wfn.org | Tally to be revealed for presiding

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org]

July 18, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

03-02

Tally to be revealed for presiding bishop

PHILADELPHIA (July 18, 1997)  The tally of votes for the new presiding bishop will be reported in full to the House of Deputies Monday before that house votes to confirm.

Deputies Thursday concurred with the bishops' decision to report "the number of votes cast for each nominee on each ballot."

The vote on Resolution B003 was not unanimous, however. Two dozen or more deputies did not want to know.

Glennes Clifford of the Diocese of Oklahoma said he didn't want to see candidates "politicking" in the House of Deputies and thought that providing information beyond "just the mere results" might create difficulty. "It allows the creation of some doubt as to the strength of the candidates."

During the hearing before the cognate Committees on Structure, one deputy said the complete tally "could cause dissension." He suggested putting results "the next week" in The Living Church, a weekly magazine, but withholding them from deputies at the time of the vote.

When the cognate committees voted, three deputies opposed the move.