wfn.org | Proposal requiring lay leaders to o

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org]

July 16, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

ENSGC-01-03/Dep - Canons

Proposal requiring lay leaders to obey church laws referred for study

By Jan Nunley

PHILADELPHIA (JULY 16, 1997) - An attempt to require lay leaders as well as 
clergy to follow the Episcopal Church's laws was stalled when it was 
referred by the House of Deputies to an interim body for study.
	
A resolution (C018) proposed by the Diocese of Newark would have amended 
Canon I.17 to obligate "every person who exercises a ministry as a leader 
and trustee in this church" to "obey and implement the canon law of this 
church." 
	
The church's Constitution and Canons do not currently require laity serving 
in leadership positions to abide by its regulations. 
	
Deputy Charles Crump of the Diocese of West Tennessee supported referring 
the resolution to the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons, as 
recommended by the deputies' Legislative Committee on Canons. Crump said the 
proposed change was hampered by "the lack of means to implement it with 
regard to lay people." 
	
For instance, Crump said the resolution would have required lay members of 
Commissions on Ministry or Standing Committees not to discriminate against 
female candidates for ordination, but provided no means of ensuring that 
they do so.
	
The deputies also rejected a proposal limiting the number of resolutions and 
endorsements that can be proposed by any one deputy. 

Other actions
	
In other action, deputies adopted resolutions:
	
* continuing funding for the Commission on HIV/AIDS for the next three years 
(A045);
	
* continuing funding for a project to provide education for musicians who 
serve small Episcopal congregations (A099);
	
* providing training and trainers for Hispanic congregations in stewardship 
(A143);  

* granting seat and voice to provincial youth representatives (D027); 

* accepting greetings from the Diocese of Cuba (D023); 

* approving a $1.1 million budget supporting the archives of the Episcopal 
Church (A011); 

* charging dioceses and provinces to support outreach ministries to migrant 
and seasonal farm workers (A129);

* and continuing funding of Executive Council's Committee on Justice, Peace 
and the Integrity of Creation (A036).
	
The bishops must now consider the resolutions. They may amend, substitute, 
refer or concur with the deputies' decision. The resolutions become 
effective only when both houses concur. 

- The Rev. Jan Nunley is communications officer for the Diocese of Rhode 
Island.