Resolved,
the House of Bishops concurring, That Canon I.1.2 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 2 (a) The General Convention by Canon may establish Standing Commissions,
to study and draft policy proposals make
recommendations to the General Convention on major subjects considered to
be of continuing concern to the mission
of the Church. The Canon shall specify the size, composition and
duties of each such Commission. Standing Commissions shall be composed of three (3) Bishops, three (3) Priests and/or Deacons of this Church and six (6) Lay Persons, who shall be
confirmed adult communicants of this Church in good standing. Priests, Deacons
and Lay Persons may but need not are
not required to be members of the House of Deputies.
(b) The
terms of all members of Standing Commissions shall be equal to the interval
between the regular meeting of the General Convention preceding their
appointment and the adjournment of the second succeeding regular meeting of the
General Convention, and such terms shall be rotated so that, as near as may be,
the term of one half of the members shall expire at the conclusion of each
regular meeting of the General Convention. The term of a member shall become
vacant in the event of two absences from meetings of the Commission occurring
in the interval between successive regular meetings of the General Convention
unless excused by the Commission for good cause.
(c)
The Presiding Bishop shall appoint the Episcopal members, and the President of
the House of Deputies the Lay and other Clerical members, of such Commissions
as soon as practicable after the adjournment of the General Convention, but not later than ninety (90) days
following the close of General Convention. Episcopal members appointed
after the adjournment of any General Convention at which a Presiding Bishop is
elected shall be appointed by the Presiding Bishop-elect. Vacancies shall be
filled in similar manner; provided, however, that vacancies occurring within
one year of the next regular General Convention shall not be filled unless so
requested by the Commission.
(d) The Presiding Bishop and the
President of the House of Deputies may shall jointly
appoint members of the Executive Council as liaison persons to provide for
communication between the Executive Council and any each Commission. Notice of such appointments shall be given to the
Secretaries of both Houses. Such appointed liaison persons shall not be members
of
the Commission and shall have voice but not vote. The
reasonable expenses thereof shall be provided for by the Executive Council.
Each such Commission shall have a member
of the Presiding Bishop’s staff appointed by the Presiding Bishop to assist in
its work. Each such Commission shall have the power to constitute
committees, from among members or non members of the
Commission, and
to request the services of Executive Council staff, and, subject to the Commission’s budget, engage
the services of consultants and coordinators necessary to the carrying on of
its work.
(e) The
Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies shall be members
ex officiis
of every Commission with the right, but no obligation, to attend meetings,
and with seat and vote in the deliberations thereof, and shall receive their
minutes and an annual report of their activities; Provided, that the said presiding officers may appoint personal
representatives to attend any meeting in their stead, but without vote.
(f) The
Executive Officer of the General Convention shall, not later than the month
of January one hundred and twenty
(120) days following the meeting of the General Convention, notify the
members of the respective Houses of their the appointments upon Commissions and their the duty to present Reports to the next
Convention. One year prior to the opening day of the Convention, the Executive
Officer of the General Convention shall remind the Chairs and Secretaries of
all Commissions of this duty.
(g)
Every Commission appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the
House of Deputies, and
when convened shall be organized by electing a chair, vice-chair and secretary.
In the event that the Commission is not convened as above provided within six
months from the date of adjournment of each Convention, one-third of the
members may take such action as shall be necessary to convene the Commission.
After the Commission shall have been convened, and its officers chosen, the
Chair or, in the absence of the Chair or in the Chair’s inability or refusal to
act, the Vice-Chair shall be empowered to call a meeting and fix the time and
place and shall do so upon signed request of one-third of the members.
(h) It
shall be the privilege of either House to refer to a Commission any matter
related to the subject for which it was appointed; but neither House shall have
the power, without the consent of the other, to instruct the Commission as to
any particular line of action.
(i) It shall
be the duty of each Commission to give appropriate notice in the Church press
of issues before it and the time and place of meetings at which such issues are
to be considered, together with instructions as to the manner in which members
of the Church may address their views to such Commission.
