Information & Resources

The following reference guide is offered to you as a resource for information on subjects and

terms you may hear during the Episcopal Church General Convention 2015.

This resource also contains links to past and current legislation related to the subjects listed here.

Up-to-date information on General Convention legislation can be found on the General

Convention 2015 Legislation page (Please note: Link to resolution tracking will become live on

the first day of General Convention, June 25, 2015).

For additional information on these and other topics, please visit:

Archives of the Episcopal Church

Public Affairs Office

Episcopal News Service

General Convention 2015 Legislation (Link to resolution tracking will become live on the first

day of General Convention, June 25, 2015)

Twitter: #GC78

For someone to speak on these topics, contact Neva Rae Fox,

publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org, 917-478-5659 (mobile).

Contents

Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)

Anglican Communion

Archbishop of Canterbury

Archives of the Episcopal Church

Asiamerica Ministries

Black Ministries

The Blue Book

Budget of the Episcopal Church

Children in the Church

Companion Relationships

Domestic Poverty

Environment

The Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Executive Council

Five Marks of Mission

General Convention

Holy Women, Holy Men

Jubilee Ministries

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Moravians

Native American/Indigenous Ministries

Presiding Bishop Election

Research & Statistics

Same-Gender Blessings

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

Task Force on the Study of Marriage

Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC)

United Thank Offering (UTO)

Young Adult Service Corps (YASC)

Youth in the Church

Anglican Consultative Council (ACC)

The role of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) is to facilitate the cooperative work of the

churches of the Anglican Communion, to exchange information between the Anglican provinces

and churches, and to help to coordinate common action. It offers advice on the organization and

structures of the Anglican Communion and seeks to develop common policies with respect to the

world mission of the church, including ecumenical matters. ACC members include one to three

persons elected from each Anglican province. Provinces with three members include a bishop, a

priest, and a lay person. If fewer than three members are appointed from a province, preference

is given to laity.

The ACC serves the worldwide family of Anglican/Episcopal churches as one of the four

Instruments of Communion:

The Archbishop of Canterbury in his international role as primus inter pares, the senior

bishop in the Anglican Communion

The Lambeth Conference, which meets every 10 years for the bishops of the Anglican

Communion (first met in 1867)

The Primates Meetings, which are regular meetings of the senior archbishops and bishops

of the 38 provinces (first met in 1979)

The Anglican Consultative Council, which meets every three years or so and whose

members include bishops, clergy, and laity appointed by the 38 provinces of the

Communion (first met in 1971)

The ACC is the only one of the four Instruments of Communion that includes lay representation.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Ian Douglas (Diocese of Connecticut), the Rev. Gay C. Jennings (Diocese of

Ohio), and Rosalie Simmonds Ballantine, Esq. (Diocese of the Virgin Islands) are the elected

members of ACC for The Episcopal Church.

In January 2011, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts

Schori was elected for a three-year term to the Anglican Communion Primates’ Standing

Committee representing Central, North and South Americas and the Caribbean.

Resource Links:

Anglican Consultative Council

Public Affairs Office: Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori elected to Anglican

Communion Primates Standing Committee

Episcopal News Service: Presiding bishop re-elected to Primates Standing Committee

Anglican Communion

The Episcopal Church is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The member

churches of the Anglican Communion are joined together by choice in love, and have no direct

authority over one another. The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, is

acknowledged as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, but the Archbishop does not

have direct authority over any Anglican Church outside of England.

Resource Links:

Anglican Communion

Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of the Church of England, who is recognized by

Anglicans throughout the world as the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion. The current

Archbishop of Canterbury is the Most Rev. Justin Welby. He was named 105th Archbishop of

Canterbury on November 9, 2012. He was enthroned on March 21, 2013. On taking office in

March 2013, Archbishop Welby announced three priority areas for his ministry over the coming

years:

The renewal of prayer and the religious life

Reconciliation

Evangelism and witness

The roles of the Archbishop of Canterbury include:

Leader of the Anglican Communion – The Anglican Communion includes all 38

provinces in communion with the See of Canterbury, a total of over 70 million members

throughout the world.

Primate of All England – The archbishop has this title in recognition of his lead

ecclesiastical role in England. The Church of England has 13,000 parishes and 13,000

full-time parochial and other clergy. He is regarded as the nation’s senior Christian and

spiritual voice.

