$141 Million Budget Approved

Despite a few close votes, the House of Deputies on Thursday approved Resolution B067, the $141 million budget for 2010-2012, without amendment. Debate over the budget was overshadowed during the afternoon by a passionate discussion of a resolution in support of the Honduran people.

Resolution B031 requests in part "that the Organization of American States reconsider the decision to suspend Honduras from participation in its workings," and asks "that the Government of the United States not take actions that will penalize the people of Honduras." The resolution, which was proposed by the Rt. Rev. Lloyd E. Allen, Bishop of Honduras, also calls "upon the international lending organizations to continue investments, aid and loans to Honduras, in order to adequately care for the Honduran people."

Many who rose to speak against the resolution said that they did not believe they understood the complexity of the situation and were concerned with voting for a resolution which would lend legitimacy to what has been described by many as a military coup.

Deputy Sarah Lawton of California said the U.S. government had a "lamentable history" of supporting military coups and that it was unwise for The Episcopal Church to attempt to tell the Organization of American States what it should do.

However, deputies from Honduras or those native to that country were even more adamant that the poor would suffer most from economic sanctions. Many expressed strong disagreement with what happened being described as an illegal coup.

"For many years I worked in Honduras as a priest," said the Rev. Leonel Blanco of Oklahoma. "I know their suffering. The people of Honduras are now happy to be rid of a corrupt government. The workers suffered the most."

A number of amendments were proposed. One that was approved replaced the word "coup" with "events." The resolution was eventually approved on a voice vote and awaits the vote of the bishops.

Aside from the budget, which the House of Bishops also approved today, two other resolutions were passed in both houses. Deputies spent considerable time discussing Resolution C023 which calls "on all Episcopalians to work against the passage of so-called ‘Defense of Marriage’ state statutes and state constitutional amendments, and, in states where such statutes or constitutional amendments already exist, to work for their repeal."

Many of those who spoke in favor of the resolution described it as a matter of justice and equality while a number of those who spoke against it said that the resolution addressed the issue in political terms which prevented the theological discussion they felt this church has yet to have held. The vote was by orders and there was some confusion with the original figures reported, but they did not change the outcome. The final tally was 70 lay deputations in favor with 39 opposed. In the clergy order 60 deputations voted in favor with 49 voting no or divided. (A divided vote is considered the same as a "no" vote.)

Deputies also concurred with the House of Bishops on Resolution A142 which recommits The Episcopal Church to being anti-racist; requires "dioceses and provinces [to] develop programs and ministries to dismantle and eradicate structures of racism, both internally and externally, and integrate the practices of anti-racism into their ongoing life" and "that the Anti-Racism Committee of Executive Council develop a monitoring and reporting process for the dioceses, and that dioceses make annual reports to the Anti-Racism Committee of Executive Council."

Deputies also approved Resolution D096 on the prevention of domestic violence. The resolution "strongly encourage[s] all Episcopal bishops and other clergy and lay leadership to participate in such training as may be available to them." In introducing the resolution, the Rev. Martha H. Kreamer of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast said her daughter had been killed by "a man who could not take no for an answer." Deputy Kreamer said her daughter had sought protective custody orders and sought help from clergy and others, but to no avail. The man shot her daughter and then took his own life.

Friday is the final legislative day. The House of Deputies has a standing rule of order which prevents it from considering on the final two days any legislation not already adopted by the House of Bishops. That rule was suspended by a two-thirds majority of deputies today, but is unlikely to be repeated on Friday due to a significant backlog of resolutions.

Deputies did add 27 resolutions previously approved by the House of Bishops to the consent calendar, meaning they were approved without debate or an individual vote. Among those resolutions was A075 which authorizes a second round of dialogue on a Presbyterian-Episcopal agreement. A similar resolution was approved in 2008 by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A.

In one of the few remaining contentious human sexuality issues on the legislative calendar, the House of Deputies is scheduled to take up debate Friday morning on Resolution C056 which authorizes the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings and report to the 77th General Convention. That resolution was previously approved by the House of Bishops.