Lay Deputy Deborah Layton’s Comments from General Convention
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Monday Afternoon, July 13
One of the hottest topics to be addressed at General Convention is the issue of same-sex blessings and/or marriage and our relationship with the Anglican Communion. Each member of our deputation has chosen a committee or topic to follow, and I chose this one. I've attended five different committee meetings, outside the legislative sessions, dealing specifically with this issue.
At three of the five meetings, there was public testimony by deputies or visitors as to whether all baptized members of the the Episcopal Church can partake of all the sacraments. The vast majority of speakers favored full inclusion of the baptized in the life and sacraments of our church. I was particularly impressed by the number of articulate young people speaking fervently in support of their gay and lesbian friends and their full participation in the life of the church.
The issue is centered on the status of Resolution B-033 that was passed at the 2006 General Convention. That resolution language says that bishops with jurisdiction should "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." This wording is widely viewed as a moratorium on consecrating gay bishops living openly in committed relationships.
In 2009, the House of Deputies have several options in addressing that previous resolution. It can decline to act at all, leaving that resolution in place. It can reaffirm that resolution or specifically disavow it. It can affirm the existing canons for election of bishops and disavow any restraints on those canons. Or it can draft a new statement.
Yesterday (July 12, 2009), the House of Deputies passed a newly-drafted resolution, D-025, which addresses both the concerns about our relationship with the Anglican Communion and the full participation of gays and lesbians in all aspects of the life of the church. That resolution will now go to the House of Bishops for its consideration and vote.
In order for the resolution to pass, both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops must agree. We are all praying for guidance and wisdom, as the disposition of this resolution (or a substitute) will have a profound impact on the direction of our church in the coming years.
--Deborah Layton, Lay Deputy Three
Sunday Morning, July 12
It's Legislative Day Four and, once again, our schedules are full. After months of reading resolutions (over 300) and preparing for my first General Convention, I'm gradually learning the system. We've figured out where to find the committee hearing schedules and locations and which resolutions will be discussed when, which committees will be hearing testimony from convention attendees, and which committees will be deliberating among themselves -- without testimony or questions from the audience.
When preparing for Convention, I kept asking myself whether I was preparing adequately or appropriately, and whether my vote on resolutions would be effective. I'm still not sure I prepared enough. So far, however, most of the resolutions we've voted on have been rule changes and general housekeeping. The major issues to come include ways to be inclusive of all baptized members and approval of the election of an Ecuadoran bishop which has been disputed.
Our deputation is getting to know and appreciate one another. Those who have attended General Convention previously have been of tremendous help to those of us here for the first time. Our worship together has been amazing: 8000 people sharing Eucharist, singing and praying together. The opening service with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and a presentation by Archibishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, have been inspiring about our mission and encouraging about our place in the Anglican Communion. [Click here to see videos of the July 8 Press Conference with the Presiding Bishop and the Global Economic Crisis Forum with the Archbishop.]
But challenges are ahead for all of us in the upcoming legislative sessions, and I pray for guidance as we vote on the direction of the Episcopal Church.
--Deborah Layton, Lay Deputy Three
Deborah is a member of the Cathedral Church of Saint John and serves as Treasurer of the Diocese of Delaware.