Metropolitan for the Southern Province of the Church of England – The Archbishop

of Canterbury has metropolitical authority (that is, a supervisory authority for defined

purposes) in relation to all bishops and clergy in the 30 dioceses in southern England. The

Archbishop of York has the same authority in relation to the 14 dioceses in northern

England.

Diocesan Bishop of Canterbury – Since 597, the Archbishop’s See has been at

Canterbury. His diocese in East Kent has a population of 825,000 and comprises 270

parishes in an area of nearly 1,000 square miles.

Ecumenical role – The Archbishop of Canterbury takes a lead in respect to Anglican

relationships with other Christian churches.

Interfaith role – Similarly, the Archbishop of Canterbury leads in respect to Anglican

relationships with other faiths.

The Archbishop of Canterbury calls the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, chairs the meeting

of Primates, and is president of the Anglican Consultative Council.

Resource Links:

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Anglican Communion website

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Archives of the Episcopal Church

The Archives of the Episcopal Church connects the church’s dynamic traditions to today’s

mission and congregational life. It is an information center for The Episcopal Church that

supports the leadership and members with resources that help to clarify and educate. The

Archives seeks to deepen the faith community’s understanding of its identity as an ever-evolving

conversation with the past.

The Archives’ historical records are held in Austin, TX, and it also maintains an office of

Records Administration at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. Donations are

welcome from individuals and church organizations that fit within the Collection Policy of the

Archives. Research inquiries from the public also are welcome and are answered in the order

they are received.

Resource Links:

Archives of the Episcopal Church

About the Archives

Asiamerica Ministries

Asian American or “Asiamerican” describes both Asian immigrants in the United States and

Asian Americans born in the United States – Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Southeast

Asian (Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, Burmese), and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani,

Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan). It also describes the relationship of Asians in the United States with

the Asian Episcopalians and Asian Anglicans in the global Asian community. The office of

Asian American Ministries offers resources on mission work, church revitalization, and racial

justice – among and beyond Asian communities in the United States. It assists dioceses to start

new Asian congregations and strengthen existing ones, and advocates for Asian empowerment at

all levels of the church: among seminarians, women, youth, clergy, and lay leaders.

Resource Links:

Asiamerica Ministries

Black Ministries

The history of contributions to The Episcopal Church by its black clergy and black congregations

is long and inspiring. The church pays tribute to this legacy by supporting and fostering the

growth of black congregations through partnerships that reach across ethnic and racial

boundaries, from the Episcopal provinces, dioceses, and deaneries to local parishes. Through the

Recruitment, Training, and Development Program, black postulants and candidates for ministry

are empowered and encouraged to seek vocations in lay and ordained ministries. This program

offers an annual conference to provide historical perspectives of black Episcopalians in the

church, leadership training, opportunities for networking, and mentoring for ongoing education

and spiritual growth.

Resource Links:

Black Ministries

The Blue Book

The report to the 78th General Convention, commonly referred to as “The Blue Book,” is

available online at The Episcopal Church’s General Convention website. The Blue Book

contains reports of the committees, commissions, agencies, and boards of the General

Convention.

Resource Links:

The Blue Book

Budget of the Episcopal Church

The financial base of The Episcopal Church is the voluntary financial contributions of its

members. Funds received from dioceses go to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of

the Protestant Episcopal Church – sometimes called “DFMS” – which is the corporate body that

receives funds from congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church. The current budget is

based on the Five Marks of Mission.

Executive Council’s Finances for Mission Committee began work in the fall of 2012 on the

budget for the 2016-18 triennium that Council will propose to the Program, Budget, & Finance

Committee (PB&F) for the 78th General Convention. The Committee included at every meeting

the chair, vice-chair, or other representatives of PB&F in its deliberations, in order to make the

work of both bodies more collaborative and the overall budget process more fluid. Council’s

budget process has included wide input from many people across the church.

The elected Executive Council makes governing decisions between sessions of the General

Convention.

