The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C005)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the administration of the Church Pension Fund is hereby urged to seek the means to extend all financial benefits, for which the Church Pension Fund has administrative responsibility and which pertain to the spouses of married employees, to same-sex partners of single employees.

The lay order of the Diocese of San Joaquin and the clerical orders of the Dioceses of South Carolina and Central Florida called for a Vote By Orders on Resolution C005.

Debate followed.

Deputy Runnels of Mississippi moved to postpone consideration of Resolution C005 to a time certain, following disposition of B004, C026, C042, C044, D052.

Debate followed on the Runnels motion.

The question was moved to terminate debate on the Runnels motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Runnels motion to postpone Resolution C005 to a time certain.

Motion carried

The Committee on Dispatch of Business moved to suspend rules to reintroduce Resolution C005.

Motion carried

Rules suspended

The Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #4 on Resolution C005 (Urge Pension Fund to Extend Benefits to Domestic Partners), moved the resolution, and recommended adoption of a substitute.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 72nd General Convention urges the Board of the Church Pension Fund to implement survivor coverage comparable to that provided to clergy spouses and spouses of lay employees of the church to the life partners of gay and lesbian clergy and lay employees, provided that the Board of the Pension Fund determines that such benefits would not have significant negative impact on the continuing financial viability of the Pension Fund.

Deputy Mann of Texas moved a substitute.

Proposed Substitute:

Resolved, the House Bishops concurring, That this 72nd General Convention request that the Church Pension Fund initiate a study as to how to provide survivor benefits, comparable to such benefits as are now provided to spouses of clergy and lay employees of the Church, to qualified persons designated by a cleric or lay employee and who are not currently eligible to receive such benefits; and be it further

Resolved, That such study shall specifically include, but not be limited to, a determination of both the cost and legal implications for the Fund relating to this proposal, and whether such action would have a significant negative impact on the financial viability of the Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Trustees of the Fund shall report to the 73rd General Convention on the results of this study as well as its recommendations relative to the extension of survivor benefits to possible qualified persons other than spouses.

Debate followed on Resolution C005.

A vote was taken on the Mann substitute for Resolution C005.

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

Debate followed on the committee substitute for Resolution C005.

The Clergy and Lay deputations of San Joaquin, and the Clergy deputations of Central Florida, South Carolina, and Florida called for a Vote By Orders.

A Vote By Orders was taken on the substitute for Resolution C005 (Ballot #12).

Ballot #12 taken by orders

The Secretary read the results of Ballot #12 on the substitute for Resolution C005 (Extend Benefits to Domestic Partners).

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #292)