wfn.org | Episcopal General Convention finds new ways to deal

[Daphne Mack <dmack@dfms.org>]

For more information:

Episcopal News Service
James Solheim
jsolheim@dfms.org
212/922-5385
http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens

GC2000-084

General Convention in Denver finds new ways to deal with 
difficult issues

by James Solheim

     (ENS-DENVER) As bishops and deputies gathered in Denver for 
the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church, there was a 
sense of expectation mixed with a simmering hope that they could 
find a way to deal honestly with difficult issues and still 
maintain the unity of the church.

     Over the 10 days of convention (July 5-14), their patience 
and determination was tested, especially on sexuality issues, but 
also on implementation of a canon opening all orders of ministry 
to women in all dioceses of the church. And yet as the 
convention's theme of "Jubilee" seemed to permeate all aspects of 
the gathering, it appeared as though Episcopalians might have 
found a more positive way to deal with their differences.

     As if they needed a reminder that sexuality was still the 
thorniest issue they would face, bishops and deputies were 
welcomed to the Colorado Convention Center on July 13 with a 
demonstration by Soulforce, an ecumenical, gay rights 
organization that had demonstrated at Presbyterian and Methodist 
conventions earlier in the summer.

     But legislative committees and open hearings, not 
demonstrations, dominated the first few days of the convention, 
as committees of both houses sifted through almost 200 pre-filed 
resolutions and another 50 filed during the first two days. 
Cognate committees have been a crucial component in the 
legislative process for the last few General Conventions, and 
seemed to be especially effective in Denver.

     Most attention was focused on Special Committee 25, 
appointed by the presidents of the two houses to deal with all 
sexuality resolutions. The committee's open hearings, co-chaired 
by Bishop Arthur Williams of Ohio and lay deputy Rebecca Snow of 
Alaska, were heavily attended and filled with passionate 
conversation.

A middle way

     It was clear from the beginning that there was considerable 
sympathy among the bishops and deputies in the search for a 
"middle way," a more effective and less confrontational way to 
deal with the issues.

     Pamela Chinnis, finishing her term as president of the House 
of Deputies, said in her last opening address from the chair that 
Jubilee was a time for "stillness" but also a time of action.

     Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold wasted no time in 
reminding the convention that many diverse understandings of 
sexuality were apparent in the church. And he said that the 
Special Committee was not attempting to manipulate the agenda but 
rather looking for the "best way forward." He expressed a hope 
that the church would remember, in all its deliberations and 
decisions, but especially in recognizing one another's struggles, 
that they were part of the much larger community of the worldwide 
Anglican Communion.

      "The middle ground is where the energy is going to be," 
predicted Herb Gunn, a lay deputy from Michigan who served as one 
of the briefing officers for the press. Others agreed, if 
somewhat cautiously, that early signs indicated a different tone 
from previous conventions.

     Bishop Clifton Daniel of East Carolina, also a briefing 
officer, said that the bishops had worked hard over the last few 
years "to learn effective ways of working together." He added 
that "compared with previous conventions, I have approached this 
one with eagerness and confidence."

Signs of vitality

     Bishop Catherine Roskam of New York, another briefing 
officer, added that it would be unrealistic not to expect some 
intense politicking but that it was a sign of the church's 
vitality.

     In what some regarded as an early sign of a more 
conciliatory climate, the House of Deputies in one of its 
earliest actions rejected a resolution that would have brought 
sanctions against those dioceses that do not pay their "fair 
share" in support of the national church and its programs. Some 
deputies said that the sanctions would be too political.

     But Committee 25's first resolution, which called for a 
pastoral teaching and study guide on the "sin of heterosexism" as 
well as continued dialogue on human sexuality, seemed an early 
test of Griswold's hope that the convention would move away from 
confrontation. After several amendments, the deputies agreed to 
the continuing dialogue but rejected a study of heterosexism.

Church embarks on "20/20" evangelism

     "Whatever happened to the 'Decade of Evangelism?" seemed to 
be the question on many deputies' minds in the debate over 
concurrence with the House of Bishops evangelism resolution. The 
resolution calls for the Episcopal Church to double its baptized 
membership by 2020. Objections were raised to a numerical goal, 
but other deputies argued that the lack of such a goal was what 
"doomed" the Decade, which began with great fanfare in 1990 and 
actually saw a decline in the number of Episcopalians for most of 
its ten-year span.

     Still other deputies worried that concentrating on numbers 
would miss the point of evangelism with Gen-Xers and following 
generations. The point, they reminded the house, is relationship, 
not membership. 

