2007 Resolutions: A Summary

The Willamette Convention Resolution on Diocesan Personnel Committee passed. This amends a resolution adopted at the 1983 convention establishing the personnel committee. Since this is an amendment to a resolution previously adopted, it required a 2/3 vote. The amendment changed the type of relationship between the Personnel Committee and Diocesan Council. The amendment states: Council will appoint the Committee and the committee will be an advisory to Council. It changes the method of nominating and electing members; instead of the Department of Finance and Missions and the Clergy Support Group recommending members to the Bishop and the Council confirming the Bishop’s choices, the committee will now be elected by Council. Finally, this amendment changes the Personnel Committees’ annual report and recommendations deliverable to Council By March 1 of each year, not to Convention.

Opposition to this Resolution included: it removes the Bishop from any direct oversight, Council has enough authority without this resolution, and it removes checks and balances between the Bishop and the Council. Other concerns from the floor included setting Diocesan salaries at a competitive rate to attract clergy and staff to the Diocese. Some observed Oregon is not in step with other dioceses around the country.

Central Convocation offered a Resolution to have the 119th Convention of the Diocese of Oregon commission an outside management consultant to evaluate the effectiveness of the diocesan administration and report their findings to the Standing Committee. This resolution failed. The Resolution would have required the Diocese to hire a consultant to determine how effective ministries are performed at the Close versus on the congregational level. Bishop Itty was opposed to this resolution due to its level of micro-management and the staff is already fully accountable to the bishop. A comment from the floor suggested the $8,000 proposed for the consultant be divided among the Close staff as a bonus!

The Commission to End Racism, The Diocese of Oregon Hispanic Commission, and the East-Metro Convocation introduced a resolution to ratify Resolution D046 (Jamestown Covenant-Topic: Reconciliation) of the 75th General Convention. DO46 designates 2007 to 2017 as the Second Decade of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation. The substance of DO46 is renewal of the commitment of the Church to fully recognize and welcome Native Peoples into congregational life and to enter into a special intentionality towards developing an outreach partnership among Indigenous People. Passage of this resolution will be an encouragement to the Native Peoples of our region and a powerful bridge-builder to the indigenous tribes of Western Oregon.

Integrity introduced a resolution that commits the convention to reaffirm our polity that this Diocese need not be held bound by the statement made at the September 2007 House of Bishops meeting unless approved by General Convention, and seeks to commend the tasks undertaken and the work put forth by the House of Bishops and calls upon the Presiding bishop to further develop the listening process to ensure that all voices are heard at the table and that The Episcopal Church will not turn back the strides it has made with regards to human sexuality and it’s relationship to scripture and the common life of the Church. This resolution also recognizes Integrity Inc. as a local Diocesan program which seeks a positive relationship with the Diocese to work together to meet the pastoral needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender persons.

Opposition to this resolution included it was proposed late and it was confusing, supporters argued that the Diocese has been discussing these issues for almost two decades and Integrity has been involved and included in the Diocese for many years.

Canon 5.1 of the Diocesan Budget. Section 1. The Diocesan Council shall submit to each annual Convention a budget covering all the work committed to it and the expenses of the Diocese for the ensuing year. This budget shall have been prepared and shall be published to the Church in this Diocese at least 45 days prior to the Convention to which it is to be submitted, by mailing to each Parish and Mission sufficient copies so that Clergy, Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention, and Convocation Delegates may each have a copy. Comments from the floor included: delegates need more time to review the budget, others argued the process can’t be done any quicker and it was moved that this matter be referred to Council.

Proposed Amendment to Canon 5.2, Revision of Diocesan Program Assessment Percentages, was sponsored by the Rev. Christopher O. Cole and the vestry of All Saints Parish, Hillsboro and the Rev. Shannon Leach and the vestry of Christ Church, Lake Oswego.

In an attempt to help congregations meet their DPA responsibilities, a variety of measures including reducing funding to the common mission fund with the understanding that individual congregations would assume leadership for these various ministries were outlined in the proposal. Any changes to the diocesan budget would need to be made by the diocesan council in consultation with the Bishop. This Amendment failed.

Proposed Amendment to CANON 5.4 of Canonical Offerings –Diocesan Council proposed amendment to Canon 5.4 regarding the Thanksgiving offering. For some time it has been the custom of the Diocesan Council to designate the Thanksgiving Offering to the Fund for the Poor and Homeless. Poor and Homeless committee distribute the money through grant making. This proposed canonical change presupposes that in typical years that designation would be the desire of Council but allows the provision for some special one-time alternative designation should the need arise. This amendment passed. St. David Parish of Drain expressed concern that they typically give their Thanksgiving offering to their local poor. This allowance will still be available since this is their historical mission to their community.