This resolution failed on a roll call vote by orders–KSH.
Resolution R-3
Subject: A Resolution Requesting that General Convention 2009 be Suspended
Offered by: the Very Rev. Craige Borrett, the Rev. Dr. Kendall Harmon, Christ Saint Paul’s, Yonges Island
That this Diocesan Convention, while valuing and affirming the importance of meeting together in our common life for the upbuilding of the body, nevertheless asks that the Executive Council and the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church voluntarily agree not to hold General Convention 2009 (and thus not meet in General Convention until 2012) and that all dioceses agree to abide by this request as an act of mutual submission to one another; and
That all the money which is saved by this event suspension be given to a ministry focused on meeting the needs of the poor and in accordance with the Millenium Development Goals
Explanation:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
There are three reasons the Episcopal Church needs to do this. First, the last two General Conventions have been deeply divisive not only for our common life in the Episcopal Church but for the life of the Anglican Communion. As Archbishop Rowan Williams once wisely said, when times of friction and misunderstanding are high, sometimes a temporary withdrawal can promote more perspective and the possibility for healing.
Second, we are in the midst of a serious massive global economic crisis. In such a time, many companies in America are canceling their conventions so as to show greater prudence and stewardship to their employees and shareholders, and as a witness to the importance of simpler living by all.
Thirdly, this is a time to undertake creative and unusual initiatives. The Episcopal Church is in many ways stuck. It has been rightly said “if you do what you have always done you get what you have always gotten.” It is time for a change.
Some may object that this is something we cannot do because of our polity as a church. But polity is made for the church, not the church for polity. If any community really wants to do something, they can make it happen, and this would be a powerful witness to our willingness to sacrifice for our own common life and that of the Anglican Communion going forward.
[Comment deleted by Elf]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in SC,
Leaving while the getting is good. What a great witness it would be.
Join the ACNA in June. What a joy it would be to so many!
May the Lord bless you in your witness!
Or everyone but KJS, David Booth-Beers and Integrity could just stay home without telling anyone in advance. Let the media write many articles on the outrageous changes “passed” by “a majority of those present” at General Invention 2009.
Great line, BTW. “polity is made for the church, not the church for polity”. Although KJS will twist that to mean “canons are made for the interpretation of KJS, not KJS made to abide by the plain and obvious interpretation of the canons”.
This was a joke, right? What happened to those vows to “take your place in councils of the church”????? Only counts when you have the majority opinion on your side? Oye vey …
Yes, Susan: “Only counts when you have the majority opinion on your side?” This is the way that those who hold hegemony in TEC have been operating for years.
Orthodoxy in TEC has been marginalized and forced out for many years. Your accusation to Kendal rings hollow.
That being said, I agree with #1. WHY should we keep on doing this dance and just stretching out the inevitable. Face the music now.
Waiting yet [i]another[/i] 3 years is not going to make anything better.
The Newark resolution to change the language in the marriage canons is going to go forward — I can’t imagine that it won’t come to the floor. So let’s just finally get real.
The band plays on, but the dance is over.
Ah, yes, it’s always helpful when you disagree with people to just go out of your way not to meet with one another. What a sad resolution to propose; I would expect more from these Christian leaders. I suppose these South Carolinians are more concerned about more important matters, such as a Christian bishop elected in Northern Michigan who happens to practice elements of Zen Buddhism. The more radical the conservatives get, the more people they alienate.
Great resolution Kendall — and good try. Glad to see that something this radical was also close, even though it was defeated.
Good to see that the usual revisionists can’t wait to come and “dialogue” with the reasserters and beat on them again in the loving, inclusive environment we all know that GC is. ; > ) That’s far far more important than the minor little issue of a person of another religion deciding to be an Episcopal bishop.
The good news is that at least TEC will be back in the news again — always good for our brand.
Nice also to see that the values of the revisionists on this thread are mutually opposing to the reasserters — it’s fitting for the two different gospels that our church contains.
RE: “The more radical the conservatives get, the more people they alienate.”
Yes indeed — one can tell by just how many people have swarmed over to The Inclusive Church in order to hang out with all the loving revisionists. ; > ) Our church membership and ASA as a result of all of our revisionist “non-radicals” over here in TEC is skyrocketing — just as the revisionists predicted.
Ms Russell offers bupkes. The resolution was to call off the GC for this year, not for non-participation if it occurs.
GC is not a council and is not “of the church”
It seems to be a favorite technique of The Enemy to inject irrelevancies (cf. bupkes; good word, robroy) and thereby try to change the subject. That means there’s something about the subject that makes The Archfiend squirm.
#4
The Newark Resolution won’t come to the floor of GC if the Cmte on the Dispatch of Business, chaired by Rev Jim Simons of the KJS created Diocese of Pgh, doesn’t allow it to do so.
#9, And why won’t he let it come to the floor? Afraid it might pass? Afraid it might reveal what TEC has become?
Our church polity is democratic and the people must have their voice so that the Holy Spirit can speak through them. Isn’t that the mantra?
The re-interpretation (“spin”) of this resolution in comments #3 and #5 are instructive and reveal much about the reappraiser tactics. However, impugning the motives of others is not a persuasive argument.
#10
I have no idea of what the Dispatch Cmte will do with the Newark Resolution, but I do know they have the authority to allow or prevent proposed legislation to ever reach the floor of the HOD. For example the Cmte can refer resolutions back to the Cmte handling the particular resolution late in the GenCon which effectively kills the legislation since the time needed for it to make the legislative calendar becomes insufficient. Or in the case of a Resolution in 2003 or 2006 to consider Jesus being the unique Son of God and the Way the Truth and the Life was determind by Disdpatch to be redundant and not necessary to vote on. It is the most powerful Cmte of the HOD and KJS and Canon Bonnie have a beholden ally at the helm.