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James Solheim
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http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens

2000-085

General Convention meets in July to chart course of the church 
for next three years

by James Solheim

     (ENS) In what is clearly one of the most defining moments in 
the life of the church, every three years representatives from 
all dioceses of the Episcopal Church gather for 10 days to chart 
the future of the church for the next three years.

     The General Convention is the highest authority in the 
church, but it is also a cross between a political convention and 
a family picnic, at least as diverse and complicated as the 
church itself. It can be messy and factional, petty and profound, 
often deeply inspirational. Even fun.

     The convention parallels in many ways the life of the 
nation, going back to 1785 when the United States and the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA were shaping the 
institutions that would guide them in the future. When the church 
first met in convention, it adopted a bi-cameral system 
comprising a House of Deputies, half clergy and half laity 
representing the dioceses, and a House of Bishops, including 
active and retired bishops of the church.

     When the General Convention is called into session in 
Denver, Colorado, on the morning of July 5 it will be the 73rd 
time--and the first in the new century. According to some church 
leaders, this convention could be different, less contentious and 
more healing than others in the recent past.

Lean and focused

     For one thing, the list of resolutions is much more 
manageable. According to the Rev. Rosemari Sullivan, executive 
officer of the General Convention, a total of 186 resolutions 
have been pre-filed. That number could change since resolutions 
can also be filed during the first two days of convention.

     The past two conventions averaged over 400 resolutions and 
the convention in Phoenix in 1991 went well over 600, burning out 
copying machines and creating a legislative gridlock. 

     Clearly relieved that she doesn't face that possibility, 
Sullivan said, "This will give us an opportunity to consider in 
depth all the important matters that will come before the 
convention." She is also convinced that it could be an example of 
"how the church has learned to focus its energy on the major 
issues."

     And for the first time, voting in the House of Deputies will 
be electronic. Well at least "quasi-electronic," because of the 
occasional need to vote by lay and clergy orders. Each deputy 
will have a keypad and, on routine votes, can push either red or 
yellow buttons. The results will then be announced and projected 
on a large screen, with numbers and a bar graph. The new plan 
will "save lots of trees and copying," Sullivan said. 	

     The Blue Book, all 509 pages, was mailed to all bishops and 
deputies in April. It is a road map to General Convention, with 
all the reports from the committees and commissions of the church 
that have been responsible for the church's business between 
General Conventions. For the first time it is now available on a 
CD-ROM, thanks to Church Publishing Company, which publishes the 
print edition.

Familiar issues

     The list of issues has remained quite consistent in recent 
years, covering an incredibly broad range of concerns.

     Sexuality issues have been on the agenda for over 25 years 
and will certainly be part of this General Convention, although 
there seem to be fewer "landmines" than in the past.

     Speculation that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and 
Music might move the church further toward a liturgical rite for 
blessing same-sex relationships was unfounded. In response to a 
resolution from the 1997 Philadelphia General Convention asking 
the commission to "continue its study of theological aspects of 
committed relationships of same-sex couples," and to include 
recommendations of "future steps for resolution of issues related 
to such committed relationships," the commission report sketched 
the different perspectives on the issue.

     Pointing out how deeply divided the church is on the issue, 
the commission urged the church at all levels to "facilitate 
genuine and respectful encounter between heterosexual and 
homosexual parishioners" and concluded that each diocese should 
determine the resolution of the issues, including ordination of 
non-celibate gays and lesbians and the blessing of same-sex 
relationships. In the meantime, resolutions will continue to 
press for a liturgical rite for blessings.

     Bishop Charles Bennison of Pennsylvania has filed a 
resolution calling on the House of Bishops to prepare a "pastoral 
teaching and accompanying study guide on the sin of heterosexism 
as a systemic form of injustice in which heterosexual persons are 
benefited economically, societally, as well as in other respects, 
at the expense of homosexual persons." 	

     The Commission on Anglican and International Peace with 
Justice Concerns commended efforts to "listen to the experience 
of homosexual people," as urged in a resolution of the 1998 
Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican bishops. It asks 
General Convention to "establish a formal process for parishes to 
identify themselves as 'safe spaces' for lesbians and gays to 
tell their stories and be heard with love and care." It also 
calls on the presiding bishop's staff to seek similar spaces in 
the rest of the Anglican Communion.

Unfinished ecumenical agenda

     The convention is expected to act early and positively on 
the revised proposal for full communion with the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). At the 1997 Philadelphia 
convention the Episcopal Church overwhelmingly approved a 
Concordat of Agreement but it fell a few votes short of the 
required two-thirds at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly a few weeks 
later. So the Lutherans, with participation of Episcopal 
representatives, rewrote the document. The convention will now 
vote on "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a 
Revision of the Concordat of Agreement."

