Episcopal Press and News
No Shortage of Controversial Topics at General Convention in Phoenix
Episcopal News Service. May 14, 1991 [91119]
When Episcopalians gather for their triennial General Convention in Phoenix this summer there is no way they can avoid the issue of sexuality. Or racism. Or the environment.
Yet the 1,100 bishops and deputies to the July meeting will be asked to deal with about 500 resolutions on a bewildering range of topics. And what they decide -- or don't decide -- will determine the shape and direction of the Episcopal Church for the next three years.
Sexuality The convention will be offered two options on stating its mind on sexual morality, especially as it relates to qualifications for ordained ministry. One would leave the question of qualifications for all candidates for the ministry -- including homosexuals -- to the diocesan bishop and committees. The other proposal would effectively prohibit the ordination of noncelibate homosexual candidates by affirming the church's traditional position on sexual morality and marriage in the form of a canon law.
The General Convention has tried on several occasions to settle the issue, without success. The church's present position goes back to the 1979 General Convention, which said it was "not appropriate" to ordain practicing homosexuals. A number of bishops signed a dissenting statement and said itwas up to the dioceses to decide on candidates. A recommendation from the Standing Commission on Human Affairs effectively endorses that position and removes the 1979 proscription.
In an effort to settle the issue and clearly define the church's expectations, the canon law proposal by Bishop William Frey, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Pennsylvania, would place clergy under the obligation to abstain from sexual relations outside of marriage. "The sexuality tail is wagging the dog," Frey said in arguing that it is time to move on to other issues.
Racism If sexuality will be a major topic at the General Convention, controversy will give another issue heightened visibility. The church's commitment to racial justice was questioned when the church decided to meet in Phoenix even though the state of Arizona does not have a paid state holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
The issue threatened to polarize the church. After several months of listening to those who argued for a boycott and those who said the church would make a better witness by going to Phoenix, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning called a special meeting of the Executive Council. "God has given us Arizona as a gift -- as a place to go, to stand, to hope, to confess our own racism, and to witness to justice," Browning said. Admitting that it was "a most difficult choice," Browning added, "In Arizona God is asking the church in all its pain, suffering, and confusion to come in the spirit of St. Paul to share the sufferings of one another."
The council endorsed the selection of Phoenix and asked for significant alterations in the convention, highlighting racial justice and calling for a simpler lifestyle for church members at the meeting. It also established a scholarship to honor King, with seed money generated from savings made through changes in convention exhibits.
Environment For years now a quiet momentum has been building in the Episcopal Church on the issue of environment. Bolstered by a resolution from the last General Convention that called for development of a statement of policy and plan of action "regarding stewardship of the global environment," the presiding bishop authorized a Consultation on the Environment and Sustainable Development.
The consultation's report stressed the urgency of a response from the church, as well as detailed recommendations. As a follow-up the Executive Council spent several meetings discussing the issue before adopted an environmental policy and implementation plan that integrates environmental integrity and economic justice.
The General Convention will be asked to establish an office of environment and sustainable development and set aside $100,000 to implement the plan. Some observers are suggesting that the environment issue will attract a great deal of support because it offers a safe alternative to the controversial topics on the convention's agenda.
Evangelism The Episcopal Church is a year into the Decade of Evangelism, and it is still arguing over what evangelism means and how to do it. The General Convention will likely affirm the 1973 definition of evangelism as "the presentation of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in such ways that persons may be led to accept him as savior, and follow him as Lord, within the fellowship of the church."
For some Episcopalians the proclamation is the most important facet of evangelism; for others the emphasis is on "doing" the faith. The Rev. Wayne Schwab, staff officer for evangelism, argues for a holistic approach as combining word and deed and "producing people who are conscious agents of Christ's reign wherever they are."
The church is engaged in intense discussion on some of the details, however. Does one evangelize believers in other religions, for example? Is the ultimate purpose of evangelism church growth, or will that happen as a result of our faithful witness?
The key to evangelism Episcopal style may lie in that unique combination of strains that make up the church: evangelical, catholic, charismatic, and liberal. "Each has a function in the church -- evangelicals emphasize Scripture, catholics emphasize the liturgy, charismatics emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit, and liberals emphasize inclusiveness and social service," said Dr. Lynn Huber.
Finances In common with most other denominations, the Episcopal Church is experiencing a financial crunch. Although giving is very strong at the parish level, less is being sent on to the diocese as parishes struggle with increased costs -- and respond to local challenges. The dioceses, caught between lower receipts from local parishes and an assessment from the national church, in turn must decide whether to share that pain with the national church by holding back on their assessments.
The financial crunch is provoking a wide-ranging discussion on the identity of the church and the connections between parishes and dioceses and the dioceses and the national church. "We must take a hard look at what the church can do best -- and turn our attention to the needs of our constituency, the people in the pew," said Vince Currie of the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast. He chaired the administration, budget, and finance committee of the Executive Council for the last three years. He argues that the church must build trust and confidence on all levels of church life, "and then the money for our mission will follow."
One of the major responsibilities of the General Convention is to set the priorities and allocate funds for the church's mission. As one observer said, that may be the most theological decision the convention will make.
The General Convention will be asked to speak its mind on a wide variety of topics, including a number of resolutions dealing with international issues.
Two topics likely to provoke discussion are a proposal to endorse a study process that would eventually lead to full communion and interchangeability of clergy with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- even though that church has voted to delay the process; and a proposal to "continue to study, develop, and evaluate supplemental inclusive language texts" as directed by previous General Conventions and authorize use of Supplemental Liturgical Materials for use in the next triennium.
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