Reorg? Nah

Yesterday afternoon the House of Deputies (HoD) took up the first 3 resolutions from the Committee on Governance and Structure. These resolutions mainly dealt with the Executive Council, CCABs, and the budget process. After a LENGTHY explanation from the committee chairs we entered into what was supposed to be 15 minutes of questions for the committee, before actually deliberating the resolutions. The question time was extended and all this (presentation and questions) took over an hour. A lot of the questions centered on a canonical change that gives Executive Council (38 people elected either at General Convention (20) or from each province (2 each) who act as the Board of Directors in between GC. They are charged to inact what GC approves plus a bunch of other stuff. The Presiding Bishop chairs their meetings with the President of the House of Deputies as Vice Chair. They have their own committees and commissions (which are not the CCABs of General Convention – Commissions, Committees, Agencies, and Boards). And then their are other staff as well, with reporting lines blurred at times. The Exec Council also prepares the draft budget presented to the GC.

The Task Force on Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) had recommended shrinking the size of the Exec Council, but the committee on structure proposed keeping it the same size.And they added a power to the Exec Council they do not currently have – with a 2/3 vote they can fire staff that reports to the Presiding Bishop (who is chair of the Exec Council). A strange power to give to a board, IMHO.

You know, just typing all that was boring. I know church governance can be a snoozer, and part of the issues I have with GC is how self important all this is, and I look, often, for Jesus in the midst of it all. Yet we need to be organized in some ways and the polity of the Episcopal Church gives voice to all the orders of ministry in our church – lay, deacons, priests and bishops. This is a good thing and we need to be careful to preserve it.  So this stuff is needed and necessary. But I doubt most of you reading this, or if you have made it this far, care for these details. So let me just climb on my soap box and then move on.

In 2012 I joined with several other bishops and deputies in a movement to try to streamline our governance, make GC shorter and more efficient, and address concerns of how we govern at the national level. The movement caught fire as many dioceses sent resolutions to GC to figure out the first steps. So in 2012 we passed unanimously a resolution to establish TREC and gave them carte blanche to come back with recommendations to accomplish all that. It was an impossible task but they worked really hard, had creative ways to receive input from across the church, and produced a slew of resolutions to make significant change, hoping to move from a 1950s model of church governance to one that works more horizontally and is much more “nimble” (a word we all grew weary of).

The legislative committee on governance and structure has been working on these recommendations, and others. But what I have seen so far doesn’t address major change at all. Most of the ideas from TREC are not being pushed forward or are watered down so much they won’t matter. It is a HUGE missed opportunity and, as another member of our deputation said, a great example of how impossible it is for an organization to reorg itself.

The one good thing I have seen so far is cutting the CCAB’s (see above) down to just two – one on Constitution, Canons, and Structure, and one on Liturgy and Music. That is pretty big. We have TONS of CCAB’s and while they have good people on them who work diligiently to accomplish their work, many have outlived their purpose and mainly generate resolutions for GC that keep them in business. For instance a resolution FROM a CCAB directing that same CCAB to study something or implement something manages to keep that CCAB going. Eliminating those will greatly reduce the number of resolutions  at GC as well as save lots of money. Instead of CCABs, we will have Task Forces that will have a definite purpose and which will be dissolved when that work is done or at the next GC, unless extended by the next GC, as the Task Force on Marriage has been. I like this, but already deputies are protesting eliminating their own “pet” CCAB.

There is much more coming on structure so stay tuned – if you can! Today the HoD takes up the marriage resolutions approved by the bishops  as well  as continuing the structure debates..

The legislative process kicked into a higher gear yesterday. Although I spent most of my time in the House of Bishops gallery (more on that in a moment), the House of Deputies accomplished a lot today. They passed several important resolutions that put some REAL money into evangelism and mission work – digital evangelism, ministry amongst hispanics/latinos, and church planting initiatives were all approved. Remember you can go to http://www.generalconvention.org/home/legislative-resources and look up legislation by resolution number, topic, or committee.

In addition the House of Deputies (HoD) passed unanimously a resolution brought forth by the Mississippi deputation concerning the use of the Confederate battle flag. It is resolution D044, you can enter that in at the link above to read the text. It goes next to the House of Bishops for final approval.

