Resolution Number: 1994-D007
Title: Amend Canon III.4.1 [Equal Access to Ordination Process]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That Title III, Canon 4 be amended by adding a new sentence to Section 1 as follows:

No one shall be denied access to the selection process for ordination in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by these Canons. No right to ordination is hereby established.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 (New York: General Convention, 1995), pp. 811-12.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on Ministry

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D007)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Title III, Canon 8 be amended by adding a new Section 2 as follows (and renumbering subsequent Sections):

No one shall be denied access to the selection process for ordination in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, physical disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by Canon. No right to ordination is hereby established.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Title III, Canon 8 4 be amended by adding a new sentence to Section 2 1 as follows:

No one shall be denied access to the selection process for ordination in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by these Canons. No right to ordination is hereby established.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #185)

House of Deputies

Committee No. 16 on Ministry presented its report #22 on House of Bishops Message #185 relating to Resolution D007a (Access to Ordination Process Open to All without Discrimination) and moved concurrence.

Debate followed.

Deputy Neville of Western New York, moved an amendment to D007a.

Proposed Amendment:

Strike the words "sexual orientation" between the words "status" and "disabilities" in the sixth line.

Debate followed on the Neville amendment to D007a.

The question was called to terminate debate on the Neville amendment D007a and on the main motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Neville amendment to D007a.

Neville amendment defeated

A vote was taken on D007a.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #315)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, September 2.

Abstract:   The 71st General Convention amends Canon Title III.4.1 to add a provision affirming and extending equal access to the ordination process.