     In a parallel action, the convention will vote for the 
second time on a temporary suspension of the 17th century 
restriction that "no persons are allowed to exercise the offices 
of bishop, priest or deacon" unless they have been ordained by a 
bishop in historic succession.  By suspending the preface to the 
ordinal it will allow both churches to exchange clergy. CCM also 
calls for Lutherans to adopt the historic episcopate, a provision 
that has provoked some strong opposition among Lutherans who 
regard this as an innovation that is not necessary for church 
unity. They also oppose a CCM provision that requires Lutheran 
bishops to ordain all clergy.

     The Lutheran bishops and the Episcopal bishops have each 
issued clarifications of their understanding of CCM in the wake 
of attempts by some opponents to change its provisions, 
especially on the role of bishops and the ordination of clergy.

Future of provinces on the table

     After several conventions dealing with the structure of the 
church, a proposal to radically revise the province structure 
(dioceses of the church are divided into nine regional provinces) 
has drawn significant debate. The Standing Commission on 
Structure said in its Blue Book report that the church should 
discontinue the existing system of provinces, although it 
suggests that the resolution is an attempt to give the convention 
an opportunity to express its will.

     On the other hand, a resolution that emerged from a recent 
meeting of the Provincial Leadership Conference, which represents 
presidents and vice presidents of provinces and their 
coordinators as well as national staff, takes another approach. A 
resolution filed with the House of Bishops "reaffirms the current 
system" and urges provinces to "utilize and broaden existing 
networks and resources to strengthen and expand their capacity to 
facilitate, coordinate and support their mission and ministry 
initiative." The resolution argues that the provinces can be 
"ties that bind" together several aspects of the church's common 
life.

     As in the past, several resolutions attempt to reshape the 
way the church does business through the General Convention. The 
Diocese of Colorado, for example, has filed resolutions calling 
for conventions every five years, a decrease in size of 
delegations to the House of Deputies from four in each order to 
three, and a limit of six legislative days for convention.

     The convention must also act on the proposed budget of 
$136,444,000 for the next triennium, a budget that reflects the 
priorities of the church and yet has more flexibility than in the 
past, according to Treasurer Steve Duggan, so that it will be 
vision driven rather than issue driven.

      Conversations around Jubilee theme

     As the host diocese, Colorado is planning what Bishop Jerry 
Winterrowd described in a letter to bishops and deputies as "a 
festive and entertaining event on the theme of 'How the West was 
Fun.'" The event, to be held July 12 in Currigan Hall near the 
convention center, will feature a special performance of the 
singing group, "Up with People."

     Although not a part of the convention, a national youth 
event will be held in nearby Boulder at the same time as the 
convention. Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff who grew up in the Episcopal Church, said that he 
was "looking forward to sharing my story and learning about the 
faith of others, too." He will meet with participants on the 
concluding day of the July 7-12 event on the University of 
Colorado campus.

     "I know from my own experience of last summer's Episcopal 
Youth Event that gatherings of young people can provide a 
valuable opportunity to reflect with their peers on their life in 
Christ and strengthen their sense of being members of Christ's 
risen body," said Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.

     In keeping with the Jubilee theme, drawing on the vision in 
Leviticus emphasizing forgiveness and reconciliation, on the 
first evening the convention participants will divide into five 
conversation groups:

     *The end-of-life task force has planned a conversation on 
"God, Death and Decisions Near the End of Life," featuring Dame 
Cicely Saunders of England, founder of the Hospice Movement. 
Panelists will include Cynthia Cohen of the Kennedy Institute of 
Ethics at Georgetown University, Bruce Jennings of the Hastings 
Center in New York, David Smith of the Poynter Institute for the 
Study of Ethics and American Institutions in Indiana, and Prof. 
Timothy Sedgwick of Virginia Theological Seminary.

          *A conversation moderated by the Rev. Titus Presler of 
Boston on "mission in a hurting world" will feature Bishop Leo 
Frade of Honduras, Prof. Kwok Pui-lan of Episcopal Divinity 
School in Massachusetts, the Rev. Marc Nikkel, missionary in the 
Sudan, Edwina Thomas of Virginia who is national director, USA of 
Sharing Our Mission Abroad, and Bishop Henry Orombi of Uganda.

          *A conversation on racism will be led by the Rev. 
Sheryl Kujawa of Episcopal Divinity School in Massachusetts and 
the Rev. Ed Rodman, canon missioner of the Diocese of 
Massachusetts. It was added to the schedule in the wake of the 
controversy with the Adam's Mark chain of hotels and allegations 
of a pattern of racial discrimination. The Executive Council 
decided not to use the Denver hotel as convention headquarters. 
The hotel has since agreed to a settlement.

          *A conversation on the church's role in confronting 
violence, moderated by the Hon. Byron Rushing, a state legislator 
in Massachusetts. Among participants: Owanah Anderson, former 
director of Native American Ministries, discussing racial and 
ethnic violence; Tessie Adams of Massachusetts on spousal abuse 
and stalking; Joseph King from Chicago, who will share a personal 
story on violence against youth in urban society; and a 
participant not yet announced who will discuss violence against 
gays and lesbians.

