The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

House of Deputies Committee on Structure presented its Report #3 on Resolution A141 (Admit Diocese of Puerto Rico) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A141)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 2003 General Convention admit the Diocese of Puerto Rico to the Episcopal Church USA and recognize it as a diocese in union with General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention designate the Diocese of Puerto Rico as a member diocese of Province IX of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Puerto Rico be entitled to all rights pertaining to membership in the 6 Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, voice and vote in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, in accordance with the rules of those houses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Puerto Rico be obligated to undertake all responsibilities pertaining to diocesan membership in the Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, conforming its constitution and canons to the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church; submitting annual diocesan and parochial reports to the General Convention Office; contributing annually to the apportionment budget of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society; and reporting fully on any financial assistance it receives from the General Convention budget; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention affirm that the clergy and lay employees of the Diocese of Puerto Rico will be eligible to participate in companion pension plans administered by the Church Pension Fund, with benefits adapted to the particular needs of the Diocese and consistent with applicable law; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention urge the Church Pension Fund to work with the Diocese of Puerto Rico to develop a plan to cover the unfunded period of time for those of its clergy who previously participated in the Church Pension Fund when the Diocese was a member of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the portion of this resolution accepting the Diocese of Puerto Rico into union with the General Convention become effective by written directive by the Presiding Bishop to the Bishop of the Diocese on such date after January l, 2004 on which the Secretary of the General Convention certifies to the Presiding Bishop that the Secretary has received from the Diocese written evidence that the Diocese has successfully undertaken all the foregoing responsibilities pertaining to membership in the Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention re-affirm the principle that dioceses of this church that are not located within the United States may seek autonomy according to the procedures set forth in Resolution [A]235a of the 1991 General Convention or may join other provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 2003 General Convention admit the Diocese of Puerto Rico to The Episcopal Church USA and recognize it as a diocese in union with General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention designate the Diocese of Puerto Rico as a member diocese of Province IX of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Puerto Rico be entitled to all rights pertaining to membership in The Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, voice and vote in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, in accordance with the rules of those houses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Puerto Rico be obligated to undertake all responsibilities pertaining to diocesan membership in The Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, conforming its constitution and canons to the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; submitting annual diocesan and parochial reports to the General Convention Office; contributing annually to the apportionment budget of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society; and reporting fully on any financial assistance it receives from the General Convention budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention affirm that the clergy and lay employees of the Diocese of Puerto Rico will be eligible to participate in companion pension plans administered by the Church Pension Fund, with benefits adapted to the particular needs of the Diocese and consistent with applicable law; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention urge the Church Pension Fund to work with the Diocese of Puerto Rico to develop a plan to cover the unfunded period of time for those of its clergy who previously participated in the Church Pension Fund when the Diocese was a member of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the portion of this resolution accepting the Diocese of Puerto Rico into union with the General Convention become effective by written directive by the Presiding Bishop to the Bishop of the Diocese on such date after January l, 2004 on which the Secretary of the General Convention certifies to the Presiding Bishop that the Secretary has received from the Diocese written evidence that the Diocese has successfully undertaken all the foregoing responsibilities pertaining to membership in the Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons immediately upon concurrence of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention reaffirm the principle that dioceses of this church that are not located within the United States may seek autonomy according to the procedures set forth in Resolution [A]235a of the 1991 General Convention or may join other provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Deputy Rehill of Newark moved to divide the Resolution, separating the second resolve from the rest of the resolution.

Motion carried

Resolution divided

Debate continued on the main part of the divided Resolution.

Deputy Hutchinson of Utah asked if a motion to suspend the Rules of Order to allow the consideration of a canonical matter without prior review by the Committee on Canons would be in order.

The Parliamentarian advised that such a motion would be in order.

Deputy Hutchinson of Utah moved to suspend the rules.

Debate followed on the motion to suspend the rules.

Deputy Hamilton of Central Gulf Coast moved to terminate debate on the motion to suspend the rules.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken to suspend the Rules of Order.

Motion failed

Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania moved to terminate debate on the divided Resolution.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

The House voted on the divided Resolution A141, resolve clauses 1, and 3 through 8.

Motion carried

Resolved clauses adopted

The House then moved to a discussion of the second resolve clause.

Deputy Johnson of Minnesota moved that pursuant to Title V.1.1, to forego referring the current motion to the Committee on Canons.

Motion carried

Deputy Johnson of Minnesota moved to amend the second resolve clause.

Proposed Amendment:

That Canon I.9.1 be amended to delete "and" before Honduras and insert "and Puerto Rico" after Honduras. And that a new resolve clause be inserted with these words: "That this amendment become effective immediately."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The House voted on the divided Resolution A141, the second resolve and a new [resolve] clause.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #15)