general convention 101

8/6/2019 General Convention 101

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1This presentation has been based on one created

by the Diocese of OHIO, 2006

Diocese of Los Angeles

General Convention

2009

General Convention, 2009

Anaheim, July 7-17


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Diocese of Los Angeles - General Convention

2009

This presentation has been based on one createdby the Diocese of OHIO, 2006

The Episcopal Church

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/

111 Dioceses in the Episcopal Church

Divided into 9 Provinces

We are in the Diocese of Los Angeles In Province VIII

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General Convention 2009

Theme: Ubuntu: I in you and you in me

Zulu word meaning

We are created to live in a delicate network of interdependence.

My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours

I am because you are

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General Convention is a legislative body.

Votes on Constitution and Canons.

Prayer Book

Resolutions that state the Mind of the

ChurchBut

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Surrounded by prayer

Eucharist daily

With small groups for discussion as part of worship

Bible Study

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House of Deputies

House of Bishops

Triennial

Exhibit Hall (Market Place)

Many other organizations meet: AltarGuild,Youth etc

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Legislative Body.

How is our church governed as compared to

other churches.

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Episcopalhaving bishops and dioceses.

Congregationalautonomous congregations.

Presbyterialhaving elders, but no

priests or bishops.

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Congregational Churches:

United Church of Christ, some Baptist churches

v

Each congregation can decide its own doctrine andpositions.

v Congregations may join loose associations formutual benefit, but not to have authority over oneanother.

v Congregationalism appeared after the Reformation.

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Presbyterial churches:

The Presbyterian Church (USA) and its off-shoots.

v No bishops, but congregations are organized intoregional presbyteries and synods.

v Elected church officials, lay and ordained, make

major decisions for congregations.

v Annual national General Assembly makes policy

for the whole denomination.

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What is correct?

Holy Scripture offers only hints:

v No modern Church system can be tracedexclusively back to the Early Church.

v The New Testament shows elements of all three

forms.

v Our Episcopal Church is not strictly episcopal

in its organization or authority.

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The Episcopal Church effectively blends

episcopal and presbyterial forms.

vS

hared decision making between clergy and layleaders.

v Broadens the base for our discernment and

authority.

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We believe that authority is given to us through

baptism:

v The HolySpirit is active in everyones life.

v Everyone has a voice.

v Everyone has gifts to give.

v True for everyone: Communicants, vestry

members, deacons, priests, and bishops.

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Baptismal authority flows from thecommunicants throughelectionBaptismal authority flowsfrom the communicants throughelection

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Baptismal authority flows from thecommunicants through election


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9

CC

CC

C

CC

C

Parish

CC

CC

CC

CC

CCC

CC

C

CC

C

Parish

CC

CC

CC

VVV V

CC

C

Vestry

Baptismal

Authority


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And to the wardens and rectors

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CC

CC

C

CC

C

Parish

C C CC

CC

VVV V

W W

R

CC

C

Vestry

Baptismal

Authority


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and to Diocesan Convention, who then

vote for the bishop.

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11

Diocesan Convention

Clergy

Delegates

Bishop

StandingCommittee

DiocesanCouncil

Trustees,etc.

Deputies to

GC

(4 clergy4 lay)

Parishes


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and eventually to General Convention

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12

General Convention

House of

Deputies

House of

Bishops

Dioceses

Presiding Bishop

President of House ofDeputies

Presiding

Bishop

President

of House

of

Deputies


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Authority sits in the pews

The Episcopal Church is a representative democracy:

v We surrender our authority to others through election of

representatives.

v They make decisions on our behalf.

v We always have the choice to continue to elect some, or

elect others.

v This approach to leadership is uncommon in the Anglican

Communion.

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The Episcopal Churchs polity was devised the same

people who wrote the United States Constitution.

v Dioceses have a lot of independence, like States.

v General Convention has two houses, like the Congress.

v Leaders are elected.

v Authority and power are shared, to provide

checks and balances.

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In the Parish

v Annual parish meeting, Vestry, Wardens, and Clergy

In the Diocesev Bishop and Standing Committee, Convention,

Commissions, Committees, and the Deputation

In the Episcopal Church

v General Convention, Presiding Bishop,

commissions, and committees

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Throughout most of the Anglican Communion:

v Bishops make decisions, and hand them down.

v No such thing as a House of Deputies orStandingCommittee.

v No laypeople in diocesan leadership.

