Resolution Number: 2012-A067
Title: Convene Consultations on Ministry Education
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention affirm that baptism is the source of all ministry and that education for ordained ministry takes place within the context of preparing all for ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention directs the Standing Commission on Ministry Development to convene ministry education and formation providers, including the deans, faculty, alumni/ae, and students of the eleven Episcopal seminaries and of the divinity schools of colleges and universities that have significant numbers of Episcopal students and/or Anglican studies programs; representatives of the Association of Theological Schools; leaders and students of diocesan ministry schools, especially those that provide total and team ministry training programs; representatives of the Association of Episcopal Deacons; FORMA; Living Stones Partnership; provincial and diocesan Commissions on Ministry; the House of Bishops Theological Education Committee; the General Board of Examining Chaplains; those knowledgeable about the emergent church movement; representatives of Episcopal camp and conference centers; Episcopal chaplains; diocesan transition ministers; staff from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Diversity Social and Environmental Ministries; and the Standing Commission on Ministry Development, in a series of regional consultations to generate a shared vision of theological education and formation for ordained ministry and to explore and develop exemplary models for forming candidates and assessing their proficiency and competency for ordination; and be it further

Resolved, That the participants in each regional consultation shall include laity, deacons, priests and bishops as well as at least two persons for whom English is not their first language; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission report to the 78th General Convention its findings and recommendations; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $210,000 for the hiring of a project manager, research and office expenses, and funding for regional gatherings necessary for the implementation of this Resolution in this triennium.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 2012 (New York: General Convention, 2012), pp. 541-542.

Legislative History

Author: Standing Commission on Ministry Development
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Ministry

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Ministry presented its Report #18 on Resolution A067 (Theological Education: Ministry Formation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(A067)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention affirm that baptism is the source of all ministry and that ordained ministry education takes place within the context of preparing all for ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention directs the Standing Commission on Ministry Development to convene ministry education and formation providers, including to the deans, faculty, alumni/ae, and students of the eleven Episcopal seminaries and of the divinity schools of colleges and universities that have significant numbers of Episcopalian students and/or Anglican studies programs; representatives of the Association of Theological Schools; leaders and students of diocesan ministry schools, especially those that provide total and team ministry training programs; Living Stones Partnership; National Association of Christian Education Directors; provincial and diocesan Commissions on Ministry; the House of Bishops Theological Education Committee; the General Board of Examining Chaplains; those knowledgeable about the emergent church movement; representatives of Episcopal camp and conference centers; Episcopal chaplains; diocesan deployment officers; Diversity Social and Environmental Ministries; and the Standing Commission on Ministry Development, in a series of regional consultations to generate a shared vision of theological education and formation for ordained ministry and to identify exemplary models for the formation, education, and evaluation of ordained ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission report to the 78th General Convention its findings and recommendations; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $210,000 for the hiring of a project manager, research and office expenses, and funding for regional gatherings necessary for the implementation of this Resolution in this triennium.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the 77th General Convention affirm that baptism is the source of all ministry and that ordained ministry education education for ordained ministry takes place within the context of preparing all for ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention directs the Standing Commission on Ministry Development to convene ministry education and formation providers, including to the deans, faculty, alumni/ae, and students of the eleven Episcopal seminaries and of the divinity schools of colleges and universities that have significant numbers of Episcopalian students and/or Anglican studies programs; representatives of the Association of Theological Schools; leaders and students of diocesan ministry schools, especially those that provide total and team ministry training programs; representatives of the Association of Episcopal Deacons; Living Stones Partnership; National Association of Christian Education Directors;provincial and diocesan Commissions on Ministry; the House of Bishops Theological Education Committee; the General Board of Examining Chaplains; those knowledgeable about the emergent church movement; representatives of Episcopal camp and conference centers; Episcopal chaplains; diocesan deployment officers transition ministers; staff from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Diversity Social and Environmental Ministries; and the Standing Commission on Ministry Development, in a series of regional consultations to generate a shared vision of theological education and formation for ordained ministry and to explore and develop exemplary models for forming candidates and assessing their proficiency and competency for ordination and to identify exemplary models for the formation, education, and evaluation of ordained ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the participants in each regional consultation shall include laity, deacons, priests and bishops as well as at least two persons for whom English is not their first language; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission report to the 78th General Convention its findings and recommendations; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $210,000 for the hiring of a project manager, research and office expenses, and funding for regional gatherings necessary for the implementation of this Resolution in this triennium.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #87)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Ministry presented its Report #21 on HB Message #87 on Resolution A067 (Theological Education: Ministry Formation) and moved concurrence.

Deputy King of Western New York moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the resolution. A voice vote was inconclusive. A paper vote was taken and was also inconclusive. An electronic vote was taken.

Motion carried

Point of Order

Deputy Garner of Alabama questioned the vote, stating that the total number of votes shown exceeds the number of deputies certified.

The President asked the Voting Secretary to re-examine the tallies.

House of Deputies

Voting Result of Resolution A067

The Voting Secretary announced that the vote on Resolution A067 had been valid.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #168)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 10.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission on Ministry Development, Reports to the 77th General Convention, 2012, pp. 475-496.
Abstract:   The 77th General Convention directs that the Standing Commission on Ministry Development convene and report on regional consultations of ministry education providers, including non-native English speakers, to develop models for formation and assessment of candidates’ competency for ordination.
Notes:  

Resolution 2012-A148 was discharged because the matter was considered in 2012-A067.