The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2015-C031 |
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| Title: | Request Study of the Number and Size of Dioceses |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Substituted |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention ask that the bishops and dioceses of The Episcopal Church create, nurture, and develop a culture of collaboration that results in new structures, partnerships, and practices on the interpersonal, group, and organizational levels; measurable outcomes of performance; standards of accountability, reporting and mutual ministry reviews at all levels (bishops, clergy, diocesan bodies); and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention encourages Dioceses to explore opportunities for collaboration, and possibly merging, with contiguous Dioceses, to better carry out their common mission; and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention urge the bishops and diocesan leadership of The Episcopal Church to engage in frank discussion about the number and size of our dioceses across the church, diocesan collaboration, vitality, and shared ministry, and what change is needed; and be it further
Resolved, That the Planning Committee of the House of Bishops is requested to set aside time this Triennium to discuss issues of diocesan vitality; and be it further
Resolved, That The Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church is directed to seek input from the above conversations and to study opportunities and challenges of diocesan collaboration, vitality, shared ministry, and the number and size of dioceses, and to report back to the 79th General Convention.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 462-463. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | Province III |
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| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Governance and Structure |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #43 on Resolution C031 (In Support of Diocesan Mergers) and moved adoption of a substitute.
Original Text of Resolution:
(C031)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 78th General Convention encourages Dioceses to explore the possibility of merging with a contiguous Diocese; and be it further
Resolved, That any such initiative be supported by a 50% reduction of the General Convention Assessment for one year for each Diocese which agrees to merge (or for the combined entity), said reduction to be implemented in the calendar year in which the merger is approved.
Committee Substitute:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 78th General Convention ask that the bishops and dioceses of The Episcopal Church create, nurture, and develop a culture of collaboration that results in new structures, partnerships, and practices on the interpersonal, group, and organizational levels; measurable outcomes of performance; standards of accountability, reporting and mutual ministry reviews at all levels (bishops, clergy, diocesan bodies); and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention encourages Dioceses to explore opportunities for collaboration, and possibly merging, with contiguous Dioceses, to better carry out their common mission; and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention urge the bishops and diocesan leadership of The Episcopal Church to engage in frank discussion about the number and size of our dioceses across the church, diocesan collaboration, vitality, and shared ministry, and what change is needed; and be it further
Resolved, That the Planning Committee of the House of Bishops is requested to set aside time this Triennium to discuss issues of diocesan vitality; and be it further
Resolved, That The Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church is directed to seek input from the above conversations and to study opportunities and challenges of diocesan collaboration, vitality, shared ministry, and the number and size of dioceses, and to report back to the 79th General Convention.
Motion carried
Substitute resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #288)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #18 on HD Message #288 on Resolution C031 (In Support of Diocesan Mergers) and moved concurrence.
The question was called.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on Resolution C031.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #368)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 3.
| Abstract: | The 78th General Convention encourages exploration of new structures for Church-wide collaboration including the merger of dioceses, and requests the Structure Commission to report on conversations on diocesan vitality. |
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