Resolution Number: 2006-A166
Title: Support Development of an Anglican Covenant
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, as a demonstration of our commitment to mutual responsibility and interdependence in the Anglican Communion, support the process of the development of an Anglican Covenant that underscores our unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God’s mission; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council to follow the development processes of an Anglican Covenant in the Communion, and report regularly to the Executive Council as well as to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention report these actions supporting the Anglican Covenant development process, noting such missiological and theological resources as the Standing Commission on World Mission and the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church report the same to the Primates of the Churches of the Anglican Communion.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 (New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 339-340.

Legislative History

Author: The Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Special Legislative Committee

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Special Legislative Committee presented its Report #2 on Resolution A166 (Anglican Covenant Development Process) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A166)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, as a demonstration of our commitment to mutual responsibility and interdependence in the Anglican Communion, support the process of the development of an Anglican Covenant that underscores our unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God’s mission; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council to follow the development processes of an Anglican Covenant in the Communion and report regularly to the Executive Council as well as to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention report these actions supporting the Anglican Covenant development process, noting such missiological and theological resources as the Standing Commission on World Mission and the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church report the same to the Primates of the Churches of the Anglican Communion.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, as a demonstration of our commitment to mutual responsibility and interdependence in the Anglican Communion, support the process of the development of an Anglican Covenant that underscoresboth expresses and fosters our unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God’s mission; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council to follow closely the development processes of an Anglican Covenant in the Communion, to participate as appropriate, and to report regularly to the Executive Council as well as to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention report these actions supporting the Anglican Covenant development process, noting such missiological and theological resources as the Standing Commission on World Mission and the House of Bishops’ Theology Committeeto the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church report the same to the Primates of the Churches of the Anglican Communion.

The Bishop of California moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, as a demonstration of our commitment to mutual responsibility and interdependence in the Anglican Communion, support the process of the development of an Anglican Covenant that underscoresboth expresses and fostersour unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God’s mission, being respectful of the historical relationships of the separate and autonomous Provinces to the Anglican Communion and the individual concerns and interests of these Provinces; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council to follow closelythe development processes of an Anglican Covenant in the Communion, to participate as appropriate, respecting the separate and autonomous concerns and interests of the Provinces, and toreport regularly to the Executive Council as well as to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention report these actions supporting the Anglican Covenant development process, noting such missiological and theological resources as the Standing Commission on World Mission and the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church report the same to the Primates of the Churches of the Anglican Communion.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on Resolution A166 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #99)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Dispatch of Business presented its Report #41 on a Special Order of Business for consideration of A166 and moved adoption.

A vote was taken on the Special Order as amended.

Motion carried

Special Order adopted with amendment

The House of Deputies Special Legislative Committee presented its Report #3 on HB Message #99 on Resolution A166 (Anglican Covenant Development Process) and moved to adopt with amendment.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, as a demonstration of our commitment to mutual responsibility and interdependence in the Anglican Communion, support the process of the development of an Anglican Covenant that underscores both expresses and fosters our unity in faith, order, and common life in the service of God’s mission, being respectful of the historical relationships of the separate and autonomous Provinces to the Anglican Communion and the individual concerns and interests of these Provinces; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct the International Concerns Standing Committee of the Executive Council and The Episcopal Church’s members of the Anglican Consultative Council to follow closely the development processes of an Anglican Covenant in the Communion,to participate as appropriate, respecting the separate and autonomous concerns and interests of the Provinces, and to report regularly to the Executive Council as well as to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention report these actions supporting the Anglican Covenant development process, noting such missiological and theological resources as the Standing Commission on World Mission and the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates, and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and that the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church report the same to the Primates of the Churches of the Anglican Communion.

Deputy Lehman of California moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the Resolution, delete the word “covenant” where it appears and replace it with the word “conversation.”

Deputy Matis of Pennsylvania moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Wengrovius of Colorado moved the previous question.

A vote was taken to terminate debate.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution A166 as amended.

Motion carried

The House adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #175)

[Editor's Note: Floor action in the House of Deputies was recorded as "The House concurred with amendment" in the Journal (p. 583) but has been changed to "The House adopted with amendment" in this publication to reflect the pending need for concurrence in the House of Bishops.]

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Special Legislative Committee presented its Report #22 on HD Message #175 on Resolution A166 (Anglican Covenant Development Process) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #262)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 21.

Report Reference:   Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, Reports to the 75th General Convention, 2006, p. 407.
Abstract:   The 75th General Convention supports the development of an Anglican Covenant.
Notes:  

See the Journal of the Convention for the full text of rules of debate as amended by the Special Order of Business.