Resolution Number: 2012-D002
Title: Amend Canon III.1.2 [Access to Discernment Process for Ministry]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of The Episcopal Church be hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2. No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 2012 (New York: General Convention, 2012), p. 512.

Legislative History

Author: Ms. Sarah Lawton
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Ministry

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Ministry presented its Report #14 on Resolution D002 (Affirming Access to Discernment Process for Ministry) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution

(D002)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church be hereby amended to read as follows:

No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution D002.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message # 64)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Ministry presented its Report #19 on HB Message #64 on Resolution D002 (Affirming Access to Discernment Process for Ministry) and moved concurrence.

Deputy Hallas of Chicago moved the previous question.

Deputy Garno of Albany, on behalf of the lay and clerical deputations of Albany and the clerical deputation of South Carolina, asked for a Vote by Orders.

The President called for the Voting Secretary to lead the House in the Vote by Orders.

Deputy Bell of Maryland reminded the President that the vote had not been taken on moving the previous question.

A vote was taken on the motion to move the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A Vote by Orders was taken.

As the vote was ongoing, Deputy King of Western New York asked the President to rule the Vote by Orders invalid as three or more separate dioceses had been needed to call for a Vote by Orders, and only two separate dioceses had been named by Deputy Garno.

The President asked Deputy Garno to clarify which dioceses had asked for the Vote by Orders. Deputy Garno stated only two dioceses originally called for a Vote by Orders. The President provided Deputy Garno the opportunity to find an additional deputation from another diocese to join in the request. The clerical deputations of Central Florida, Dallas, and Springfield and the lay deputations of Dallas and Springfield joined in asking for a Vote by Orders.

The Vote by Orders continued.

Deputy Van Brunt of Florida moved to suspend the Rule of Order requiring the Secretary to read aloud to the House the No and Divided votes in Votes by Order.

Motion carried

Rules suspended

Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania asked for clarification from the President whether the suspension of Rule 42 was for the balance of the 77th General Convention or only for the announcement of the Vote by Orders on Resolution D002.

The President called on Deputy Van Brunt of Florida, who clarified it was his intention that the suspension of this rule be for the remainder of the 77th General Convention. The President called for the vote to be taken again.

Motion carried

Rules suspended

House of Deputies

Results of Vote by Order on Resolution D002

The President announced results of vote on Resolution D002:

Type Total Necessary Yes No Divided No+Divided Result
Lay: 110 56 94 11 5 16 Carried
Clergy: 111 56 95 16 0 16 Carried

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #156)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 9.

Abstract:   The 77th General Convention adds nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression to the access clause of the ministry discernment process.