With all that General Convention has to
accomplish over the next nine days, both Jefferts Schori and Jennings focused
on The Episcopal Church’s need to cross boundaries into new frontiers, even as
it focuses on its institutional structure and governance. They urged risk
taking, soul searching, courage and openness in the enterprise.
The major work facing General
Convention includes:
The election of the 27th presiding
bishop
The House of Bishops will gather to
elect the next presiding bishop on June 27 at St. Mark’s Cathedral, just down
the street from the convention center. The nominees are:
The Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal,
Diocese of Southern Ohio
The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Diocese of North Carolina
The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, Diocese of Connecticut
The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, Diocese of Southwest Florida
The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Diocese of North Carolina
The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, Diocese of Connecticut
The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, Diocese of Southwest Florida
Today’s joint
session allowed both bishops and deputies to hear from the nominees. The four
bishops spent nearly three hours answering questions and making opening and
closing statements. Each nominee was introduced by way for a short informal
video they each made using a digital device, after which they each had three
minutes to speak to those gathered in person and by webcast. The nominees then
responded to questions from the committee, from bishops, deputies and alternates
to General Convention, and from members of Episcopal Church congregations.
The structure of the church
More than 90 resolutions related to structural reform were submitted to the 2012 General Convention. As a result, the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church was formed and spent two years engaging the breadth of the Episcopal Church in dialogue about structure and its relationship to mission. The task force has proposed nine resolutions to this year’s General Convention that include a call for a unicameral General Convention; a smaller Executive Council; elimination of most of the church’s 14 standing commissions and a process for appointing interim task forces as needed; a study of clergy formation and compensation; a new process for discernment, formation, search, and election of bishops.
More than 90 resolutions related to structural reform were submitted to the 2012 General Convention. As a result, the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church was formed and spent two years engaging the breadth of the Episcopal Church in dialogue about structure and its relationship to mission. The task force has proposed nine resolutions to this year’s General Convention that include a call for a unicameral General Convention; a smaller Executive Council; elimination of most of the church’s 14 standing commissions and a process for appointing interim task forces as needed; a study of clergy formation and compensation; a new process for discernment, formation, search, and election of bishops.
The Episcopal Church’s theology of
marriage
The General Convention Task Force on Marriage, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, and, to date, five dioceses and one deputy are urging convention toward greater clarity in its understanding of the availability of the sacramental rite of marriage to both different- and same-sex couples.
The General Convention Task Force on Marriage, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, and, to date, five dioceses and one deputy are urging convention toward greater clarity in its understanding of the availability of the sacramental rite of marriage to both different- and same-sex couples.
Formulating the 2016-2018 triennial
budget
The Joint Standing Committee on
Program, Budget and Finance has already begun work on draft 2016-2018 budget
that Executive Council passed in January. The total income in council’s draft
budget is $120,470,577 and the total projected expenses are $120,468,248.
Fossil fuels divestment
A discussion on whether The Episcopal Church should move its investments from companies engaged in the extraction of fossil fuels and industries that use large amounts of fossil fuels is expected to continue at convention.
A discussion on whether The Episcopal Church should move its investments from companies engaged in the extraction of fossil fuels and industries that use large amounts of fossil fuels is expected to continue at convention.
International policy, peace and
justice, global mission and the Anglican Communion
Two resolutions will challenge convention to commit to the ongoing support and development of the Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) and Episcopal Volunteers in Mission (EVIM) programs. Peace, justice and security in the Holy Land are the focus of several resolutions, some calling for deeper investment in Middle East partnerships, especially with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its social institutions in healthcare and education, and others suggesting a strategy of divestment from companies involved in certain kinds of business with the Israeli government.
Two resolutions will challenge convention to commit to the ongoing support and development of the Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) and Episcopal Volunteers in Mission (EVIM) programs. Peace, justice and security in the Holy Land are the focus of several resolutions, some calling for deeper investment in Middle East partnerships, especially with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its social institutions in healthcare and education, and others suggesting a strategy of divestment from companies involved in certain kinds of business with the Israeli government.
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