Resource Links:

Finance Office

Draft budget

Public Affairs Office: Program Budget and Finance Committee seeks comments, input on draft

budget; Episcopal Church proposed budget available for review; Input invited for 2016-2018

triennium preliminary draft budget; Budget process survey results issued; Deadline nears for

budget input; Budget process underway for 2016-2018 triennium; discussions initiated, survey

distributed

Episcopal News Service: Council proposes draft budget with reduced churchwide asking;

Executive Council moves toward proposed draft budget; Program, Budget and Finance begins

triennial budget work

Constitution & Canons - See Budget of the Episcopal Church

General Convention

Children in the Church

Children’s enthusiastic expressions of faith can help transform the church and everyone in it. To

assist children in fully participating in their church communities and in exploring their own

ministries, we provide imaginative, innovative resources for those who work with children.

The Episcopal Church is serious in its call to love, shelter, protect, and defend children within its

own community and in the world. The General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopted the

Safe Church Resolution (B008) in 2003 to “Protect Children and Youth from Abuse.”

The Safeguarding God’s Children program was developed to prevent and respond to child sexual

abuse in everyday life and ministry. By keeping our children safe, we can empower them to

grow, receiving and responding to God’s love.

At General Convention 2015, the Children’s Program will operate from Thursday, June 25 to

Friday, July 3, from 7:15 a.m. through the close of business sessions. An open house is slated for

Wednesday, June 24.

Children of deputies, alternates, bishops, and others attending General Convention are eligible

for the Children’s Program. The program is offered for children who are newborn through

completed fifth grade. Cost is $70 per day and includes lunch, snacks, and activities, such as

participation in the daily liturgy.

The Children’s Program was set at the 75th General Convention in 2006 in Columbus, OH

through Resolution D059.

Resource Links:

Children’s Ministries

Resolution D059

Public Affairs: Advancing to General Convention 2015: registration open for children’s

program; applications available for counselors

Companion Relationships

Groups from around the world have formed official links, finding their rewards in new

friendships, mutual learning, and an expanded awareness of the world. Together, they share

prayers and fight poverty, both in the United States and abroad.

Groups in companion relationships take on responsibility for each other. Although they come

from far-reaching cultures and have differing customs and histories, they see the image of Christ

reflected in each other.

The Companion Relationship Program offers domestic dioceses in the United States

opportunities to engage in mission activity with dioceses in other parts of the world, as part of

the process of developing the cross-cultural nature of the Communion.

Resource Links:

Companion Relationships

Domestic Poverty

The Episcopal Church addresses domestic poverty in many ways: a network of more than 600

Jubilee Ministries; one- and two-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowships based on the Anglican

Marks of Mission; Asset-Based Community Development; collaboration with diocesan and

congregational ministries across the country; and annual block-grant programs for the

development (or enrichment) of local ministry. Through these programs and ministries, The

Episcopal Church seeks “to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners

and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the

Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).

Resource Links:

Domestic Poverty/Jubilee Ministries

Environment

Care and justice for all creation is a core value of The Episcopal Church. Eco-justice ministries

seek to heal, defend, and work toward justice for all God’s creation and to respect the kinship

and connection of all that God created through education, advocacy, and action.

The Episcopal Church also works “to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew

the life of the earth” as one of its Five Marks of Mission. On March 24, The Episcopal Church

gathered for an important forum on the Climate Change Crisis. This practical discussion touched

on the issues that we face from our own actions and examined what we can do to respect God’s

creation. In addition to stimulating conversation and raising awareness about the Climate Change

Crisis, the live webcast served as the kickoff to 30 Days of Action. Various activities were

offered to help individuals and congregations better understand the environmental crisis. The

activities culminated on Earth Day, April 22. The webcast is now available on demand, and the

forum is ideal for group viewing and discussion. It is appropriate for Sunday school, adult

education, discussion groups, and community gatherings. Resources such as a bibliography, on-

demand video, materials for community and individual review, discussion questions, and lesson

plans are available here.

Resource Links:

The Climate Change Crisis

Eco-Justice Ministries

Episcopal Ecological Network

Public Affairs: The Climate Change Crisis: Forum now available for viewing; The Climate

Change Crisis: watch, participate, engage; Panelists announced for The Climate Change Crisis;

Episcopal Church will host forum on today’s critical issue: The Climate Change Crisis

Episcopal News Service: Episcopal forum raises awareness about climate change crisis;

Reclaiming climate change as a moral issue

The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church, with 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations, is a member

province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Most Rev. Michael Curry is Presiding

Bishop and Primate.

The 17 member countries are Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Curacao, the Dominican Republic,

Ecuador, France, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Micronesia (including Saipan and Guam),

Switzerland, Taiwan, the United States (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands),

Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands (including the British Virgin Islands).

