* FINAL VERSION - Concurred

Resolution A165

Title:   Commitment to Windsor and Listening Processes

Topic:   Anglican Communion

Committee:   26. Special Legislative Committee

House of Initial Action:   Bishops

Proposer:   Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion


Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church commend the Windsor Report “as offering a way forward for the mutual life of our Communion” (Primates’ Communiqué), and as an essential and substantive  contribution to the process of living into deeper levels of communion and interdependence across the Anglican Communion; and be it further
 
Resolved, That the 75th General Convention commit The Episcopal Church to the ongoing “Windsor Process,” a process of discernment as to the nature and unity of the Church, as we pursue a common life of dialogue, listening, and growth, formed and informed by the bonds of communion we share ; and urge all members of this church to commit themselves to the call of greater communion and interdependent life; and be it further
 
Resolved, that the 75th General Convention commend the “listening process” as recommended in the Windsor Report, “so that greater common understanding might be obtained on the underlying issue of same gender relationships” (Windsor Report, 135), and be it further
 
Resolved, that the 75th General Convention gratefully acknowledge the practical steps taken by the Anglican Communion Office to begin a formal “listening process” across the Communion, and be it further
 
Resolved, that the 75th General Convention commit this church to participating fully and openly in this “listening process,” both at the local level and with the rest of the Communion (ACC 13, Resolution 12) , and be it further
 
Resolved, that a staff person at The Episcopal Church Center be identified to forward this listening process in coordination with the cognate person for the Communion and with our Communion partners.



EXPLANATION

The Windsor Report has advanced a process for mutual discernment of our common life together in the Anglican Communion. In a similar way, the Anglican Communion has taken steps to fulfill the 1998 Lambeth Conference commitment to a "Listening Process." This resolution commends these two processes and commits the Episcopal Church to participate faithfully in them.


* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before publication.