House of Deputies Special Committee on Sexual Harassment and Exploitation appointed

House of Deputies President Gay Clark Jennings has appointed a House of Deputies special committee to draft legislation on sexual harassment and exploitation for this summer’s General Convention.

"In January, Presiding Bishop Curry and I called the church to examine its history and end the systemic sexism, misogyny and misuse of power that plague the church just as they corrupt our culture, institutions and governments,” Jennings said. “We asked Episcopalians to consider what roles each of us is called to play in the church’s collective repentance.”

Since then, scores of women from across the church have contacted her. “On Facebook, via email, by phone and in person, women have been in touch to share their stories and let me know that they want to be part of changing the church’s culture on these issues,” Jennings said. “I am delighted to harness their energy by appointing this committee.”

The group, which Jennings will chair, is divided into five sub-committees that arose from ideas that women contributed to a Facebook discussion on the House of Deputies page in late January. One group will draft legislation concerning theology and language, while others will address issues of structural equity including pay and benefits, the Title IV disciplinary process, and social justice for women. In response to the presiding officers’ call for the church to examine its history, a sub-committee will draft legislation proposing the creation of a truth and reconciliation process.
A roster of the special committee, created under Article X of the House of Deputies Rules of Order, is available on the House of Deputies website.

The SCLM Report on Prayer Book Revision: Join the conversation

Through resolution A169, the 2015 General Convention directed the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) "to prepare a plan for the comprehensive revision of the current Book of Common Prayer and present that plan to the 79th General Convention."

At the outset, it's important to remember that General Convention did not ask the SCLM to begin revising the Book of Common Prayer! Rather, it asked for the construction of a plan for revision for the 79th General Convention (2018) to consider. The request was for a thorough and linear process. No efforts to revise the Book of Common Prayer took place this triennium, because that was not what the SCLM was asked to do. The Episcopal Church, through General Convention, has yet to decide whether to revise the prayer book. It will have that conversation this summer at the 79th General Convention in Austin, Texas (July 5-13, 2018)

The SCLM report to General Convention proposes two options: a) a comprehensive plan for full-on prayer book revision, and b) a plan for a deeper, church-wide engagement with our existing prayer book, which includes a proposal for translations in Spanish, French, and French Creole. The considerations of the SCLM Report on Prayer Book Revision are plentiful and varied.

The SCLM hopes that you will take the time to read the report, and use the SCLM blog to ask questions as well as offer your insights and opinions. Welcome to the conversation!

Advancing to General Convention

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church that gathers every three years. Southern Virginia will be sending a deputation of four clergy and four lay people, along with Bishop Hollerith, to this year's gathering - the 79th General Convention in Austin, Texas, July 5-13, 2018.

We'll be using this blog to post news about General Convention before, during and after our time in Austin. In the weeks leading up to General Convention, we'll be posting information that will help you understand how General Convention works and its importance in the life of the Episcopal Church. While we're at General Convention, we'll use this site to post daily updates and photos. You'll also be able to find lots of photos on our Facebook page.

We hope you'll be following along as we advance toward the 79th General Convention!