wfn.org | [ENS] Bishops approve procedure for Robinson consent

["Mika Larson" <mini_mika@earthlink.net>]

July 31, 2003

Bishops approve procedure for Robinson consent

by David Skidmore

[ENS] In their first session of convention, the House of Bishops today
welcomed new and visiting bishops, and approved procedures for
considering the consent to 10 potential new bishops, including the Rev.
Gene Robinson, bishop-elect of New Hampshire.

Toward the end of the opening session, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold
asked that bishops approve procedures for the consent vote by written
ballot for all 10 bishops-elect whose elections occurred within the
120-day window mandating confirmation by the General Convention.
Following recommendations from his Council of Advice, Griswold also
asked for adoption of a special order of business on the consent to
Canon Gene Robinson's election. After a short discussion on procedures
for discussion and voting, the bishops unanimously endorsed the
proposal.

Acknowledging the controversy and public interest surrounding Robinson's
election, Griswold said he was recommending that discussion be limited
to a half-hour of table conversation and an hour of conversation as a
committee of the whole, after which the ballots will be distributed to
each table. Only bishops with jurisdiction, meaning in nearly all cases
bishops with oversight of a diocese (an exception is the presiding
bishop who has jurisdiction of the Convocation of American Churches in
Europe) will be allowed to vote. Bishops will be allowed up to an hour
to complete their ballots. 

The presiding bishop emphasized that the consent process is independent
of the house's regular business and thus is not open to resolutions and
amendments. "There can be discussion, but the decision is [made by]
bishops of jurisdiction marking their ballot," said Griswold.

Although only bishops with jurisdiction may vote, the discussion will be
open to all members of the house, he said. 

Moving into executive session-an option raised by Bishop William
Winterowd of Colorado-does not seem appropriate given the intense
interest surrounding Robinson's election, said Griswold, noting that the
house has time for private table conversations each session. Given the
heightened interest, "there will be a great deal of frustration, to say
the least, if the public were excluded from hearing the conversation,"
said the presiding bishop. 

After each consent vote is taken, including that for Robinson, the vote
count will be announced by the house's secretary. Later a record of each
bishop's vote will be made available, said Griswold. 

Responding to a question from Bishop John Howe of Central Florida, the
presiding bishop said only one bishop had sent in an absentee ballot and
it is now under seal in the office of the secretariat. All bishops with
jurisdiction were advised a week before convention of the option for
submitting absentee ballots if they were not able to be present for
convention and were given a deadline of July 28 to submit their ballots.

The short session-which the presiding bishop brought to order by
striking a Zen chime, explaining "I thought its sound more charming than
the rap of a gavel"-was taken up entirely with routine matters of
ordering their business, welcoming new and visiting bishops and honoring
bishops who have died since the house's last session. One newly elected
bishop of the Episcopal Church was officially welcomed: Alan Scarfe of
Iowa. Scarfe was elected last November and ordained and consecrated
bishop of Iowa April 5.

More than two dozen Anglican bishops, a number of whom head dioceses
that were formerly in the Episcopal Church, were welcomed as visitors,
including six primates: George Clive Handford of the Episcopal Church in
Jerusalem and the Middle East; Njongonkulu Ndungane of the Province of
Southern Africa; Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo of the Province of Uganda;
Glauco Soares de Lima of the Church of Brazil; Martiniano Garcia-Montiel
of the Anglican Church of Mexico; and Ignacio Capuyan Soliba of the
Anglican Church in the Philippines.

The presiding bishop closed the session asking prayers for Bishop Leo
Alard, suffragan bishop of Texas, who has been placed in intensive care
suffering from liver disease. His physicians have determined his
condition precludes a liver transplant, said the presiding bishop.
Alard, who suffered a heart attack earlier this year, has announced his
resignation due to his health.

-- David Skidmore is Director of Communications for the Diocese of
Chicago, and a volunteer reporter for ENS General Convention news
coverage.