     "It's not just about inviting one person to church. It's 
about what happens after that," warned the Rev. Michael Kinman  
of Missouri. "It's about saying that our church is, yes, a great 
gift to share, but that an equal gift is the Gospel that people 
who are not yet in it can offer to us. It is the difficult but 
rewarding work of letting the Spirit shape and change us in 
unexpected and painful ways."

     To make certain that vision is implemented, Executive 
Council is directed to establish a "20/20" task force whose goals 
include "recruiting, educating and training evangelists and 
church planters who were born after 1964 and/or are people of 
color," and training leaders in second-language skills and cross-
cultural sensitivity. The task force has a year to report back to 
Executive Council.

     Mindful that nothing gets done in the church without money, 
another component of the plan is the establishment of the 
"Alleluia Fund: Build my Church," a new initiative to provide 
funding for new church planting and revitalization of existing 
congregations. Money for the Alleluia Fund will be gathered 
during Easter 2002 and presented on the Day of Pentecost 2002, a 
process to be continued for the next 10 years.

     A "census" of church membership will be conducted by 
Executive Council with a target date of January 1, 2005. Another 
survey, by the Standing Commission on Ministry Development, will 
be completed with an eye toward more closely defining 
statistically who is and who isn't a "confirmed" Episcopalian. 
Evangelism efforts are also to be extended to singles and 
children.

Excitement over full communion

     Excitement over the proposal for full communion with the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was building as a 
decision for the new relationship loomed on the agenda.

     Griswold, who before convention opened had dedicated a 
Habitat for Humanity house built in Denver by Lutherans and 
Episcopalians, shared his own hopefulness at an opening press 
conference.

     He said that the proposal, "Called to Common Mission (CCM)," 
was one that "invites us to yield some of our sense of ourselves 
and the uniqueness of our tradition, both by sharing some of 
ourselves and by making some adjustments in our tradition for the 
sake of unity."

     The House of Bishops addressed the proposal in a special 
order of business on July 7. Despite some lingering differences 
on how each church orders its ministry, there were few serious 
objections among the bishops and it passed easily, with only 19 
hands raised in opposition.

     There was even less opposition among deputies, who lined up 
at the microphones to describe the growing relationship with the 
Lutherans. "It is not marriage or a merger of our two churches," 
said the Rev. Donald Brown, chair of the house committee on 
ecumenical relations. "Each church will retain its own 
liturgical, theological and organizational uniqueness and 
integrity." The final vote in favor was overwhelming.

     In response, the Rev. Lowell Almen, secretary of the ELCA, 
told the house that "God has opened a magnificent door before 
us." Based on the experience of full communion between Lutherans 
and three Reformed churches, "wonderful surprises await us," he 
said.

Exchange of chalices

     At a news conference following the historic vote, Almen read 
a greeting from ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson who 
said, "Adoption of CCM shows the world a new way to be one in 
Christ. Helping the world to believe must always be our priority 
as we work out our new life together."

     Anderson joined Griswold for a morning Eucharist later in 
the convention where they exchanged chalices as a symbol of the 
new relationship. Griswold said that adoption of CCM was "an 
invitation to open our borders. Only time will determine how CCM 
will transform the life and witness of the churches." 

     Anderson said that the agreement is also a gift to the rest 
of the Christian community, one that reinforces hope for 
"reconciliation and mutuality." Both he and Griswold agreed that 
it would have far-reaching implications for the whole ecumenical 
movement, in this country and many other parts of the world.

     A liturgy on January 6 at Washington National Cathedral will 
officially inaugurate CCM.

New common ground found on sexuality

     Halfway through the convention, the Committee 25 discharged 
all other resolutions dealing with sexuality, except for an 
eight-part resolution affirming traditional marriage while 
calling for a liturgical rite to support "relationships of 
mutuality and fidelity other than marriage." The resolution said 
that the church expects all lifelong, committed relationships to 
be characterized by "fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and 
respect, careful honest communication and holy love." 

     The committee was unanimous on the first seven resolves but 
split on the eighth resolve's call for a rite, which presaged the 
resolve's similarly mixed reception in both houses. The 
resolution intentionally did not refer to blessing same-sex 
unions.

     The debate in the House of Deputies on the resolution was 
regarded as so important that the bishops suspended business so 
that they could listen from the gallery.

     After an emotional exchange, in which many deputies argued 
that an affirmative vote would threaten the unity of the church, 
the House of Deputies voted by orders. Clergy approved the call 
for a liturgical rite by one vote, but the laity rejected it by 
two votes. The house, however, easily endorsed the first seven 
resolves.

     Reaction after the vote seemed to center on whether the 
church was ready to move toward blessing same-sex relationships. 
Even many of those who favor such a move seemed to agree that the 
time is not right.

