With Bishop Keith L. Ackerman of Quincy unable to preside, delegates did not consider resolutions immediately severing the diocese’s affiliation with General Convention during the annual synod Oct. 19-20 at Christ Church, Moline, Ill. A final decision will be made within the next 12 months, according to an amended substitute.

“Far from being a retreat, these decisions give us flexibility,” said Tad Brenner, diocesan chancellor. “We simply made a judicious decision about timing. The original resolution was premature. The circumstances don’t justify it at this time.”

As worded, the resolution not considered would have immediately ended the diocese’s submission to “the authority or governance of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.”

Another resolution prior to being amended appealed to “Provinces of the Anglican Communion outside of North America to prayerfully consider receiving the Diocese of Quincy into their Province on an emergency, pastoral and extra-provincial basis.” Instead, delegates approved substitute language for the second resolution called for further study and recommendations by the Bishop and standing committee. A final decision on affiliation will be determined later.

Several delegates said they wanted more information about the proposed destination before leaping into the unknown.

“When I get in my car in the morning I usually know where I am going,” said Crystal Pottoff, of Zion Church, Brimfield, Ill. “In all of this, we have never said where it is we are going.” Delegates spent considerable time debating whether to set a time limit on a decision before eventually settling on “the next synod.”

Quincy will have to call a special synod meeting no later than June if it intends to send a deputation to the next General Convention, however. National church canons call for the secretary of convention to be notified of the diocesan deputation at least 12 months before the start. Quincy is not scheduled to meet again in synod until October 2008, less than nine months before the start of the 76th General Convention in July 2009.

During a press conference at the synod's conclusion, Mr. Brenner said dioceses were not required to send a deputation to General Convention. He noted that Quincy suspended its requirement to elect a deputation during the annual synod last year.

The synod did elect a slate of two clergy and two lay delegates plus alternates to the Anglican Communion Network. It also approved payment to the Network of a 10-percent tithe of monthly diocesan assessment income and made several changes to its constitution that, if carried on the required second reading, “would allow the synod to realign provincial membership by a single concurrent vote at a single synod.”

Early on in the business sessions on both Friday and Saturday, Bishop Ackerman “exercised a point of personal privilege” and relinquished presiding because of high blood pressure, which was made worse by stress, according to a doctor who monitored the bishop’s condition throughout the meeting and updated synod members shortly before the meeting's conclusion on Saturday.

Bishop Ackerman did deliver his address as scheduled during Evensong on Friday. He also presided for all the liturgies during the synod.

Steve Waring

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