its activities with the Standing Commission on Health. and be it further

Resolved, That Canon I.1.2(n) be amended by the addition of the following new section:

(10). A Standing Commission on Health, consisting of 12 members (3 Bishops, 3 Presbyters or Deacons, and 6 Lay Persons, who shall include representation of a broad diversity of scientific and medical disciplines.) It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and concern itself with the theological, ethical and pastoral questions inherent in such aspects of human health as bioethics, the AIDS epidemic, abortion, drug abuse and alcoholism. The Commission may cooperate with bodies having allied concerns established by other religious, scientific or lay groups and organizations, and shall coordinate its efforts with the Standing Commission on Human Affairs.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.1.2(n)(4) be amended by striking the same in its entirety and by substituting the following two subsections and renumbering existing subsections 5-9 accordingly:

(4) . A Standing Commission on Health, consisting of 9 members (2 Bishops, 2 Presbyters or Deacons, and 5 Lay Persons) who shall include representation of a broad diversity of scientific and medical disciplines. It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and concern itself with the theological, ethical and pastoral questions inherent in the subjects considered by the Commission.

(5) . A Standing Commission on Human Affairs, consisting of 9 members (2 Bishops, 2 Presbyters or Deacons, and 5 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and concern itself with the theological, ethical and pastoral questions inherent in the subjects considered by the Commission.

Motion carried

Substitute Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #296)