Resource Links:

Episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is an organization that strives to support all women in the

church in their ministries. ECW was first organized in 1871 as the Women’s Auxiliary to the

Board of Missions.

The 48th Triennial Meeting of Episcopal Church Women will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah

June 25 through July 2, 2015.

Resource Links:

National Episcopal Church Women

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

The Episcopal Church is in communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Resource Links:

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Public Affairs: Prayers of the People developed to recognize landmark 10th Anniversary of

Episcopal-Lutheran ‘Called to Common Mission’

Executive Council

The Executive Council has the duty to carry out programs and policies adopted by General

Convention. The Executive Council is comprised of 20 members elected by General Convention

(four bishops, four priests or deacons, and 12 laypersons) and 18 members elected by provincial

synods.

Resource Links:

Executive Council

Five Marks of Mission

The mission of the church is the mission of Christ:

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

2. To teach, baptize, and nurture new believers

3. To respond to human need by loving service

4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind,

and to pursue peace and reconciliation

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the

earth

We recognize with gratitude that the Five Marks (“Five Marks of Mission” as developed by the

Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990) have won wide acceptance among

Anglicans and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical checklist for

mission activities.

Resource Links:

Five Marks of Mission

Anglican Communion website: Five Marks of Mission

General Convention

General Convention is the main governing body of The Episcopal Church, and it meets every

three years. The General Convention is made up of two houses – House of Bishops (HOB) and

House of Deputies (HOD) – and they present, consider, modify, and ratify resolutions that direct

the work of the church for the next three years. In 2015, General Convention will be held June

25-July 3 in Salt Lake City.

Resource Links:

General Convention

Holy Women, Holy Men

Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (Church Publishing, Inc., 2010) is a major

revision of The Episcopal Church’s liturgical calendar as printed in Lesser Feasts and Fasts

(Church Publishing, Inc., 2006). Holy Women, Holy Men is currently in trial use, and as

mandated in General Convention 2009 Resolution A096, the Standing Commission on Liturgy

and Music will prepare a comprehensive report on the usage and people’s experiences.

Resource Links:

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM)

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music blog

Report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

Public Affairs: Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music seeks feedback on Holy Women,

Holy Men; Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music seeks input on Holy Women Holy Men

Jubilee Ministries

The Episcopal Church addresses domestic poverty in many ways: a network of more than 600

Jubilee Ministries; one- and two-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowships based on the Anglican

Marks of Mission; Asset-Based Community Development; collaboration with diocesan and

congregational ministries across the country; and annual block-grant programs for the

development (or enrichment) of local ministry. Through these processes and ministries, The

Episcopal Church seeks “to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners

and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the

Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).

Resource Links:

Domestic Poverty/Jubilee Ministries

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are an eight-pronged declaration

adopted in 2001 that has at its core the eradication of extreme global poverty and hunger by the

year 2015.

The Millennium Development Goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Create a global partnership for development with a focus on debt, aid, and trade

At the 74th General Convention in 2003, the House of Deputies joined the House of Bishops in

supporting the MDGs and urging parishes, missions, congregations, and dioceses across The

Episcopal Church to work for their implementation. The Episcopal Church has continued to

widely support the MDGs, both in parishes and through such organizations as Episcopal Relief

& Development.

Resource Links:

Episcopal Relief & Development

Millennium Development Goals

Moravians

Moravians in America are part of a worldwide Christian communion formally known as the

Unitas Fratrum, or Unity of the Brethren. The United States is divided into two provinces, the

Northern Province (centered in Bethlehem, PA) and the Southern Province (centered in Winston-

Salem, NC).

The Moravians are a creedal, liturgical church. They believe in the presence of Christ in the

Eucharist and celebrate the baptism of infants as well as baptism of adults.

In 1997, The Episcopal Church General Convention established an official Episcopal-Moravian

dialogue with the Moravian Church in America. The 2003 General Convention authorized a

relationship of Eucharistic sharing so that the two communions could worship together and begin

working together in mission, while continuing to work on a reconciled ordained ministry.

At General Convention 2009, The Episcopal Church approved full communion. The Provincial

Elders’ Conferences of the Northern Province and Southern Province of the Moravian Church

have likewise approved this proposal.

