Resolution Number: 2003-C045
Title: Consent to the Election of the Bishop Coadjutor-elect of New Hampshire
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, Pursuant to Article II, Section 2, and Canon III.22.3 of the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention, the House of Deputies consents to the ordination and consecration of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 222.

Legislative History

Author: Diocese of New Hampshire
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Consecration of Bishops

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Consecration of Bishops presented its Report #8 on Resolution C045 (Consent to the Election of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(C045)

Resolved, Pursuant to Article II, Section 2, and Canon III.22.3 of the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention, the House of Deputies consents to the ordination and consecration of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire.

Minority Report

Believing that the work of Legislative Committee 07: Consecration of Bishops is, according to the Title III, Canon 22, more than merely a verification of correct procedure, but is equally concerned with the appropriateness of the candidate's wholesomeness of life (and consequently includes sexual behavior);

And that this wholesomeness is not merely a model for an individual diocese, but also for the entire One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to which he would be ordained and consecrated;

And whereas the approval of a bishop elect who is in a same-sex relationship, even if monogamous and loving, is in opposition to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, the historic teaching of the church, and the promulgated teaching of this Body of Christ known as the Episcopal Church by previous General Conventions;

And whereas the approval of a bishop in said lifestyle would become a pretext upon which the church would de facto resolve the question of the appropriateness of homosexual behavior without due reordering of the church's teaching;

And whereas the approval of this consecration will bring profound consternation to many of our sisters and brothers at home and abroad, straining relationships within the Anglican Communion, and adversely affecting the mission and ministry of the church at home and abroad, the undersigned file this minority report and recommend rejection of C045.

Respectfully submitted,

(signed)

The Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence

Anthony J. Clark

John E. Masters

The Chair of the House of Deputies Committee on Consecration of Bishops described the Committee's process and recommendation to the House.

Deputy Lawrence of San Joaquin spoke on behalf of the Minority Report from the House of Deputies Committee on Consecration of Bishops.

The President noted that the Special Order of Business called for up to five minutes of questions for the House of Deputies Committee on Consecration of Bishops. There being no questions, the President addressed the House regarding consideration of Resolution C045, reminding those present of the need for courtesy and undergirding love. The President stated that no public demonstrations would be allowed and a recess would follow the voting results.

After thirty minutes of debate, the President called for procedural motions.

Deputy Ross of Florida, on behalf of the Clergy Deputation of Florida, the Lay Deputation of Fort Worth, and the Lay Deputation of San Joaquin, called for a vote by orders on Resolution C045. The President ruled that request to be in order.

Debate continued.

Deputy Logan of South Carolina moved to extend debate by 15 minutes.

Motion defeated

Debate continued.

Deputy Dales of New Hampshire moved to extend debate by 15 minutes.

Motion defeated

Deputy Smith of the Youth Delegation moved to terminate debate. The President ruled the motion was out of order until 45 minutes of debate had elapsed.

Debate continued.

The President announced that the time for debate under the Special Order of Business had expired.

The Voting Secretary explained the procedure for a vote by orders.

Deputy Masters of Wyoming asked if the Committee on Credentials had included the deputation from the Diocese of Puerto Rico in its report for today.

The House of Deputies Committee on Credentials reported that Report #7 did not include the Puerto Rico deputation. The Voting Secretary updated the Credentials report, stating that there were 8 additional new deputies, 4 in the clerical order and 4 in the lay order, for a total of 9 new deputies, and a total of 416 clerical deputies and 419 lay deputies, and a total number of deputies of 835.

The President called on the Chaplain for prayer.

A Vote by Orders on Resolution C045 was taken.

Ballot #1 taken by orders

The Secretary read the results of no and divided votes on C045.

The President reminded the gallery that there would be no public demonstrations in the House.

The Secretary reported the results of Ballot #1 on Resolution C045.

Type Total Necessary Yes No Divided Results
Lay 108 55 633213Carried
Clerical108 55 653112 Carried

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #81)

House of Bishops

The Presiding Bishop read a statement (see Appendix F–Day 6) regarding allegations against the Bishop-elect of New Hampshire.

  1. Questions have been raised and a thorough investigation will be made.
  2. The Bishop of Western Massachusetts will chair the committee to investigate this matter.
  3. The balloting for consents will not take place at this time. The process is suspended pending the investigation.

The Bishop of New Hampshire read a statement (see Appendix G–Day 6) expressing that he and the diocese had asked for the investigation and have confidence in both the Bishop-elect of New Hampshire and in the Presiding Bishop's commitment to investigate fully these matters.

