Resolution Number: 2000-A041
Title: Enact Temporary Suspension of Ordinal [Second Reading]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church having affirmed in the Concordat of Agreement (as presented to the 73rd General Convention in the document Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the Concordat of Agreement) the full authenticity of existing ordained ministries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, having reached fundamental agreement in faith with the same church, and having agreed that the threefold ministry of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons in historic succession will be the future pattern of the one ordained ministry shared corporately within the two churches in full communion, the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church hereby enact a temporary suspension, in this case only, of the seventeenth-century restriction that "no persons are allowed to exercise the offices of Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in this Church unless they are so ordained, or have already received such ordination with the laying on of hands by Bishops who are themselves duly qualified to confer Holy Orders," as set forth in the Preface to the Ordination Rites (Book of Common Prayer, p. 510); and be it further

Resolved, That this resolution take effect on January 1, 2001.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 475.

Legislative History

Author: The Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on Ecumenical Relations

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(A041)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church for the sake of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and pursuant to that certain document Called to Common Mission hereby enact a temporary suspension, in this case only, of the seventeenth-century restriction that "no persons are allowed to exercise the offices of Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in this Church unless they are so ordained, or have already received such ordination with the laying on of hands by Bishops who are themselves duly qualified to confer Holy Orders," as set forth in the Preface to the Ordination Rites (Book of Common Prayer, p. 510); and be it further

Resolved, That this resolution take effect on January 1, 2001.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church having affirmed in the Concordat of Agreement (as presented to the 73rd General Convention in the document Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran proposal for the Revision of the Concordat of Agreement) the full authenticity of existing ordained ministries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, having reached fundamental agreement in faith with the same church, and having agreed that the threefold ministry of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons in historic succession will be the future pattern of the one ordained ministry shared corporately within the two churches in full communion, this 73rd Convention of the Episcopal Church hereby enact a temporary suspension, in this case only, of the seventeenth-century restriction that "no persons are allowed to exercise the offices of Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in this Church unless they are so ordained, or have already received such ordination with the laying on of hands by Bishops who are themselves duly qualified to confer Holy Orders," as set forth in the Preface to the Ordination Rites (Book of Common Prayer, p. 510); and be it further

Resolved, That this resolution take effect on January 1, 2001.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #51)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Ecumenical Relations presented its Report #4 on HB Message #51 on Resolution A041 (Enact Temporary Suspension of Ordinal, Second Reading (1997-A019)) and moved concurrence.

Because this was a second reading of a revision of the Ordinal, a vote by orders was required.

Ballot #4 was taken on Resolution A041.

Ballot #4 taken by orders

The Secretary reported the results on Ballot #4 on Resolution A041 (Enact Temporary Suspension of Ordinal, Second Reading (1997-A019)).

Type TotalNecessaryYesNoDividedResults
Lay 106549466Carried
Clerical107549656Carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #91)

House of Bishops

Bishop Kimsey reported the results from the House of Deputies on:

A041C 96 - yes5 - no6 - divided
L 94 - yes6 - no6 - divided

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 8.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, Reports to the 73rd General Convention, 2000, pp. 81-118.
Abstract:   The 73rd General Convention enacts a temporary suspension of the Ordinal in response to having affirmed the Concordat of Agreement.