Legislation and Emerging Church in the Same Day

by Lelanda Lee (L5)

Remember, you may contact the deputies and alternates at deputation@coloradodiocese.org. And you may contact Lelanda Lee at LelandaLee@gmail.com.

The views expressed by the blogger on this Web site are her own and do not represent the entire deputation. Indeed, the Colorado deputation encompasses a wide diversity of theological positions, and silence on the part of any deputy or alternate should not be construed as a signal of how much or how little each person cares.


Yesterday, Thursday, July 15th, was Day 8, and as you can see from the photos above, our guys were active at the microphone during a very full legislative session. You could feel the tension in the room, as deputies rose repeatedly to try to limit debate and committee reports (the way a piece of legislation is introduced onto the floor for consideration), and frustration set in because it takes time to vote on each motion. President Bonnie Anderson again had to ask deputies to refer their procedural questions to senior deputies and come to the microphone for those types of questions as a last resort; her request only sort of worked.

The biggies for yesterday were the following from Episcopal Life Online:

Committee proposes $23 million budget cut, reduction in diocesan asking

The budget proposal presented yesterday afternoon was essentially a total re-write of the draft budget that was presented to Executive Council in April, which deputies have had for several weeks. The Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance held hearings earlier in the General Convention (last week) to finalize a list of mission priorities that inform the budget for the next triennium, 2010-2012. The proposed cuts are deep, wiping out thirty Church Center staff positions, reducing the next General Convention from ten to eight legislative days, and trimming CCABs' (commissions, committees, agencies and boards) travel. Some of the cuts, while painful, will help us become better stewards of everyone's money and perhaps even time. Other cuts will require rethinking how to do business and will test our will to bring and to do the work at more local and regional levels. Regrettably, some of the cuts have to do with social justice work (such as anti-racism justice work) that has gained a foothold in prior trienniums, and it remains to be seen whether or not the will to continue the work at the diocesan level will hold. From my perspective, it will become easier for those diocesan bishops who don't see anti-racism work as a church imperative to avoid the work in their dioceses.

Denominational health plan to provide coverage for all clergy, laity

The Denominational Health Plan proposed by the Church Pension Group had been adopted by the House of Bishops on July 12th, and yesterday the House of Deputies concurred, which means that we will have such a plan targeted to be fully implemented by December 31, 2012. The sentiment of the deputies seemed to turn towards trust and confidence in the Church Pension Group and the good job they have historically done and viewing the extension of health insurance benefits to lay employees as a justice issue. It was reiterated that the Church Pension Group will work with individual parishes that may find themselves facing higher premium costs as a result of the Denominational Health Plan to secure plans consistent with their current ones.

Bishops call for 'resources' for same-gender blessing

Resolution C056 passed the House of Bishops in a session that extended past its scheduled time for ending yesterday. This resolution, which must come before the House of Deputies, stops short of authorizing same-gender blessings and appears to allow flexibility to each diocesan bishop to pastor within the context of her/his diocese. In other words, church members may find themselves somewhere in the expansive umbrella of The Episcopal Church. The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music is directed to collect and develop theological, and liturgical resources and to report to the next General Convention. And bishops, particularly those in dioceses where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of their members.

Deputies approve lay pension plan, covenant study

Resolution A138 was concurred by the House of Deputies and now becomes church policy. Church canons will be changed to implement a mandatory pension plan for lay church employees who work at least 1,000 hours a year (approximately 20 hours per week). Again, this was viewed as a justice issue - that the church has an obligation to treat fairly the lay employees, such as church musicians and administrators.

The House of Deputies also passed Resolution D020, in substitute language format (not yet available online), in the last minutes of its afternoon legislative session. This resolution requests dioceses to study the latest draft of an Anglican Covanant (the Ridley Cambridge Draft) and any other drafts that might follow, and to report their comments to Executive Council, which will make a report to the next General Convention in three years. This resolution does not commit the church to become a signatory of an Anglican Covenant, but is a way forward with open minds and hearts and encourages study and discussion at the diocesan level.

LA Night: Genesis, A Liturgy for Transformational Living

For a YouTube intro to Genesis, A Liturgy for Transformational Living from the Diocese of Los Angeles online presence known as the LAepiscopal Channel, click here. LANight was a diocesan event produced and presented by The Center for Creative Ministries. Jimmy Bartz, Barry Taylor, and Brian McLaren led us on a journey of Genesis, from breath to wonder last night in the Anaheim Arena. The music was energetic, the artist working throughout the evening was phenomenal, and the poet was superlative. Bishop Jon Bruno of the Diocese of Los Angeles came out at one point and blessed a huge water bowl from which acolytes filled bowls of water. Then they walked through the arena flicking water onto the people in blessing. Brian McLaren delivered a message entitled "Connectivity," and Jimmy Bartz and Barry Taylor engaged in a conversational style response to the message. Below are a series of images from LA Night.