by the Rev. Sharon Alexander, Trinity Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, and Chair of Louisiana Deputation
The Louisiana Deputation to General Convention has been meeting and preparing for General Convention, which will be in Salt Lake City June 23 to July 3. Each diocese in the Episcopal Church is part of a province and the Diocese of Louisiana is part of Province IV, which comprises the dioceses in the Southeast. In preparation for General Convention each Province hosts a Synod meeting, and our Deputation recently attended the Province IV Synod.
The Deputies attended meetings at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina June 3-5 to learn about new procedures at General Convention and to receive information on important issues. This General Convention will be the first to be “paperless.” Each Deputy will be issued an iPad, which will have access to schedules, resolutions, reports and other information. The iPads have been rented and will result in a significant cost savings.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings, and Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church Stacy Sauls were among the speakers at Kanuga. Each gave a report on the status of the Episcopal Church and issues that will be on the agenda at General Convention. More than 900 Deputies and first Alternates from 109 Dioceses will attend General Convention. Each Diocese sends four lay and four clergy Deputies, plus one or more lay and clergy Alternates. This year 52% of the Deputies are male and 48% are female; 46% are attending General Convention for the first time and 20% are attending for the second time. This is a significantly larger percentage of new Deputies compared to recent years. Approximately one third of the first time Deputies have been appointed to Legislative Committees, which is a much larger percentage than usual.
The primary issues discussed at Synod included the proposed budget for the next three years for the Episcopal Church. One proposal is to gradually reduce the assessment paid by the Dioceses so more funds remain at the local level to promote local ministry efforts. Other important topics are proposals for restructuring the Episcopal Church to make it more efficient, as well as proposals regarding the church’s position, rules and liturgy for marriage, including possibly same sex marriage in states where it is allowed. The Deputies also learned more about the nominees and procedures for the election of a new Presiding Bishop. Two of the four nominees are from Province IV: The Rt. Rev’d Michael Curry of the Diocese of North Caroline and The Rt. Rev’d Dabney Smith of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
Three resolutions were approved at Synod to be presented at General Convention. Resolution 2015-1 requests that General Convention prayerfully consider the potential restructure of the church pursuant to a “Memorial” (“memorials” are petitions that urge action on important matters). Resolution 2015-2 requests that General Convention not abandon the Provincial structure currently in place and clarifies the role of Provinces. Resolution 2015-3 condemns persecution of Christians throughout the world. These resolutions will be presented to the General Convention for consideration.
The Louisiana Deputation at General Convention will be: The Rev’d Sharon Alexander (Chair), Trinity, Baton Rouge (serving on Governance and Structure Committee); The Rev’d A.J. Heine, St. Augustine’s, Metairie (serving on Certification of Minutes Committee); The Rev’d Fred Devall, St. Martin’s, Metairie; The Rev’d Anne Maxwell, Christ Church, Covington; The Rev’d Roman Roldan, Grace, St. Francisville (1st Clerical Alternate); The Rev’d Ron Clingenpeel, retired (2nd Clerical Alternate); Ms. Ann Ball, All Saints, River Ridge (Ecumenical and Interreligous Relationships Committee); Mr. Edgar Cage, St. Patrick’s, Zachary; Mr. John Musser, Trinity, New Orleans (Social Justice and US Policy Committee); Mr. Edgar Starns, St. Luke’s, Baton Rouge; and Dr. Caroline Carson, St. Paul’s, New Orleans (1st Lay Alternate). Bishop Thompson is Chair of the Social Justice and US Policy Committee. Levi Thompson, a recent graduate of St. Martin’s School in Metairie will be attending as a Province IV Youth Deputy (with seat and voice). The Rev’d Canon Shannon Manning will be attending to meet with people from all over the church to help foster relationships with other Dioceses, as well as Episcopal Church committees, networks and other groups that can help build up our local ministries. The Rev’d Bill Miller, who recently became Rector of Christ Church in Covington, will also be attending as a representative of Episcopal Relief and Development.
The Deputation will be providing regular communications to the Diocese during General Convention. You can follow these communications at www.edola.org.