(j) Every Commission shall prepare a Report, which,
together with any minority Report, shall be sent, not later than 150 days prior
to the opening day of each Convention, to the Executive Officer of the General
Convention, who shall print and distribute the same, as far as practicable, to
all members of said Convention.
(k) The
Report of every Commission presented at the General Convention shall:
(1) Set forth the names
of its original members, any changes in membership, the names of all those who
concur in and all those who dissent from its recommendation, and shall further
state, if less than a majority of its entire membership sign the Report, their
authority for presenting it.
(2) Summarize
the work of the Commission, including the various matters studied, the
recommendations for action by the General Convention and drafts of Resolutions
proposed for adoption to implement the recommendations of the Commission.
(3) Include a detailed
report of all receipts and expenditures, including moneys received from any
source whatsoever, during the preceding interval since the last meeting of the
General Convention, and if it recommends that it be continued, the estimated
requirements for the ensuing interval until the next regular meeting of the
General Convention.
(l) Every
Commission, as a condition precedent to the presentation and reception of any
Report in either House, in which such Commission proposes the adoption of any
Resolution, shall, by vote, authorize a member or members of that House, who,
if possible, shall be a member of the Commission, with such limitations as the
Commission may impose, to accept or reject, on behalf of the Commission, any
amendments proposed in such House to any such Resolution; Provided, however, that no such amendment may change the substance
of the proposal, but shall be primarily for the purpose of correcting errors.
The name of the member or members of the particular House upon whom such
authority has been conferred, and the limitations of authority, shall be
communicated in writing to the Presiding Officer of such House not later than
the presentation of such Report in that House. The application of this Rule in
either House may be suspended, in any particular case, by the majority vote of
the members of such House.
(m) Every
Commission whose Report requests expenditure out of the funds of the General
Convention (except for the printing of the Report) shall present to the Joint
Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance its written request, on or
before the first business day of the session, and all Resolutions providing for
any such expenditures shall be immediately referred to the Joint Standing
Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance. No proposition involving such
expenditures shall be considered unless so presented and until after report of
the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance.
(n)There
shall be the following Standing Commissions:
(1) A Standing
Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns. consisting of 14 members (4 Bishops, 4 Priests
and/or Deacons and 6 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty of the Commission
to develop recommendations and strategies regarding common ministry
opportunities and concerns with other Provinces of the Anglican Communion as to
the work of this Church and the Anglican Communion on issues of international
peace with justice and to make recommendations pertaining thereto to the
Presiding Bishop, the Executive Council and the General Convention.
(2) A Standing
Commission for Small Congregations, consisting of 10 members (3 Bishops, 2
Priests and/or Deacons, and 5 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty of the
Commission to concern itself with plans for new directions for Small
Congregations.
(3) A Standing Commission on Constitution and
Canons, consisting of 12 members (3 Bishops, 3 Priests and/or Deacons, and 6
Lay Persons). The Standing Commission shall: It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
(i)
Review such proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons as may be
submitted to the Commission, placing each such proposed amendment in proper
Constitutional or Canonical form including all amendments necessary to effect
the proposed change. The Commission shall express its views with respect to the
substance of any such proposal only to the proponent thereof; Provided, however, that no member of the
Commission shall, by reason of membership, be deemed to be disabled from
expressing, before a Legislative Committee or on the floor of the House of
membership, personal views with respect to the substance of any such proposed
amendment.
(ii) Conduct a
continuing comprehensive review of the Constitution and Canons with respect to
their internal consistency and clarity, and on the basis of such a review
propose to the General Convention such technical amendments to the Constitution
and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are necessary or desirable in
order to achieve such consistency and clarity without altering the substance of
any Constitutional and Canonical provisions; Provided, however, that
the Commission shall propose, for the consideration of the appropriate
Legislative Committees of the two Houses, such amendments to the Constitution
and Canons as in the opinion of the Commission are technically desirable but
involve a substantive alteration of a Constitutional or Canonical provision.
(iii) On the basis of such review suggest to the
Executive Council and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society such
amendments to their respective By-laws as in the opinion of the Commission are
necessary or desirable in order to conform the same to
the Constitution and Canons.