This is the first time that three churches (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal

Church, and Moravian Church) have entered into full communion on the basis of separately

negotiated concordats of full communion.

Resource Links:

The Moravian Church in North America

Ecumenical & Interreligious

Native American/Indigenous Ministries

The goal of Native American/Indigenous Ministries is the full inclusion of Native and

Indigenous peoples in the life and leadership of The Episcopal Church.

Resource Links:

Native American/Indigenous Ministries

Presiding Bishop Election

The 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, was elected

on Saturday, June 27, 2015. More than 165 people representing over 60 dioceses submitted

names during the nomination period in the fall of 2014. The canons charge the Joint Nominating

Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop (JNCPB) to present a slate of no fewer than

three nominees. The JNCPB announced the names of its nominees in early May. During the 10

days following release of the slate, deputies and bishops could indicate their intent to nominate

any other bishop from the floor.

The JNCPB presented all the nominees to both Houses of General Convention on Wednesday,

June 24. A formal nomination of candidates followed on Friday, June 26. Bishops elected the

27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church during a sequestered session on Saturday, June

27. The House of Deputies voted to confirm or not confirm the election by the House of Bishops.

The JNCPB is comprised of a lay member, a priest or deacon, and a bishop elected from each of

the nine provinces of The Episcopal Church, plus two youth representatives, who are appointed

by the president of the House of Deputies. The General Convention deputies and bishops serve a

three-year term that concluded at the close of General Convention 2015 in Salt Lake City, UT

(Diocese of Utah).

Resource Links:

Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop roster

Public Affairs: JNCPB report includes updates; JNCPB issues statement on progress; JNCPB

notes end of submission period; JNCPB issues announcement; September 30 deadline nears for

nominations for Presiding Bishop; Joint Nominating Committee presents last of three essays;

Joint Nominating Committee presents second of three essays; Scruton joins Joint Nominating

Committee; Nominating committee issues call, profile for 27th Presiding Bishop; Klusmeyer

joins Joint Nominating Committee; Joint Nominating Committee announces timeline; Joint

Nominating Committee chairs offer update; Deadline nears for Joint Nominating Committee

survey; new service initiated for comments, thoughts; PB Joint Nominating Committee addresses

tasks, hears insights; Joint Nominating Committee seeks input as work begins; Joint Nominating

Committee issues important survey; Joint Nominating Committee elects new co-chair; Joint

Nominating Committee for Election of Presiding Bishop issues report, announces Twitter,

Facebook links

Research & Statistics

The Office of Research examines local trends and demographics, which can help Episcopal

congregations grow and better respond to the needs of their communities. Congregations that are

more welcoming to newcomers offer more opportunities for transformation and mission. The

“Studying Your Congregation and Community” charts break down social and demographic

characteristics of Episcopal churches and their communities by geographic location. Trends in

membership, average worship attendance, and financial giving can be used to indicate growth,

decline, or stability. The community demographic profile provides an overview of a one-mile

radius of a congregation’s physical location.

Resource Links:

Our Congregations

Statistical Totals for the Episcopal Church by Province: 2012-2013

Domestic Fast Fact Trends: 2009-2013

Public Affairs: Survey results provide overview of Episcopal congregations; Studying Your

Congregation and Community: free tool provides info on congregational, diocesan trends

Same-Gender Blessings

In 2012, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) prepared its report, “I Will

Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing: Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships” in

compliance with 2009-C056, “Liturgies for Blessings,” a resolution approved by General

Convention 2009, which directed the SCLM to collect and develop theological and liturgical

resources through an open process for the blessing of same-gender relationships.

SCLM offered two resolutions to General Convention 2012 asking to commend the SCLM’s

report for study by the church and to allow trial use of its liturgical rite beginning on December

2, the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the church’s liturgical year. The trial use

period included an open process for review and a report to General Convention 2015. It also

requested that General Convention 2012 extend the provision of “generous pastoral response,”

first provided in 2009, particularly to bishops in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-

gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal. This provision allowed bishops

to use their discretion in allowing clergy to officiate at the marriages or civil unions of same-

gender couples in states where those unions are legal.

The second resolution asked General Convention 2012 to create a “task force of not more than

12 people, consisting of theologians, liturgists, pastors, and educators, to identify and explore

biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, and canonical dimensions of marriage.”