In Canada, New Zealand, and few others, its morelike in the United States.

We were organized this way 100 years before the ideaof an Anglican Communion began.

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General Convention meets every three years.It has two houses

House of Deputies

House of Bishops

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v All deliberations begin with prayer and reflection.

v Every day begins with Bible study, table conversation andreflection, and Eucharist.

v All sessions of the House of Deputies and House ofBishops begin with prayer and meditation.

v Deputies and Bishops can call for prayer as the time forvoting approaches.

v Hearings on controversial topics allow those present to

speak without interruption, and to be heard respectfully.Everyones voice is invited and welcomed.

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Chair Bonnie Anderson, D.D.

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Elected deputies for Los Angeles. Clergy:

Altagracia Perez

Gary Commins

Diane Jardine Bruce

Mark Kowalewski

David Jackson (Alternate)

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Elected deputies for Los Angeles. Lay:

Jenny Ladefoged

Daniel Valdez

Joanne ODonnell

Jim White (Chair)

Mimi Grant (Alternate)

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The Junior House

(the House of Bishops)

Formed after the House of Deputies,

therefore the Junior House

Nearly 300 bishops eligible by virtue of his orher office as bishop

Chaired by the Presiding Bishop

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The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

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Bishops of Los Angeles

The Right Reverend Joseph Jon Bruno, D.D., Diocesan

The Right Reverend Chester Lovelle Talton, D.D. Suffragan

The Right Reverend Robert Marshall Anderson, D.DAssistant

The Right Reverend Sergio Carranza, Assistant

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The Episcopal Church is governed by the

Constitution and Canons. These can only be

changed by General Convention.

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So how does it work?

All Legislation has to pass each house.

Nothing can be considered by either houseunless it is in the form of a resolution andhas been through a committee.

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Resolutions can be introduced by

Deputies, Dioceses, Provinces, Standing

Commissions, Standing, Joint and LegislativeCommittees, The Executive Council, Other

boards etc, required to report to GC, and

messages from the House of Bishops.

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Resolutions are usually gathered 3 months

before, printed in the Blue Book, and allocated

numbers, and sent to different legislative

committees.

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Lets follow one resolution.

Resolution A039 Reconciliation training

Second attempt, first got lost in 03

Joanne ODonnell (one of our deputies) sits onthe Standing Commission on Domestic Mission

and Evangelism

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AO39 urged all the church, (bishops included)

to engage in reconciliation training, and have

reports in 2009

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Went first to the Joint Legislative Committee

on Education, and then went to the House of

Bishops. They amended, passed it, sent it to

the House of Deputies, and they concurred, as

amended.

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Life of a deputy (9 or 10 days)

Committee meetings, 7.30

Eucharist, Bible study

Legislation Chaplain (prayer)

Lunch (different caucuses)

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Legislation afternoon session

Meeting of the deputation, with bishops

Either formal organization dinners or often asandwich.

Hearings / Church service

Caucus meetings BED

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Issues at General Convention 2009

The Budget 2009-12

Priorities

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Re-commit to the Millennium DevelopmentGoals:

Reduce child mortality

Improve maternal healthcombat HIV/AIDs, malaria and otherdiseases

ensure environmental sustainability

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On the last day ofGeneral Convention 2006

B033passed in the House of Bishops:

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call uponStanding Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to

exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration

of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life

presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead tofurther strains on communion.

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Visiting General Convention 2009

We have an incredible opportunity as a diocese since GeneralConvention is in Anaheim.

Plan a day or two to see your Church gathered in worship, prayer,and action.

Visitors can buy a day-pass at Convention.

Consider volunteering as a way to deepen your understanding of ourChurch while

providing valuable service.


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Visit the Exhibit Hall where there will be dozens of vendors

and Church-based organizations plus lots of freebies!

Attend the major Convention Eucharist on 10:00 AM on

Sunday 12 July 2009, or any of the daily Eucharists at 11:30

Observe a legislative session in the third largest legislative

body that meets in the USA (after the Republican &

Democratic National Conventions the House of Deputies

with over 800 deputies).

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general convention 101

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