General Convention considers a record
number of resolutions
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| Southern VA deputies with Bishop Hollerith |
By the time General Convention adjourns
on July 13, it will have considered 516 resolutions. On July 11, both the House
of Bishops and the House of Deputies, worked into the night to deal with the
abundance of legislation, not adjourning until 9:30 p.m.
Marriage rites resolution amended by bishops, heads back to House of Deputies
On July 11, the House of Bishops approved – with “technical amendment” – resolution B012, which gives all Episcopalians the ability to be married by their priests in their home churches.
The House of Deputies had overwhelmingly approved B012 on July 9, but now will consider the amended version being sent to them by the House of Bishops.
The slight amendment doesn’t make any real changes to the purpose of the resolution, it merely ensures that nothing in the resolution is in conflict with the provisions of the ministry canons of the church regarding the authority of the rector or priest in charge of a congregation.
B012, a compromise resolution, aims to give bishops who will not authorize same-sex marriage rites to feel fully a part of the church and, at the same time, end what Bishop Bill Franklin of Western NY called the “separate but equal” status that LGBTQ Episcopalians have been consigned.
General Convention approved $134 million triennial budget
On July 12, both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies approved the $134 million 2019-2021 budget presented to them July 11.
The budget as approved allocates funding on the church’s three priorities – the “three pillars” of the Episcopal Church’s Jesus Movement in this way:
Marriage rites resolution amended by bishops, heads back to House of Deputies
On July 11, the House of Bishops approved – with “technical amendment” – resolution B012, which gives all Episcopalians the ability to be married by their priests in their home churches.
The House of Deputies had overwhelmingly approved B012 on July 9, but now will consider the amended version being sent to them by the House of Bishops.
The slight amendment doesn’t make any real changes to the purpose of the resolution, it merely ensures that nothing in the resolution is in conflict with the provisions of the ministry canons of the church regarding the authority of the rector or priest in charge of a congregation.
B012, a compromise resolution, aims to give bishops who will not authorize same-sex marriage rites to feel fully a part of the church and, at the same time, end what Bishop Bill Franklin of Western NY called the “separate but equal” status that LGBTQ Episcopalians have been consigned.
General Convention approved $134 million triennial budget
On July 12, both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies approved the $134 million 2019-2021 budget presented to them July 11.
The budget as approved allocates funding on the church’s three priorities – the “three pillars” of the Episcopal Church’s Jesus Movement in this way:
- Nearly $10.4 million on racial reconciliation work
- $5.2 million on evangelism
- $1 million on care of creation
The 80th General Convention to be held in Baltimore, MD
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| Episcopal News Service Photo |
The 80th General Convention,
2021, will be held in Baltimore, MD. Bishop Andrew Doyle of Texas passed the
“Olympic torch” to Bishop Eugene Sutton of Maryland in recognition of the
announcement.
