The General Convention of

The Episcopal Church

July 5-12, 2012

Indianapolis, IN

The Episcopal Church (TEC)

We are not a “National” Church The Episcopal Church is an International Church 110 Dioceses and one convocation of congregations Representing 16 Nations – including USA,

Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Central Ecuador, Ecuador Litoral, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Taiwan, Haiti, the Virgin Islands, and 6 countries in Europe.

General Convention History 1785 – 1st General Convention (Philadelphia) 1874 – ECW met at same time at General Convention 1926 – Deputy Betsy Dyer (Diocese of Missouri) was

first woman seated as a deputy at GC (and the last until 1970)

1970 – Women deputies seated 1976 – GC voted for ordination of women 1991 – Bishop Barbara Harris, 1st woman bishop at GC 2006 – Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected as

the first female Presiding Bishop in the history of the Episcopal Church and also the first female primate in the Anglican Communion

Provinces of The Episcopal ChurchProvince I New EnglandProvince II NY, NJ, Haiti, Virgin Islands,

American Churches in Europe Province III Middle AtlanticProvince IV SoutheastProvince V Midwest (Diocese of Missouri)Province VI NorthwestProvince VII SouthwestProvince VIII Pacific, Navajoland, TaiwanProvince IX Central America

Daily Schedule Each day bishops, deputies, registered alternates,

delegates to the ECW Triennial, and guests gather for Bible study and Holy Eucharist.

Legislative Committees meet throughout the GC, with more meetings and hearings scheduled earlier to help legislation move through to the Houses for consideration.

Many church-related organizations hold meetings in conjunction with convention, and there are lunches and dinners hosted by seminaries, provinces, societies, boards and staff offices of the church.

The Structure of

General Convention

Bicameral Legislature

House of Bishops

House of Deputies

House of Bishops (HOB)Presiding Bishop serves as President of HOB

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori (2006-15)The PB is elected for a 9-year term

All bishops of the Episcopal Church, active and retired, are entitled to seat, voice and vote in the House of Bishops (unless deprived of the privilege). The House of Bishops is comprised of about 300 bishops.

The HOB meets in between General Conventions (currently twice a year)

The House of Deputies (HOD)The House of Deputies is comprised of deputations,

each of which is elected from its own diocese of The Episcopal Church.

Deputations may include up to four members each from the clerical and lay orders.

The HOD elects it own President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. President & VP must be from different orders (i.e. one lay and one clerical).

Diocese of Missouri Deputation

CLERGY DEPUTIES 2012

C1. Tamsen WhistlerC2. Jason SamuelC3. Doris WestfallC4. Dan Appleyard

Diocese of Missouri Deputation

LAY DEPUTIES 2012

L1. Kathryn DyerL2. Michael ClarkL3. Lynette BallardL4. Lisa Fox

AlternatesL5. Jeanette HueyL6. Jay KloeckerL7. Don Fisher

Deputies, Not Delegates

Deputies are not delegates; that is, they are not elected to represent the electing dioceses. Deputies vote their conscience for the good of the church. They cannot be instructed to vote one way or another.

General Convention Duties Adopt legislation (resolutions) Amend Book of Common Prayer,

Constitution, and Canons Adopt a 3 year budget (2013-2015) Elect candidates to offices & committees

(Church Pension Fund, Executive Council, General Board of Examining Chaplains, General Theological Seminary)

ResolutionsA – Blue Book – Reports and recommended

legislation from CCABs (committees, commissions, agencies &

boards)

B – Bishops (requires 3 bishops from 3 different dioceses)

C – Diocese or Provinces

D – Deputies (any 3 deputies)

Number of Resolutions 76th General Convention (GC2009)

A 192, B 32, C 87, D 108

= Total 419 resolutions

77th General Convention (GC2012)A 155, B 6, C 66, D 3

= 230 Resolutions (as of 5-6-2012)

Legislative Process

Legislative Committees 201201 -- Dispatch of Business02 -- Certification of Minutes03 -- Rules of Order04 -- Constitution05 -- Canons06 -- Structure07 -- Consecration of Bishops08 -- World Mission09 -- National and International

Concerns10 -- Social and Urban Affairs11 -- Church in Small

Communities12 -- Evangelism

13 -- Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music

14 -- Ministry15 -- Education16 -- Church Pension Fund17 -- Stewardship and

Development18 -- Ecumenical Relations19 -- Communications21 -- Privilege and Courtesy23 – Credentials (HOD only)25 -- Program, Budget and

Finance (Standing Commission)

Legislative Committee Appointments 12- Evangelism

Deputy Michael Clark

13- Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music The Rt. Rev. G. Wayne Smith, Chair

 14- Ministry

Deputy Jason Samuel 

15- EducationDeputy Tamsen Whistler

 18- Ecumenical Relations

Deputy Daniel Appleyard, Chair 

23- CredentialsDeputy Kathryn Dyer

Public Hearings

Legislative committees hold public hearings on legislation at which deputies, registered alternates or registered visitors may speak.