Bishops agree with deputies

     When the amended resolution went to the House of Bishops it 
provoked an even more heated debate, especially when Bishop Clark 
Grew of Ohio offered an amendment that would restore the call for 
a liturgical rite to bless faithful relationships outside of 
traditional marriage. It failed by a vote of 85 to63 but not 
until it had been subjected to a vigorous and occasionally 
acrimonious debate.

     Opponents warned of serious damage to the church while 
advocates said that the step was largely a question of justice. 
Others warned of the impact in the rest of the Anglican 
Communion. In the end the bishops voted overwhelmingly, 119 yes 
to 19 no with four abstentions, to concur with the House of 
Deputies on the first seven resolves. A "mind of the house" 
resolution committed the church to form a committee to continue 
the study of human sexuality.

     Later the bishops also concurred with the deputies on a 
resolution that encourages the Boy Scouts of America to allow 
adult leaders to serve regardless of their sexual orientation.

Women's ordination issue

     In the closing days of the convention deputies and bishops 
tackled an issue almost as emotionally charged as the sexuality 
issue--implementation of the 1976 canon opening the ordination 
process to women in all dioceses.

     Despite threats of a walk-out, the deputies voted 
overwhelmingly to press for implementation in the three dioceses 
that have not yet fully complied with the canon. While noting 
some progress in San Joaquin and a "lack of progress" in Ft. 
Worth and Quincy, the resolution calls for a task force to visit 
the dioceses and monitor progress.

     In terse debate some deputies deplored what they called a 
"new spirit of legalism," but others argued, 24 years after the 
canon was passed, that "the time has come." Deputies from the 
three dioceses pleaded for tolerance, pointing out that the tone 
of the resolution violated the spirit of Jubilee.

     The debate was even more difficult in the House of Bishops 
but, after two grueling hours, the bishops concurred with the 
deputies on the resolution seeking implementation of the canon. 
The task force will "visit, interview, assess and assist" the 
dioceses in their efforts, making semi-annual reports to meet a 
September 1, 2002 deadline for compliance.

     A substitute motion by Bishop John Lipscomb of Southwest 
Florida, calling for a less adversarial approach under the 
direction of the presiding bishop, drew strong support across 
theological boundaries, including several women bishops. It was 
defeated narrowly, but later passed as a "mind of the house 
resolution."

What kind of convention?

     At a closing press conference, Griswold said that the 
highlight of the convention for him was not the legislative 
jostling but the gathering around tables each day for Eucharist--
and especially the Jubilee Eucharist.

     Many deputies and bishops agreed, a number of them citing 
the decision of the presiding bishop to preach each morning as a 
powerful, unifying force for the convention.

      "I realize that we are here, yes, to do legislation, yes, 
to make decisions. But we were also here primarily as persons of 
deep, deep and palpable faith. And that dimension of who we are 
was writ largely in the context of that Jubilee day," Griswold 
said. He also lauded the quality and respectfulness of the 
debates, especially the one over recognizing committed 
relationships outside of marriage. "I think we are learning what 
it really means to be a church that can contain tension and 
difference in a graceful way, and recognize Christ in one 
another."

     Chinnis, who yielded her office on the final day, said that 
this convention was "the most irenic" she had experienced, going 
back to the 1976 convention. The exchange of chalices by the 
Lutheran and Episcopal presiding bishops was a particular 
highlight, she said.

     Despite initial criticism, Chinnis said the decision that 
she and Griswold made to appoint the Special Committee 25 to deal 
with sexuality resolutions had clearly turned out to be "grace-
filled."

     As a symbol of transition, the Rev. George Werner, new 
president of the House of Deputies, joined the press conference.

     Having survived her first General Convention, the Rev. 
Rosemari Sullivan, who served as Executive Officer of convention, 
was clearly relieved that the gathering had gone as well as it 
did. She added that the Jubilee recess early in the process, 
while somewhat risky, also did a great deal to build trust and 
acceptance.

     Chinnis said she is convinced that "communication and 
understanding will lead both to greater efficiency in our 
legislative work and to greater likelihood that our collective 
discernment will be shaped by the Holy Spirit rather than by our 
own limited and often fearful agendas." Bishop Catherine Roskam 
offered a similar sentiment in an earlier press briefing: "We may 
not be of one mind but we are of one heart."

     Bishops and deputies will have a new opportunity to test 
that theory--at Minneapolis in 2003.

--based on reports by the General Convention news team--James 
Thrall, David Skidmore, Genie Carr, Joe Thoma and Jan Nunley.