Delegates to a special convention in the Diocese of California will consider far-reaching structural changes when they meet May 10 at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.
The change was proposed by Bishop Marc Handley Andrus in his first address to the diocesan convention, according to Sean McConnell, communications officer of the diocese.
“The intent is to create a body of governance that is transparent and accountable to the people of the diocese,” Mr. McConnell said. “I think there was concern that [under the corporation sole model] major decisions could be made by one person with very little consultation. There was also very little interaction between the existing diocesan organizations and concern about a lack of transparency.”
Under the proposed revisions, an executive council would become the board of directors of the diocesan corporation and would be responsible for the operation of the diocese and strategic planning when convention is not in session. The executive council and a newly created investment committee (reporting to the executive council) would assume the responsibilities currently held by diocesan council and the board of directors.
As the “democratic process” is integral to TEC’s “polity” (as has recently been argued by those in charge nationally), it seems odd that we frequently function more like a Cuba-style dictatorship (a single “party” proposing candidates as well as legislation, and “public” votes for which dissenters can be and frequently are penalized).
Maybe what we most need today is [i]multi-party[/i] democracy coupled with totally [i]secret[/i] voting. Oh yes — and a genuinely [i]independent[/i] judiciatory. Aren’t these, after all, the accepted minimums of acceptable political rights throughout the world today?
Why don’t we just become Congregationalists and get it over with?
Oh those problems with corporation sole. Gotta love it when one California bishop brings in a silver platter loaded with legal reality, all unintentionally … . Calling Dr. Schori, Code Rue, Code Rue! The California Suites.