Although I wrote this for use in the Diocese of Colorado as we begin preparation for our October Diocesan Convention (mailings to convention delegates go out in mid-August), I am posting this here, because some of the general information might be helpful to others beyond Colorado. My profound thanks to Zoe Cole for her great edits to this piece, which make it both more accurate, and better! I am so grateful to serve with such a stellar General Convention deputation!
General
Information
Elected by Diocesan Convention in October 2013,
General Convention deputies and alternates serve through General Convention in
June/July 2015 until the next diocesan election in October 2016. General
Convention deputies participate in the governance and discernment of The
Episcopal Church through activities before, during, and after the General
Convention for which they are elected. Deputies are also the diocese’s
representatives to the Provincial Synod. Historically, the Diocese of Colorado
funds the participation at General Convention of the four lay, the four clergy
deputies, and the first lay and clergy alternates. All members of the
deputation, including all alternates, are encouraged to participate fully in
the preparation before and debriefs after General Convention. In some years,
deputies and alternates have been able to raise sufficient funds to send
additional alternates to General Convention. Both changes in status, residence,
employment and the desire to continuously raise up and train leaders prompts
the full participation of alternates so that they are able to step into the
role of deputy effectively, as needed.
Before
General Convention
Before General Convention, the deputation meets
several times, by teleconference and in-person, to do team building; to discuss
elections, likely legislation, and topics to be presented at General
Convention; and to discern the assignment of focused topics of interest in
which each deputy and alternate will take leadership. The teleconferences are
set for mutually convenient times. The in-person meetings will likely occur in
Spring 2014, at Diocesan Convention in October 2014, and in Spring 2015. The
“Blue Book,” which contains reports of all the Committees, Commissions,
Agencies, and Boards (CCABs) of the General Convention and any resolutions that
they are proposing, will be published some time between January and April 2015.
Deputation members are expected to review the Blue Book, especially those
sections relevant to their focus areas. In the current triennium, the
deputation also made a half-day presentation to the Standing Committee on the
issues that would come before General Convention. Individual deputation members
may volunteer to speak at congregational forums in Spring 2015 to give issues
briefings; such briefings in the past have been part of the fundraising to send
additional alternates to General Convention. In Spring 2015, there will be a
Province VI Synod meeting that serves as a General Convention “training”
session (at a place to be determined) to which deputation members are invited,
but not required, to attend, and for which funding is extremely limited. One or
more deputies may also have the opportunity to attend a special meeting as part
of the work of the Structure Task Force, although no such meeting is currently
scheduled.
During
General Convention
General Convention 2015 is scheduled from June
25-July 3. For deputies in some leadership roles (such as Chair, Vice-Chair,
Secretary or Legislative Aide to a Legislative Committee), training will begin
a day or two before the official start date of convention. During General
Convention, deputies and alternates are expected to be present on the House of
Deputies floor to listen to debate, vote, and track the progress of
legislation. The Colorado deputation has a tradition of ensuring that all
alternates present at General Convention have an opportunity to sit on the
floor of the House and participate in the debate and voting. Each deputation
member also is responsible for tracking specific pieces of legislation. This
may involve attending and even testifying at legislative hearings before and
after legislative sessions in the House. The deputation meets in caucus daily,
typically at a very early breakfast or at lunch for 45 minutes. This practice
assures the health of the team and that all members know the current status of
legislation and other business and events. Often Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
delegates and other visitors attend these caucuses. Some deputation members
volunteer to write for the daily blog organized by the Diocesan Communications
Director.
After
General Convention
After General Convention, the deputation has a canonical
duty to report to the diocese on the business accomplished at convention. In
the past, the deputation has held briefings at Saint John’s Cathedral open to
the entire diocese and made presentations at diocesan convention. Individual
deputation members typically make presentations at their own congregations.
Some have made presentations at other congregations and at regional
convocations; the Standing Committee has also invited briefings at its
meetings. The General Convention also refers a number of its passed resolutions
to dioceses and congregations, and the deputation takes some responsibility for
discussing and tracking these resolutions. The final duty of the deputation is
to assist in the planning for the election of the next deputation by providing
information and education about the work and process of General Convention. Individual
deputies may also volunteer to be appointed by the presiding officers of
General Convention to CCABs (although individuals may also be appointed to
these bodies who are not deputies or alternates).
Time
Commitment
To be a faithful and effective deputation
member, the time commitment is substantial. The rewards of participation are
also immense. As ministers in Christ’s church, we are called to participate and
take our place in the councils of the church in accordance with our individual
gifts and calling. A combination of interest and passion in the governance and
future of the church as both Body of Christ and institution are necessary. Here
is what the time commitment at meetings (not including teleconferences and
optional briefings and opportunities) looks like:
Spring 2014
In-person meeting (not more than
a day)
October 2014
In-person meeting/retreat just
prior to Diocesan Convention
Spring 2015
In-person meeting (not more than
a day)
June 25-July 3, 2015
General Convention in Salt Lake
City
The
Future
At the 2015 General Convention there will be at
least two momentous decisions for deputies and bishops (all diocesan bishops
have seat, voice, and vote in the House of Bishops) to consider. These are 1) the
election of the next presiding bishop – who will serve a nine-year term – and 2)
the possible major restructuring of General Convention itself.
