St. Thomas eNewsletter

The General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) considers a wide range of issues at each of its triennial meetings, and the July 8 - 17, 2009 gathering in Anaheim, California, will be no exception.

Issues are brought forth in the form of resolutions that come from bishops, deputies, diocesan conventions, provincial synods, and the committees, commissions and boards that help to carry out the work of the Church between meetings of General Convention.

Worship and liturgy
� A report titled Rachel's Tears, Hannah's Hopes: Liturgies and Prayers for Healing from Loss Related to Childbearing and Childbirth.
� Holy Women, Holy Men, an overhaul of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, which would add a number of names to the Calendar of the Church Year.
� New prayers for: artists and writers; the Virgin Mary; care of God's creation; on the occasion or anniversary of a disaster; prophetic witness in the church and society; reconciliation and forgiveness; and scientists and environmentalists.
� Consideration of requests for authorization to develop rites of blessing for same-gender unions, especially in states that have legalized such unions or marriages.
� Use of gender-neutral language for prayer book marriage services; creation of an Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday; liturgical materials for a new Creation Cycle to be celebrated during the season after Pentecost.

Economic justice issues
� Establishing a program to help alleviate poverty within the United States in such areas as Appalachia and federal reservations for Native Americans and increased ministry to native peoples.
� Formation of an economic justice ministry for and with lower-income people, involving a system of local partnerships with agencies that work with the poor, as well as increased advocacy, empowerment and community-development work.
� Increased efforts to combat racism within the Church.
� Increased advocacy with the govern-ments of the United States and other countries to combat poverty and disease, support human rights, and promote scientifically-backed environmental policies.
Global concerns/Anglican Communion
� Support for the Millennium Development Goals, which General Convention 2006 established as a mission priority for the last triennium.
� Crises and peacemaking efforts in conflict areas such as the Middle East, Sudan, Sri Lanka and the Great Lakes region of Africa.
� The proposed Anglican covenant. The text was referred for further refinement by the Anglican Consultative Council at its May meeting, and as a result, formal adoption of the document can not be considered; however, resolutions on this topic may be submitted for consideration.
� Requests to overturn, nullify or supersede GC06 Resolution B033, which called for restraint in electing or approving the election as bishops of candidates "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
Ecumenical and interreligious relations
� Proposals for immediate full communion with the Moravian Church and beginning a process towards full communion with the (Lutheran) Church of Sweden.

Click for more about the Convention.