Act of General Convention

The House of Bishops and House of Deputies meet, deliberate, and vote separately.

To be enacted, resolutions must pass both houses in the exactly the same language.

Some Issues

In Front of GC2012

Some Issues in Front of GC Structure of the Church State of the Church Anglican Covenant Trial Liturgy for Blessings of Same

Gender Relationships Baptism Required for Communion Triennial Budget

Budget The Standing Commission on Program,

Budget & Finance (PB&F) proposes a $35 million annual budget or a $105 million budget over the 2013-2015 triennium based upon a 19% asking of the dioceses of The Episcopal Church for church-wide canonical, administrative and programmatic work. Budget based on Missional Priorities.

Your Opportunities

You Can Volunteer or VisitThe General Convention will be held in

Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 5–12, 2012.

Come and volunteer at the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church – share your skills and talents with the Church, while learning and seeing how the General Convention works from behind the scenes.

Please visit the Volunteer website to get more information and to register.

Missouri Deputation Blog

Before, During & After GC:

The Deputation Blog is up and running at

http://missourideputation.blogspot.com/

After Convention 2012

After CG2012, the Missouri Deputation will hold Reporting Session(s)

Date, Place and Time to be determined

General Convention 2015

Location for the 78th General Convention

Salt Lake City, Utah

General Convention 2006

Kathryn Dyer

Jeannette Huey

Bishop Rockwell

Mike Clark

Margie Bowman

Ron Clingenpeel

Lydia Speller

Jack Fleming

Bishop Smith

Tamsen Whistler

General Convention 2009

Bishop Smith

Jeannette Huey

Tamsen Whistler

Ron Clingenpeel

Lydia Speller

Kathryn Dyer

Mike Clark

Jack Fleming

Jay Kloecker

Any Questions?

Additional Slides

For

Reference

HOD Committee on the State of the Church

Average Sunday Attendance 68% have ASA less than 100, 4% of congregations have ASA over 300, Median ASA is 65. ASA has been decreasing: 4% (1 year), 16% (5 yr trend), 23% (10 yr trend).

Episcopal Congregations in Financial Stress -- 44% in 2000, 72% in 2010

Age Structure of the United States and The Episcopal Church: 2010 AGE <20 20-34 35-49 50-64 65+ USA 28% 20% 22% 18% 13% TEC 15% 10% 19% 26% 30%

The advancing age of the Church’s membership, combined with a low birth rate, means that the Church loses the equivalent of one diocese per year through deaths over births

Ordinations decreasing: 2005 406, 2010 287 Retirements increasing: 2005 308, 2010 417 The average age of priests at ordination is 46 Age of clergy leadership, lack of long ministry careers, rising number of congregations

without clergy leadership – all concerns for future of church.

Standing Committee on the Structure of the Church – Proposed Resolutions

Endorse the principle of “subsidiarity” Reduce Diocesan Apportionments Plan & Fund GC length – minimum 10 days Provide assistance fund for deputies to attend GC Reduce HOB meetings to annual Reduce Barriers to participation in Church Leadership and

Governance Fund Initial Joint-CCAB Meeting Coordinate Church Reform and Restructuring Convene Consultation on Diocesan Effectiveness Study Title IV Disciplinary Canons (non-USA dioceses)

Canons & ConstitutionProposed Resolutions

Only Bishops having jurisdiction shall have a vote on matters which, if adopted, would require a specific appropriation of funds.

Currently, all bishops, active or retired, have seat, voice and vote.

Standing Commission on Liturgy & Music – Proposed Resolutions

A048 – Form Congregational Song Task Force

A049 – Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships

A050 – Create Task Force on the Study of Marriage

A051 – Continue Trial Use of Holy Women, Holy Men

Anglican Covenant Accepted by some member churches of the

Anglican Communion – Burma, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Southern Cone (South America), West Indies

Not Rejected, Not Accepted (Under Consideration) – Scotland, Wales, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Australia, TEC

Rejected – England, Philippines