Meanwhile the HoB took up the two big resolutions on marriage. A054 consisted of approval for trial liturgies (trial is a specific term in our constitution for liturgies we are trying out that may lead to prayer book revision) for marriages that use gender neutral language. The liturgies adapt current prayer book liturgies for marriage, as well as the “I will bless you” liturgy approved in 2012, but expanded to allow same sex couples and heterosexual couples to use the rite, which includes now a marriage component. Unfortunately I can’t find a link to the actual liturgies, but I will keep searching. A 4th liturgy based on the 1928 prayer book was removed.

In the resolution the special committee on marriage included protection for bishops who do not want to authorize these new trial rites in their dioceses. This was extremely important to several of the bishops, who expressed gratitude to the committee (and my task force) for that.

After lengthy debate, amendments, amendments to amendments, the resolution passed.

They next took up A036, which was submitted by the Task Force on Marriage of which I have been a member the last three years. We submitted this resolution to make the marriage canon gender neutral, while also cleaning up the canon in several areas. The committee added some wonderful language to the Declaration of Intent, which is signed by the couple prior to the priest approving to marry them. The declaration now includes language from the prayer book on the purposes of marriage. It is a nice improvement.

Some bishops felt A036 was going to far and redefining marriage when they felt we were not there yet theologically. That is a point of contention of course. But since we approved the trial liturgies, which are gender neutral, in order for clergy to not be in violation of the canons, the canon needed to be changed also.

Again after much debate, and a pause for prayer, this resolution passed overwhelmingly in a roll call vote, so that each bishop’s vote is recorded.  The marriage resolutions now go to the House of Deputies, who  today approved the resolution to extend the work of the marriage task force. I hope I get reappointed!!

I believe on Tuesday we begin working on the reorganization resolutions. Should be fun!

“Talitha cum. GET UP GIRL!”

Many of us began yesterday morning joining with Bishops Against Gun Violence in a peaceful march from the convention center to a park about a mile away. Over 1500 Episcopalians along with some local groups were led by about 60 Episcopal bishops. We sang along the way. At the park we heard some statistics: 82% of gun owners and 74% of NRA members support criminal background checks before allowing a gun purchase. 62% of online gun sellers told  callers, who were posing as buyers and admitted they would probably fail a federal background check, that they would sell to them anyway.

We need to close those loopholes.

We heard from a former police officer who is a bishop and former cop who is a deacon with powerful testimony. Then we heard from a victim of a mass shooting here in Utah 8 years ago. She was severely wounded and her young daughter killed, she saw the killer put the gun to her daughters head to finish her off. Her courageous story was shocking and inspiring. She said what many of us have said – we do not want to take your guns, we just want you to help be part of the solution where we can prevent SOME of the gun violence that is epidemic in our nation. When Conneticutt passed strict gun laws, the gun violence rate dropped 25%. When Missouri repealed the same type of laws, gun violence there rose 40%. Just facts. And prayers.

The UTO ingathering Sunday Eucharist was wonderful. The Presiding Bishop preached, opening with these words: “Talitha, cum.” Get up, girl, you’re not dead yet. Jesus might just as well be speaking to this church. ”

Well said. It was a great sermon. GET UP CHURCH.

With that in our hearts the legislative day began. I was not on the floor for this day. I went to the House of Bishops as they were due to consider the marriage resolutions. I kept up on Twitter with the House of Deputies who got bogged down and got very little done, according to those I follow. We are getting way behind people!

The Bishops began to examine the two marriage resolutions – one that changes the marriage canon to be gender neutral (and raises the bar on the declaration of intent signed by the couple as to the purposes of marriage – good stuff), and the other to consider trial rites that also use gender neutral language. The resolutions include the right of bishops to not allow these in their diocese, and to protect clergy from any ramifiications of refusing to perfom same sex marriages. This conscience clause regarding marriages has been part of our canons for a long time but many wanted to reiterate it again in light of these proposals.

Unfortunately time ran out on the bishops before they could debate. I am going to hang out in the HoB today when they return to these resolutions first thing.