General Crazy

More notable actions taken by the House of Deputies so far:

*Adopted the “Five Marks of Mission”. Various bodies and instruments of the Anglican Communion have affirmed these as strategic priorities: 1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom; 2. To teach, baptise, and nurture new believers; 3. To respond to human need by loving service; 4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society; 5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

*Consented to the election of the bishop of the Diocese of Ecuador Central. This was a heartbreaking process. The Diocese of Ecuador Central, by all accounts, has struggled since the 1970s to maintain central administrative functions. For example, the diocese has not had a functioning standing committee since at least 1973. Racial and cultural strife has been a factor, along with remnants of colonialism and other challenges. Members of the deputation spoke passionately for and against the consent. It ultimately passed; for the sake of that diocese, I hope the wisdom of the Spirit was working in the House of Bishops when they elected the bishop-elect.

*Health care coverage advocacy. The Diocese of East Tennessee has been working on a curriculum that might able to be used in all congregations to train church members to be advocates for universal health care. The testimony I heard in the committee hearing makes it sound like East Tennessee may soon have something really wonderful to share with the wider church. It focuses on education about the issues and training for those who would be voices among the various governmental bodies for healthcare coverage, reform, etc.

*MDGs. The draft budget prepared by Executive Council did not include the 0.7% line item for the Millenium Development Goals. The version of the budget current under consideration in both houses has the line item restored.

*Ecumenism. Agreed to further conversations with the Presyterian Church USA, and the United Methodist Church, the latter to include more outreach to and inclusion of conversations with historically African American denominations arising from the Episcopal/Methodist experience, such as the AME and the CME. I know that the propoasal for full commuion with the Moravian Church (the American iteration, only) is out there; I cannot remember if we voted on it yet or not! If we haven’t I don’t know why it won’t pass when we do.

*Anglican Covenant. Adopted a resolution commending further study. No substantive position on the current draft (or really, the concept itself) was promulgated.

*Earth Charter. Voted to endorse the Earth Charter. There is some concern in various quarters about how this affects commercial agriculture. Further research is needed.

We went into recess this morning before finishing debate on the budget. Two interesting points so far:

1. Two attempts have been made that would assume the restoration of a monthly Episcopal Life. One failed; the other is still pending. I am in favor of it, but it seems it will not pass. It’s sort of silly if we cannot get it done; Episcopal Life is self-funded.
2. A deputy from Chicago attempted to add funding for a feasibility study to move the Episcopal Church Center out of New York. He would have had more support, but he made the mistake of suggesting that it should move to Chicago. The suggestion felt a bit self-serving, and the amendment failed.