By Kirk Petersen After a single meeting, the ad hoc group appointed to consider pandemic-related changes has wasted no time in cutting the already-delayed 80th General Convention to a bare minimum. There are many decisions still to be made, and nothing is official until the Executive Council meets June 5. But the presiding officers of both legislative bodies have approved … [Read more...] about General Convention Slashed to the Bone
80th General Convention
Panel Seeks to Make GC Recommendations Swiftly
By Kirk Petersen The working group focused on restructuring the July General Convention expects to make some initial recommendations next week, and to complete its work by May 31, said the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, co-chair of what has been named the Presiding Officers' General Convention Design Group. Along with co-chair Bryan Krislock of the House of Deputies, Rowe will lead … [Read more...] about Panel Seeks to Make GC Recommendations Swiftly
General Convention Is a Go, But Expect Dramatic Changes
(This story has been updated.) By Kirk Petersen Church leadership has committed to significantly compressing plans for General Convention in July, but closed the door on the idea of postponing it altogether, during an extraordinary online Executive Council meeting May 11. In the opening minutes of the meeting, Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry declared “we are … [Read more...] about General Convention Is a Go, But Expect Dramatic Changes
COVID May Prompt Major General Convention Changes
By Kirk Petersen In a whirlwind of consultations prompted by COVID outbreaks at recent meetings, church leadership is actively considering significant changes for the 80th General Convention, currently planned for July 7-14 in Baltimore. The Executive Council -- the governing body of the Episcopal Church between General Conventions -- will hold an unusual special session … [Read more...] about COVID May Prompt Major General Convention Changes
Conflict Looms Over Requiring Baptism for Communion
By David Paulsen Episcopal News Service General Convention’s committees on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music heard testimony May 3 on a diverse selection of resolutions, from proposals to add the late Bishop Barbara Harris to the church’s calendar of feasts to a measure “addressing antisemitic, anti-Jewish and/or supersessionist interpretations of our lectionaries.” The … [Read more...] about Conflict Looms Over Requiring Baptism for Communion
Jennings, 2 Others Have COVID After Executive Council Meeting
By Kirk Petersen General Convention Office issues COVID guidelines At least three people who attended a four-day Executive Council meeting in Puerto Rico have tested positive for COVID, casting a spotlight on concerns about the much-larger eight-day General Convention scheduled for early July. The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, 71, president of the House of … [Read more...] about Jennings, 2 Others Have COVID After Executive Council Meeting
Proposal: $2 Million Annually for Racial Justice Efforts
By David Paulsen Episcopal News Service The Episcopal Church would form a new Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice and allocate an estimated $2 million a year for the coalition to coordinate and expand churchwide racial healing efforts, under a newly released proposal to be considered in July by the 80th General Convention. The proposal was unveiled on March … [Read more...] about Proposal: $2 Million Annually for Racial Justice Efforts
Prayer Book Debate Begins Again for General Convention
By Kirk Petersen The Prayer Book, Liturgy & Music committee has scheduled three sessions of online legislative hearings on Saturday, February 19 to hear testimony on 25 proposed resolutions, many of them related to prayer book revision, a hot topic at the 2018 General Convention. Hearings on resolutions are being held online for the first time this year, and before … [Read more...] about Prayer Book Debate Begins Again for General Convention