The House of Deputies will be asked to consider meeting in two unusual sessions early in the 76th General Convention July 8-17 to discuss Resolution B033, which was adopted during an extraordinary session of its own on the final day of the 75th General Convention in 2006.
 
This will be the first time since 1973 that the House of Deputies convenes as a committee of the whole. Then the house met to discuss ordination of women after which it narrowly rejected a proposal to allow women to be ordained to the priesthood and the episcopate.
 
In a letter sent to deputies and first alternates June 29, Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, said she believes the house “will benefit by having an opportunity to discuss B033 apart from the context of legislative procedure” and noted that “many deputies have indicated their longing to discuss B033 together as a house.”
 
A dozen prefiled resolutions address B033 in some form or another. These have all been assigned to the legislative Committee on World Mission. A more typical legislative procedure would for the Committee on World Mission to hold hearings and combine the resolutions. From there they are forwarded to the Committee on the Dispatch of Business, which determines when and if proposed resolutions come to the floor for debate.
 
More discussion of B033 will occur when eight deputies meet privately with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams for 30 minutes. The session is not an official part of convention and thus there has been no announcement of the plans. The Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe of the Diocese of California confirmed the details.
 
Canon Barlowe said Archbishop Williams has not previously had an opportunity to hear about the broad range of ministry and leadership in which lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual Episcopalians are involved. He added that he does not anticipate a communiqué afterward.
 
“Anytime committed Christians come together, something remarkable happens,” he said. “What comes to the fore is the commitment to be better bearers of the good news of Christ.”
 
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Mrs. Anderson helped facilitate the meeting with Archbishop Williams, but are not expected to attend. In addition to Canon Barlow, the eight deputies are:
  • Louie Crew, Diocese of Newark;
  • The Rev. Canon Lisa Gray, Michigan;
  • The Rev. Tobias Haller, BSG, New York;
  • Joanne O'Donnell, Los Angeles;
  • The Rev. Altagracia Perez, Los Angeles;
  • Rebecca Snow, Alaska;
  • Michael Spencer, Eastern Michigan.
The Rev. Eric H. F. Law, known for his work in multicultural leadership training, has been helping the deputies prepare for their meeting, according to Canon Barlowe, and Mr. Law may attend the session with Archbishop Williams, he said.
 
Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.
 
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