Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 2022-C009
Title: Amend House of Deputies Rule of Order III [Deputations]
Legislative Action Taken: Adopted with Amendment HoD
Final Text:

Resolved, That Canon I.1.4 be amended as follows:

Canon I.1, Section 4: Election of Deputies

a. All jurisdictions of this Church entitled by the Constitution or Canons to choose Deputies to the General Convention shall be required to do so not later than twelve months preceding the opening date of the General Convention for which they are chosen. Deputies of jurisdictions failing so to elect may not be seated unless permitted by ruling of the Presiding Officer.

b. Six months prior to the opening date of the General Convention, the Deputies from each Diocese shall comply with training standards as established in the Rules of Order for the House of Deputies.

b c. It shall be the duty of each seated Deputy to communicate to the electing jurisdiction the actions taken and the positions established by the General Convention.

c d. It shall be the responsibility of each Diocese to provide a forum in which the Deputies to the General Convention from that jurisdiction have opportunity to report.

And be it further

Resolved, That the Rules of Order - House of Deputies Section III be amended as follows:

Rules of Order - House of Deputies Section III: Deputations

A. Chair of Deputation

1. At least one year before the first legislative session of the General Convention, each Deputation will:

i. designate a Chair; and

ii. notify the Secretary of the House of Deputies of the name of the Chair

2. The Deputation Chair will:

i. serve as the primary contact for House of Deputies communications;

ii. certify the Deputation’s votes by orders;
iii. certify changes in the Deputation during General Convention;

iv. perform other duties as directed by the President

B. Mandates Training, Compliance, Beloved Community Formation Programs and Reporting

  1. Within three years before the first legislative session of the General Convention, each deputation shall:
    1. have elected Deputies and 1st Alternate Deputies complete Anti-Racism and Racial Reconciliation coursework utilized for diocesan or provincial training programs;
    2. encourage remaining Alternate Deputies to comply; and
    3. file a single submission with all training certificates to the Secretary of the House of Deputies six months prior to the opening date of General Convention.
  2. Waivers will apply to:
    1. Dioceses outside the United States until language proficient training programs are readily available; or
    2. The Committee on Credentials will hear and decide any disputes on certification of Deputations and will report their decision to the House.
  1. Formation for Deputies and Alternate Deputies occurs as follows:
    1. Racial reconciliation formation programs for Deputies and Alternate Deputies should be taken within three years before the first legislative day of General Convention using faith formation programs sponsored by dioceses, provinces, or The Episcopal Church.
    2. No later than four months before the first legislative day of General Convention, and using a form provided by the Secretary, Deputation Chairs will file a single submission reporting the completion status of formation programs by members of their Deputation to the Secretary of the House of Deputies.? Updated submissions may be filed prior to the start of General Convention.
    3. Deputation Chairs will report in their submissions any circumstances in which Deputies and Alternate Deputies are unable to complete formation programs due to unavailability of language proficient programs, accessibility issues, or other identified barriers.
  2. The Secretary of the House of Deputies will compile the submissions from the Deputation Chairs and submit a report to the President of the House of Deputies on completion rates, unavailability of language proficient programs, accessibility issues, or other identified barriers.

B. C. Certification of Alternate Deputies as Deputies

  1. Alternate Deputies may not sit or vote with their Deputations, unless and until certified by the Committee on Credentials as a substitute for a Deputy.
  2. The Committee on Credentials will certify Alternate Deputies as Deputies before each session.
  3. The procedures for certification will be those determined by the Secretary of the House of Deputies.
  4. An Alternate Deputy will serve for one or more legislative sessions as Deputy but only until the Deputy for whom he or she substituted is able to resume their seats.
  5. The Committee on Credentials will hear and decide any disputes on certification of Deputies and will report their decision to the House.
Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Baltimore, 2022 (New York: General Convention, 2023), pp. 480-481.