House of Deputies

The President read a statement from the Presiding Bishop, regarding an investigation to be undertaken regarding Bishop-elect V. Gene Robinson before the House of Bishops votes on Resolution C045 (see Appendix F—House of Bishops Day 6).

Deputy Dales of New Hampshire read a statement [from the Bishop of New Hampshire and the President of the Standing Committee of New Hampshire] read in the House of Bishops (See Appendix G—House of Bishops Day 6).

Deputy Dales of New Hampshire read a statement from the Diocese of New Hampshire in regards to the consent to the election and consecration of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor-elect of the Diocese of New Hampshire. (See Appendix B–Day 8 [sic] for the Statement from the Diocese of Hampshire.)

The Secretary read the report of Bishop Scruton to the House of Bishops on the investigation regarding the allegations concerning Bishop Coadjutor-elect Robinson of New Hampshire (See House of Bishops, Appendix I—Day 7 for Report on Bishop-elect of New Hampshire). Bishop Scruton found no grounds for the House of Bishops not to proceed to vote on the consent to the election and consecration of Bishop Coadjutor-elect Robinson.

House of Bishops

The Bishop of Western Massachusetts read the report pertaining to the allegations against the Bishop-elect of New Hampshire. (See Appendix I–Day 7 for the Report from the Bishop of Western Massachusetts.)

A one-hour period of comments by the House followed.

By show of hands the discussion was concluded.

Chaplain Battle led reflections followed by fifteen minutes of silence at 5:40 pm.

The House of Bishops Committee on Consecration of Bishops moved the resolution on the consent to the consecration of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson, Bishop Coadjutor-elect of the Diocese of New Hampshire, and Ballot #7 was taken.

Ballot #7 taken

The Presiding Bishop read the results of Ballot #7 for the consent to the consecration of Bishop Coadjutor-elect Robinson of the Diocese of New Hampshire. Of 107 bishops with jurisdiction, 62 have given consent.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #175)

The Secretary announced a correction to the Report on the Consecration of Bishops for Ballot #7.

The vote of the Bishop of Western Massachusetts was incorrectly reported as a "yes." The bishop did not vote. This correction does not affect the report's total.

The Bishop of Pittsburgh and others came forward. The Bishop of Pittsburgh read a statement on behalf of the group. The Bishop Suffragan of South Carolina, read the statement in Spanish (see Appendix J–Day 7 for Statement of Bishops upon the Confirmation of Gene Robinson).

House of Deputies

Personal Privilege

Deputy Harmon of South Carolina spoke on behalf of members of the House who were against the consent to the election of Bishop Coadjutor-elect Robinson. Deputy Harmon stated that they disassociated themselves from the Church in this action, as they believed it was against the doctrine and discipline of this Church. He stated that they believed that the action violated the Thirty-nine Articles and that they joined the dissenting Bishops in asking the Archbishop of Canterbury to intervene. Deputy Harmon stated that they were not leaving the Episcopal Church, but rather, that the Episcopal Church was leaving them. He invited members of the House to sign their statement at the South Carolina deputation.

Personal Privilege

Deputy Lopez of Honduras, as an overseas deputy, expressed distress upon the consent to the election of Bishop Coadjutor-elect Robinson of New Hampshire. Deputy Lopez stated that he did not know its effect upon his ministry in his diocese.

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, August 5.

Abstract:   The 74th General Convention consents to the election of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire.
Notes:  

V. Gene Robinson was elected on June 7, 2003 and consecrated to the office of Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire on November 2, 2003.

The presentation of resolution C045 was accompanied by a Special Order of Business regarding the conduct of the debate. Amendments were made to the Special Order. The full text of the Special Order can be found on pages 428-430 of the Journal of General Convention 2003.

For the Presiding Bishop's statement, see Appendix F, Day 6, Journal of General Convention 2003, page 195.

For the statement of the Bishop of New Hampshire [Douglas Theuner] to the House of Bishops, see Appendix G, Day 6, Journal of General Convention 2003, page 196.

Deputy Dales' reference to Appendix B occurs in Day 7, not Day 8. See Journal of General Convention 2003, page 528.

The statement of the Bishop of Western Massachusetts [Gordon Scruton] is found in Appendix I, Day 7, see Journal of General Convention 2003, pages 229-231.

For the Bishop of Pittsburgh's [Robert Duncan] statement to the House of Bishops, see Appendix J, Day 7, Journal of General Convention 2003, page 232.