Resolution Number: 2015-A044
Title: Direct Provision of Regular Communion for Congregations Without Clergy
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 78th General Convention direct the Bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority in each Diocese to discern and implement ways in which small congregations within their Diocese who are without benefit of clergy may receive Communion on a regular basis.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), p. 723.

Legislative History

Author: Standing Commission for Small Congregations
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #13 on Resolution A044 (Maintain the Centrality of The Eucharist) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A044)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention provide and authorize ways in which small congregations can receive the sacrament at the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day in the absence of a deacon, priest, or bishop; and be it further

Resolved, That the licensing of lay ministers be expanded to allow distribution of previously consecrated sacrament in the context of Sunday public worship in the absence of a deacon, priest, or bishop; and be it further

Resolved, That a liturgical rite be designed for the distribution of communion by such licensed lay ministers in the congregation at Sunday public worship in the absence of a deacon, priest, or bishop; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations provide education regarding distribution of communion by such licensed lay ministers.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, The House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention direct the ecclesiastical authority in each Diocese to discern and implement ways in which small congregations within their Diocese who are without benefit of clergy may receive Communion on a regular basis.

The Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith, Bishop of North Dakota, moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Restore the original text.

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins, Bishop of Springfield, moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete "direct" and insert "encourage."

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, moved to amend the resolution

Proposed Amendment:

Add a final sentence: "This may include authorization of Eucharistic ministers to distribute previously consecrated elements in public worship."

The Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas, moved to amend the amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Insert "implementation" after "this."

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Rt. Rev. S. Todd Ousley, Bishop of Eastern Michigan, moved to amend the amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Add at the end, "on a temporary basis."

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The question was called [on the Budde amendment].

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Add "Bishop exercising" before "ecclesiastical authority."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Rt. Rev. Daniel H. Martins, Bishop of Springfield, moved to refer the entire resolution to the House of Bishops Theology Committee.

Motion defeated

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution A044 as substituted and amended.

Motion Carried

Substitute resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #70)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #11 on HB Message #70 on Resolution A044 (Maintain the Centrality of The Eucharist) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #147)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 30.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission for Small Congregations, Reports to the 78th General Convention, 2015, pp. 279-292.
Abstract:   The 78th General Convention directs the bishop with ecclesiastical authority in each diocese to implement a way for providing Communion on a regular basis in small congregations without the benefit of clergy.