The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Privilege and Courtesy presented its Report #13 on Resolution D030 (In Honor of Pamela Pauley Chinnis) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(D030)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention adopt the following Resolution of Thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis, 1925- 2011.

For the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis;

• For her distinction as the first woman President of the House of Deputies, which opened the door for women in this leadership role, and for her dedicated service for three terms, being elected in 1991, 1994, and 1997;
  
• For her leadership and faithful service in God’s Church, among her many roles; Senior Warden and Lay Leader at The Church of the Epiphany, Washington, D.C.; Chair of the United Thank Offering (UTO) and President of the diocesan chapter of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), and presiding officer of the national ECW’s Triennial meeting in 1976; Delegate to the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and member of the General Board; Delegate to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC); and Member of the ACC’s delegation to the Lambeth Conference, 1988;
  
• For her presenting to the church the archetype of female and male, working together to preach the Gospel and respect the dignity of every human being, by standing side by side with Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, and the Rev. Dr. Edgar Romig, former Rector, The Church of the Epiphany, Washington;
  
• For her advocacy of the ordination of women, working tirelessly to help the church understand the theological importance of women in clerical orders.
  
• For her leadership in advocating the full inclusion of LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) in the life of the church;
  
• For her prophetic witness in challenging and shaping The Episcopal Church on issues of justice and inclusion, particularly her tireless work to combat both sexism and homophobia, and her leadership in presiding over many landmark decisions on the road to inclusion.
  
• For her compassionate witness in showing The Episcopal Church’s support for those men, women, and children infected and affected by the AIDS pandemic;
  
• For her leadership in including the voices of all the baptized in the governance system she cherished and helped to lead;
  
• For her knowledge of the Bible, her faith, and her intellect which helped the church understand that all human beings are created in the image of God.
  
• For her personal courage, her grace, her wisdom, her humor, her vast knowledge of the legislative process, her care and concern for others, her brilliant communication skills, and for her unfailing love and commitment to The Episcopal Church and all its members;
  
• For her model of life, ministry, and leadership which continues to gives hope, inspiration, and strength to bishops, priests, deacons, and lay leaders in light of today’s challenges, divisions, and issues;

We of this 77th General Convention assembled in Indianapolis praise You, O God, and give thanks for the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis, a gift to the Episcopal Church and to the world.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention adopt the following Resolution of Thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis, 1925- 2011.

For the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis;

• For her distinction as the first woman President of the House of Deputies, which opened the door for women in this leadership role, and for her dedicated service for three terms, being elected in 1991, 1994, and 1997;
  
• For her leadership and faithful service in God’s Church, among her many roles; Senior Warden and Lay Leader at The Church of the Epiphany, Washington, D.C.; Chair of the diocesan United Thank Offering Committee (UTO) and President of the diocesan chapter of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), and presiding officer of the national ECW’s Triennial meeting in 1976; Delegate to the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and member of the General Board; Delegate to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC); and Member of the ACC’s delegation to the Lambeth Conference, 1988;
  
• For herpresenting to the church the archetype of female and male, working together to preach the Gospel and respect the dignity of every human being, by standing side by side with Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, and the Rev. Dr. Edgar Romig, former Rector, The Church of the Epiphany, Washington;
  
• For her advocacy of the ordination of women, working tirelessly to help the church understand the theological importance of women in clerical orders.
  
• For her leadership in advocating the full inclusion of LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) in the life of the church;
  
• For her prophetic witness in challenging and shaping The Episcopal Church on issues of justice and inclusion, particularly her tireless work to combat both sexism and homophobia, and her leadership in presiding over many landmark decisions on the road to inclusion.
  
• For her compassionate witness in showing The Episcopal Church’s support for those men, women, and children infected and affected by the AIDS pandemic;
  
• For her leadership in including the voices of all the baptized in the governance system she cherished and helped to lead;
  
• For her knowledge of the Bible, her faith, and her intellect which helped the church understand that all human beings are created in the image of God.
  
• For her personal courage, her grace, her wisdom, her humor, her vast knowledge of the legislative process, her care and concern for others, her brilliant communication skills, and for her unfailing love and commitment to The Episcopal Church and all its members;
  
• For her model of life, ministry, and leadership which continues to gives hope, inspiration, and strength to bishops, priests, deacons, and lay leaders in light of today’s challenges, divisions, and issues;.

We of this 77th General Convention assembled in Indianapolis praise You, O God, and give thanks for the life and ministry of Pamela Pauley Chinnis, a gift to the Episcopal Church and to the world.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #116)