          *A conversation is also being planned by the church's 
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, moderated by the Rev. 
Bruce Jenneker of Boston, who chairs the commission.

     On the following morning, the convention will suspend its 
business, gather in the morning for a Liturgy of the Word, then 
move to tables for conversation, and return to the worship space 
for the Liturgy of the Table. "The morning is essentially an 
opportunity for the convention to set itself free from the usual 
pattern of business," said Rosemari Sullivan. She described it as 
a "mini retreat," a time of prayer, reflection and quiet 
conversation.

National and international issues

     "Once again the General Convention will address a wide range 
of resolutions dealing with public policy and social justice," 
said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director of peace and justice 
ministries for the Episcopal Church.

     The Standing Commission on National Concerns dealt with end-
of-life issues but is also introducing a resolution that calls on 
the church to reaffirm its opposition to capital punishment and 
"calls on the dioceses and members of this church to work 
actively to abolish the death penalty in their states…." And it 
calls for "an immediate moratorium on the use of capital 
punishment." Another resolution commends educational materials on 
violence produced by the Quakers.

     The Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace 
with Justice Concerns dealt with the ethical and theological 
implications of globalization, calling on the church to adopt 
guidelines that draw on partnership, respect, empowerment and 
people-centered development. 

     Other resolutions urge the U.S. to "increase aid and private 
investment in South Africa specifically targeted to improve the 
education system and other programs to lift the poor out of their 
poverty," and another that commends the Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission, and its chair Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for setting "a 
splendid example of Christian principle at its best in forgoing 
revenge and forgiving the perpetrators of injustice under 
apartheid who have been willing to confess their deeds." Another 
calls on the U.S. government to "apologize to the people of South 
Africa for our long complicity in supporting the apartheid 
government and our long delay in instituting economic sanctions 
to support the democratic movement."

     Another resolution calls on the Executive Council to 
"establish an Episcopal Youth Corps to engage in servant ministry 
throughout the Anglican Communion."

Continuing fight against racism

     Among the resolutions emerging from the Executive Council is 
one that calls on the church to commit itself to address racism 
for the next nine years "in order that we become a church 
committed to ending institutional and other forms of racism 
within our polity, within our society, and throughout the world." 
And it calls for racism training for staff, lay and clergy 
leaders and all members of committees and commissions.

     The council has also been monitoring implementation of the 
canons mandating an open process in all dioceses for the 
ordination of women. The resolution calls for encouraging the 
Dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy to honor the canons by 
"bringing women into the full life and ministry of the church," 
with a report on progress by the fall of 2002, in time for the 
next General Convention.

     The Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism 
is proposing a number of ways to build church membership through 
a "domestic mission imperative." A resolution calls for the 
church to adopt "20/20: A Clear Vision," an effort to double the 
church's baptized membership by the year 2020 through creative 
strategies of evangelism, recruiting and equipping innovative 
leaders and strengthening congregational life. The effort calls 
on the Executive Council to "invest in diocesan and 
congregational mission and evangelism with 10 percent of the 
aggregate income of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society 
derived from diocesan support and investment income…to be 
dispersed equally to the provinces."

     Another resolution calls for the creation of "The Alleluia 
Fund--Build My Church," which is described as "a new initiative 
in planning, giving and spiritual transformation throughout the 
dioceses of the Episcopal Church, centered in the Easter season." 
A resolution sets aside funds to recruit and train evangelists 
and church planters who were born after 1964. And another calls 
for a demographic census of the entire church to be conducted by 
2005.

A new kind of convention?

     Efforts to shape a different kind of convention, one that is 
able to conduct the church's business in a respectful environment 
and yet provide an inspiring and educational component, are 
picking up steam. Sullivan says that conventions in the future 
could be "more like a council of wisdom than a political 
convention."

     And yet some church leaders are worried that efforts to 
reshape General Convention could increase tension between the two 
houses. Speaking to the Executive Council at its recent meeting, 
Griswold said that he deplored efforts to create a sense of 
division between the two houses of General Convention. The 
bishops are looking for ways to be a "positive and helpful 
presence," he said, as they urge the church to ground its 
decisions in the mysteries of faith.

     Pamela Chinnis, president of the House of Deputies, welcomes 
the partnership with the House of Bishops as long as it does not 
include an effort to avoid the importance of making decisions 
that chart the course for the church. Unless handled carefully, 
an attempt by the bishops to exercise their pastoral and teaching 
role could provoke resentment among the deputies and set back a 
relationship that has "improved substantially" in recent years.

     After several conventions marked by rancor and confusion, 
the church seems ready to explore some new avenues to be a 
community of moral discourse together.

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of 
News and Information.

     Please note that the schedule for General Convention is 
available on the church's website at: 
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/governance/general-
convention/2000GenConv/2000Schd.html