News for Week Ending 7/16/2012

General Convention concludes in Indianapolis

The 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church concluded its work July 13, 2012, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Episcopal News Service has provided a useful summary of the major news stories to come out of General Convention. The two most contentious issues, church reorganization and the budget, consumed a lot of time but were resolved amicably. The size of the triennium budget is virtually unchanged from the last budget, but the new one is based explicitly on the Five Marks of Mission. A task force will be appointed to investigate church structure issues. Also, the General Convention passed a resolution strongly supporting the Anglican Communion and another resolution that delayed a decision on Anglican Covenant adoption until at least 2015.

House of Bishops supports efforts in “continuing dioceses”

Episcopal News Service reported July 8, 2012, that the House of Bishops issued a public letter in support of the bishops of the four “continuing dioceses” of San Joaquin, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, and Quincy. Provisional Bishop John Buchanan and Provisional Bishop Wallis Ohl had apparently asked for a clear statement of the church’s polity to counter the statements made by nine bishops in court filings. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Buchanan was apparently unhappy with the result.

Dorsey McConnell given green light for consecration

Pittsburgh’s bishop-elect, Dorsey McConnell was cleared for consecration by the General Convention in Indianapolis. His is the last class of bishops-elect to receive consents in this fashion. On second reading, a constitutional change was approved that will have all consents given by bishops and standing committees, irrespective of when the episcopal election is held. Our diocesan Web site has a story, with pictures, about the unanimous consent given to our next bishop.

Two Pittsburghers receive national Awards

The Episcopal Church Women held its 47th triennial meeting in conjunction with the General Convention, and Dana Phillips, who chaired the nominating committee for Pittsburgh’s next bishop and has rendered various other services to the diocese and to individual parishes in the past few years, was recognized with a Distinguished Woman award from ECW. A story about the award can be found on the diocesan Web site here.

On July 3, 2012, at the annual dinner of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church, Joan Gundersen received the Adelaide Teague Case Award given once every three years by the Episcopal Women’s History Project to someone who has made major contributions to the history of women in the Episcopal Church. The story can be found here on the Episcopal Women’s History Project Web site.