(iv)
Discharge such other duties as
shall from time to time be assigned by the General Convention.
(4) A Standing
Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism consisting of 16 members (2
Bishops, 6 Priests and/or Deacons and 8 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty
of the Commission to identify, study and consider
major general policies, priorities and concerns as to the domestic mission of
this Church. This shall include a review of the shaping of new patterns and
directions for evangelism particularly in rural and metropolitan areas. The
Commission shall develop and recommend to the General Convention comprehensive
and coordinated policies and strategies to restore all people to unity with God
and each other in Christ.
(5) A Standing
Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
consisting of 18 members (6 Bishops, 6 Priests and/or Deacons and 6 Lay
Persons). Its duties It
shall be the duty of the Commission to
recommend to the General Convention a comprehensive and coordinated policy and
strategy on relations between this Church and other Churches, and this Church
and other religions, to make recommendations to General Convention concerning
interchurch cooperation and unity, and interreligious
dialogue and action, and to carry out such instructions on ecumenical and interreligious matters as may be given it from time to time
by the General Convention. It shall also nominate for appointment by the
Presiding Bishop, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, persons
to serve on the governing bodies of ecumenical and interreligious
organizations to which this Church belongs by action of the General Convention,
who shall report to the Presiding Bishop, Executive Council and the Standing
Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious
Relations.
(6) A Standing
Commission on Liturgy and Music consisting of 16 members (4 Bishops, 4
Priests and/or Deacons and 8 Lay Persons). In addition, the The Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer
shall be a member ex officio with
voice, but without vote. The Standing Commission shall: It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
(i)
Discharge such duties as shall be assigned to it by the General Convention as
to policies and strategies concerning the common worship of this Church.
(ii)
Collect, collate and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions
of the Book of Common Prayer.
(iii) Cause to be
prepared and to present to the General Convention recommendations concerning
the Lectionary, Psalter, and offices for special occasions as authorized or
directed by the General Convention or House of Bishops.
(iv)
Recommend to the General
Convention authorized translations of the Holy Scripture from which the Lessons
prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer are to be read.
(v) Receive and evaluate requests for consideration of individuals or
groups to be included in the Calendar of the Church year and make
recommendations thereon to the General Convention for acceptance or rejection.
(vi) Collect, collate,
and catalogue material bearing upon possible future revisions of The Hymnal
1982 and other musical publications regularly in use in this Church and
encourage the composition of new musical materials.
(vii) Cause to be
prepared and present to the General Convention recommendations concerning the
musical settings of liturgical texts and rubrics, and norms as to liturgical
music and the manner of its rendition.
(viii) At the direction
of the General Convention, to serve
the Church in matters pertaining to policies and strategies concerning Church
music.
(7) A Standing
Commission on Ministry Development consisting of 24 members. Nine members
shall be appointed on the nomination of the nine Provincial Presidents, one
nomination from each Province. The remaining 15 shall include 3 bishops, 4
priests and/or deacons, provided that two shall be deacons, and 8 lay persons.
It shall be the duty of the Commission:
(i)
to recommend policies and strategies to the General
Convention for the development, affirmation and exercise of the ministry of all
the baptized;
(ii)
to encourage and facilitate networks of individuals,
institutions and agencies engaged in education, training, deployment and
formation for ministry by all four orders;
(iii) to study the
needs and trends of theological education for all four orders with this Church,
including issues of recruitment, training, deployment, evaluation and
continuing education; to make recommendation to the several seminaries, the
Executive Council and the General Convention; and to aid the General Board of
Examining Chaplains in the exercise of its function;
(iv) to
discharge such other duties as shall be assigned by the General Convention.
(8) A Standing Commission on National Concerns
consisting of 16 members (2 Bishops, 6 Priests and/or Deacons and 8 Lay
Persons). It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify,
study and consider
general policies, priorities and concerns about the theological, ethical and
pastoral issues and strategies as to the ministries of this Church serving
Christ, to strive for justice and peace among all peoples through the
proclamation of the Gospel and to develop and recommend to the General
Convention comprehensive and coordinated policies and strategies applicable to
the same.
