235th Convention Round Up

Bishop's Crosses and Resolutions


January 14, 2012

Bishop's Crosses awarded to Sister Faith Margaret, José Torres and the Rev. Richard Witt (& Johanna Shafer, presented last November). Resolutions passed on same-gender marriage, Occupy movement.

 

For Bishop Sisk’s address click here

For Bishop Smith’s sermon click here 

For the Texts of All Resolutions as Presented click here

 


Bishop’s Crosses

Bishop’s Crosses were awarded to Sister Faith Margaret, the Treasure of the Diocese, to José Torres, Director of the Cathedral’s ACT program, and to the Rev. Richard C. Witt, who this year celebrated 20 years as director of Rural and Migrant Ministries. Read the citations.

 

Resolutions

In addition to the normal elections of members of diocesan commissions and committees (for nominees go here – results will be posted next week), and passage of budget resolutions, the 235th Convention of the Diocese considered a number of other resolutions.

1.    A resolution to change the relevant canon to state that “If a vacancy exists in the position of Priest-in-Charge of a parish for longer than six months, the Bishop at his/her discretion may immediately appoint a Priest-in-Charge,” while winning a majority of votes, failed to gain enough to pass at this convention and will be referred to the 236th convention for further consideration. Support was stronger among the clergy than among lay delegates.

2.    A resolution was proposed by the Committee to Elect a Bishop that would in its original form have made it impossible for a candidate to be nominated from the floor later than 20 days after the publication of a Committee to Elect’s report. It was amended to delete the operative words “The electing convention shall not consider any candidates other than those nominated by the Committee or by Petition as set forth herein,” and was then passed in amended form. As a result it appears to effect little change. It will continue to be possible to nominate candidates from the floor up until the moment when a candidate wins election.

3.    Three resolutions proposed by the LGBT Concerns Committee of the Social Concerns Commission regarding same-gender marriage were passed with large majorities. The first two urge General Convention to “provide for the marriage of same-gender couples in those jurisdictions that have or will have civil marriage for same-gender couples,” and “diligently to continue the work called for in its Resolution C056, to ‘collect and develop theological and liturgical resources’ for the blessing for same-gender couples.” The third “encourages the Bishop to interpret Resolution C056 of the 76th General Convention (“bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church”) to mean that clergy throughout the Diocese are permitted (but not required) to sign marriage licenses and officiate at marriages for couples legally eligible for marriage in the State of New York.”

4.    The Rev. Blake Ryder introduced a resolution regarding the Occupy movement, as detailed below. The resolution passed with a large majority.

RESOLVED: In response to the Bishop’s Address, the 235th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New York joins in affirming:

[1] that the Occupy movement has shed light on the challenges we face as both citizens and followers of Jesus Christ;

[2] that unfettered capitalism has resulted in unacceptable inequities within the fabric of our society;

[3] that non-violent protests and direct actions of the Occupy movement, including actions of conscientious civil disobedience, have a time honored place in the formation and growth of a more civil society;

[4] that, in contrast, protests and direct actions that are mindfully designed to provoke confrontation and violence are to be discouraged in any social or political movement;

[5] that in all cases, we call upon law enforcement to respond to any protest and any direct action with restraint and respect for the safety and human dignity of protestors, and in respect of the rights of a free press to witness and record such events;

[6] that we affirm those members of each order of ministry in the Episcopal Church – laity, deacons, priests, and bishops – as well as some parishes – who have made decisions, based on their local circumstances, abilities, and resources, to open their hearts and doors in support of local Occupations;

[7] and that we encourage all members and institutions of the Diocese to prayerfully consider their own level of interest, engagement, or support of the Occupy movement; acknowledging that some will choose to engage, and some will not.

submitted by The Rev. Wm. Blake Rider, Rector
Christ Episcopal Church
Poughkeepsie, New York

Explanation

For over a year, since the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia in December of 2010, the world has watched the rise, in country after country, of social and political movements calling attention to inequities within the basic economic, civic, and in some cases political systems of each country. In the United States, this phenomenon has become known as the Occupy Movement – once centered upon Occupy Wall Street – but now widely spread across the country. Each county within the bounds of the Diocese of New York has experienced some manifestation of the Occupy Movement.

The Movement has been characterized by conversation and debate in its General Assemblies, in rallies, the Occupy camps, protests, and direct actions. Many individuals within the Diocese of New York – lay and ordained – and many parishes – have engaged the conversation regarding the economic inequities that have been highlighted by the Occupy Movement, and considered their response, if any.

The intent of this resolution is:

• to acknowledge the (presumed) broad consensus that inequities in our social, economic, and political life do exist
• to acknowledge that the rights of protest, peaceful assembly, and a free press are worthy of our unqualified support
• to acknowledge that civil disobedience likewise holds an honored place within our society – when accompanied by the conscientious decision to accept the civil consequences of one’s actions
• to call upon law enforcement to always plan, strategize, and perform their duties with an aim to bring no harm to participants in any protest or direction action, much less to those who are merely standing as witnesses or as members of the press
• to affirm those members of the Diocese and parishes who after prayerful reflection and due consideration have decided to stand with the Occupy Movement
• and to acknowledge that after the same prayerful reflection and due consideration, some members of the Diocese and parishes will hold the contrary position, and not be in support of the Occupy Movement.




Return to Main News Page

Download The Episcopal New Yorker:

Pdf PDF of current issue
Fullcoverpage_forsidebar