Invariably, if it's a General Convention year, there is at least one resolution floating about which seeks to reform the church's triennial gathering. This time there is legislation from the Diocese of Colorado which asks the church to make some major changes in the convention. The Colorado proposal, adopted by its diocesan convention last October, seeks changes in four areas. It seeks use of the most current technologies in all voting, balloting and reporting procedures, it recommends that convention meet every five years instead of three, it would reduce membership of the House of Deputies from four per diocese per order (clergy and lay) to three, and it would limit the length of convention, not to exceed six days.

Longtime readers of TLC will recognize that we have proposed most of these changes - some repeatedly. We have long felt that General Convention as it is now constituted is too unwieldy, too expensive and often too laborious.

The recommendation to use up-to-date technologies is badly needed. Electronic voting and balloting could save considerable time and could provide results almost instantaneously.

The proposal to meet every five years instead of every three years has some merit. It would enable diocesan conventions, provincial synods and individuals additional time to study issues before going to General Convention, and could accomplish the Presiding Bishop's desire to have more conversation within the church.

The third part of the resolution would reduce the size of the diocesan deputations from four to three in each order. This is the most sensible element of the Colorado proposal but has probably the least chance of being accepted. One less deputy in each order would save money and would avoid divided deputations on votes by orders, which are recorded as "no" votes. Some dioceses already send fewer than eight deputies in order to reduce costs. This issue has come before the last seven or eight General Conventions and always is defeated. Deputies simply do not want to reduce their number. It will lose again.

Finally, the idea of limiting convention to six days is appealing. If convention were held every five years and if some business were relegated to the provincial level, the resolution might have some support. A six-day convention would enable more lay persons to serve as deputies and might give younger persons a better chance to participate. Convention would have to be greatly streamlined to fit into a six-day format, but it would avoid the weariness often felt by deputies who, with committee meetings and other assignments, are at the convention site for two weeks.

The deputies of the Diocese of Colorado have done the rest of the church a favor by bringing this resolution to our attention. Unfortunately, it has little chance of being adopted, and may not even reach the convention floor.