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The Acts of Convention

Resolution Number: 1991-B040
Title: On the Topic of Women's Ordination
Legislative Action Taken: Rejected
Final Text:

Resolution Rejected by Non-concurrence. See Legislative History for original text of the resolution.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 298.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on Structure

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(B040)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States authorize the creation, by the Presiding Bishop, of a mechanism to enable ministry to congregations or groups who are unable to affirm the ordination of women, and in consequence have strained relationships with their diocesan bishops.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

After "Presiding Bishop," insert "in consultation with the Office of Pastoral Development."

The Bishop of California moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Following "unable," add "or able."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Bishop Stough moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Following "bishops," insert "and report to the next interim meeting of the House of Bishops in Baltimore."

Delete "creation" and replace it with "investigation."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Western New York moved to refer the matter to the House of Bishops Committee on Pastoral Development.

Motion defeated

The Bishop of Indianapolis moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Following "bishops," insert: ", provided that no such ministry shall be undertaken without the express permission of the diocesan bishop. The Presiding Bishop will report to the next interim meeting of the House of Bishops in Baltimore."

The Bishop Coadjutor of Southern Virginia moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

The House voted on the Bishop of Indianapolis's amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The House voted on Resolution B040 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #254)

House of Deputies

The Committee on Structure presented its Report #24 on House of Bishops Message #254 on Resolution B040a (Ministry to Congregations Unable to Affirm Women's Ordination) and moved concurrence.

The entire deputations of Utah and Fond Du Lac, and the clerical deputations of California and Minnesota called for a vote by orders on Resolution B040a.

Deputy Randolph of Fort Worth moved to amend Resolution B040a.

Proposed Amendment:

Return to the original Resolution B040.

The question was called on the Randolph amendment to Resolution B040a.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Randolph amendment to Resolution B040a.

Motion defeated

Randolph amendment defeated

Deputy King of Newark moved an amendment to Resolution B040a

Proposed Amendment:

Between the word "enable" and the word "provided," delete the words "ministry to congregations or groups who are unable to affirm the ordination of women and in consequence have strained relationships with their diocesan bishops" and substitute the words "pastoral counsel with bishops and congregations which by reason of conscience have strained relationships with each other."

Motion defeated

King amendment defeated

Ballot #30, a vote by orders, was cast on Resolution B040a.

Ballot #30 cast by orders

Deputy Fricker of Los Angeles asked that the totals of Ballot #30 on Resolution B040a be announced.

Deputy Fricker of Los Angeles moved to dispense with the reading of the No and Divided votes.

Motion carried

The Secretary read the results of Ballot #30 on B040a (Ministry to Congregations Unable to Affirm Women's Ordination).

Type Total Yes No Divided Necessary
Lay 99 46 46 7 50
Clerical 97 45 42 10 49

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #384)

Resolution Rejected: Adopted by One House Only.

Abstract:   The 70th General Convention rejects the resolution authorizing a ministry to congregations unable to affirm women's ordination.