(9) A Standing
Commission on Stewardship and Development, consisting of 12 members (2
Bishops, 2 Priests and/or Deacons, and 8 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty
of the Commission to hold up before the Church the responsibility of faithful
stewardship of time, talent and treasure in grateful thanksgiving for God’s
gifts. It shall recommend strategies for stewardship education throughout the
Church with special sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic diversity of our
Church. It shall recommend programs for long-range planning and development,
ensuring that other Church bodies, including the Executive Council, are part of
the process. It shall assure that there is an official, periodic gathering,
interpretation, evaluation and reporting of stewardship from throughout the
Church. It shall help coordinate all church-wide fund-raising activities.
(10) A Standing
Commission on the Structure of the Church, consisting of 12 members (3
Bishops, 3 Presbyters and/or Deacons, and 6 Lay Persons). It shall be the
duty of the Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the
structure of the General Convention and of the Church. It shall, from time to
time, review the operation of the several Committees and Commissions to
determine the necessity for their continuance and the effectiveness of their
functions and to bring about a coordination of their efforts. Whenever a
proposal is made for the creation of a new Committee or Commission, it shall,
wherever feasible, be referred to the Standing Commission on the Structure of
the Church for its consideration and advice.
(11) A Standing
Commission on World Mission, consisting of 12 members (3 Bishops, 3 Priests
or Deacons, and 6 Lay Persons), whose members shall include persons broadly
representative of jurisdictions outside the United States of America, as well
as persons having direct engagement with and experience in world mission. It shall
be the duty of the Commission, as to all mission
outside the United States, to review and evaluate existing policies,
priorities and strategies, and to promote partnership for global mission among
the various groups within the church, to plan and propose policy on overseas
mission, and to make recommendations pertaining to the Executive Council and
the General Convention.
(12) A Standing
Commission on Episcopal Church Communication consisting of 14 members (4
Bishops, 4 Priests and/or Deacons, and 6 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty
of the
Commission
to guide the policies, participate in the strategic planning, and share in the
oversight of implementing a comprehensive communication strategy for the
Episcopal Church.
(13) A Standing
Commission on Health consisting of 11 members (3 Bishops, 3 Priests and/or
Deacons, and 5 Lay Persons). It shall be the duty of the Commission to:
(i)
Articulate and communicate positions adopted by the Episcopal Church on health
care policy to Episcopalians, the public, and public policy makers;
(ii) Advocate, in
cooperation with the Office of Government Relations, for a health care system
in which all may be guaranteed decent and appropriate primary health care
during their lives and as they approach death;
(iii) Bring together
those within the Episcopal Church who develop, provide and/or teach health care
and health policy to continue to develop a Christian approach to pressing
issues that affect the health care system of this nation;
(iv)
Understand and keep abreast of
the rapidly changing health care market and developments in biomedical research
that affect health policy;
(v) Collect and develop
resources and teaching materials related to access to health care for the use
of dioceses, congregations, and individuals;
(vi) Advocate health ministry in and through local Episcopal
congregations; and
(vii) Discharge such
other duties as shall be assigned by the General Convention.
And be it further
Resolved:
That this amendment shall be effective immediately. And
be it further
Resolved That the transition in number of members on the Standing
Commissions whose number of members is changed by this resolution shall be
achieved as follows:
1)
All persons
currently serving on any Standing Commission shall continue to serve to the
normal expiration of their terms.
2)
The Presiding
Bishop-Elect and the President of the House of Deputies shall, in accordance
with the requirements of this resolution, appoint six (6) persons to each
Standing Commission whose terms shall conclude at the end of the 77th
General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
3)
The President
of the House of Deputies shall appoint one additional lay person to the
Standing Commission for Small Congregations.
This appointee’s term shall conclude at the end of the 76th
General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
4)
The Presiding
Bishop-Elect and the President of the House of Deputies shall appoint six
additional members to the Standing Commission on Health and to any Standing
Commissions created by the 75th General Convention. These appointees’
terms shall conclude at the end of the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church.