The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and the Task Force on the Study of Marriage

continue the work put forth in these resolutions, as outlined below:

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

At its 77th General Convention held in Indianapolis in July 2012, The Episcopal Church

authorized the use of “Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing,”

including a rite, for blessing the lifelong covenants of same-sex couples.

The rite, which must be approved by each diocesan bishop before it is used in individual

dioceses, is authorized by General Convention for provisional use until 2015.

During the past triennium, The Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

(SCLM) sought information about people’s experiences with these resources via an online

survey in the fall of 2013 and at an indaba-style gathering in June 2014. The survey questions

focused on the use of the various sections of the resources.

The first half of the 2014 gathering featured Indaba-style discussion that sought to develop an

understanding of civil marriage and the church’s response in different contexts. Indaba, a

practice common in some African cultures, is a method of having purposeful conversation,

especially about issues that may invite disagreement or diverse viewpoints. The second half of

the gathering focused specifically on discussing and hearing responses to “I Will Bless You and

You Will Be a Blessing.” The SCLM held the meeting to fulfill, in part, Resolution A049’s

directive to invite responses “from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals from

throughout The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, and from our ecumenical

partners,” in order to report back to the 78th General Convention in 2015.

Resource Links:

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM)

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music blog

Report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing

Resolution 2012-A049

Public Affairs: Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music provides information on Indaba-style

gathering; Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music offers meeting overview; Deadline nears

for survey on use of resources from Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music; Standing

Commission on Liturgy and Music seeks data on local use of resources; Episcopal Church same-

sex blessing resource excerpts available online

Task Force on the Study of Marriage

The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on the Study of Marriage was enabled by Resolution A050

at General Convention 2012. Resolution A050 called for the creation of a task force of

“theologians, liturgists, pastors, and educators to identify and explore biblical, theological,

historical, liturgical, and canonical dimensions of marriage.” During the past triennium, the

group has consulted broadly across The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion,

developed tools for theological reflection and discussion, and issued a report to the 78th General

Convention, meeting June 25–July 3, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake

City, UT (Diocese of Utah).

Resource Links:

Task Force on the Study of Marriage

Task Force Facebook page

Task Force YouTube

Resolution 2012-A050

Report of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage

Public Affairs: Task Force on Study of Marriage releases study guide, discussion resources;

Task Force on Study of Marriage presents final report; Task Force on Study of Marriage wants

your videos; Task Force on Study of Marriage reports on continued work; Task Force on Study

of Marriage issues update and report; Presiding Bishop, President of House of Deputies

announce 12-member Task Force on the Study of Marriage; Task Force on Study of Marriage

issues report of work; Episcopal Task Force on the Study of Marriage report on initial meeting

Episcopal News Service: Marriage study task force begins work by sharing experiences;

Dioceses respond to marriage equality decision by US Supreme Court

Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC)

The Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) has been charged by the 77th

General Convention of The Episcopal Church to create a plan for reforming the church’s

governance and administration.

Resource Links:

Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC)

Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church website

Report of the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church

Resolution C095 – Structural Reform

Public Affairs: TREC presents final report for General Convention 2015 consideration; TREC

issues A Word To The Episcopal Church; TREC provides meeting report; TREC releases second

Study Paper; TREC asks for input through Engagement Kit; TREC announces information about

Study Papers; TREC provides report following recent meeting; Episcopal Task Force for Church

Structural Reform issues statement; Presiding Bishop, President of the House of Deputies open

inaugural meeting of Structure Task Force; Presiding Bishop, HOD President issue statement on

special task force on church structural reform; Special task force members named for church

structural reform; Nominees considered for special task force on church structural reform;

TREC issues A Letter to The Episcopal Church; Coming soon - TREC churchwide meeting on

October 2; A message from TREC following the churchwide meeting; Update: task force

members for structural reform; TREC invites conversation through website, social media; TREC

issues a letter to The Episcopal Church suggesting changes

Episcopal News Service: Reimagining task force hears from the church; ‘Listening to the spirit,’

task force is reimagining church; Re-imagining task force members say ‘real challenge’ is

transformation; Re-imagining task force making progress toward November deadline; Task force

on church structure plans first meeting

United Thank Offering (UTO)

This fundraising and grant-making program was begun more than 100 years ago by the then-Women’s

Auxiliary. UTO provides grants to churches and institutions in the United States and throughout the

Anglican Communion. The UTO Ingathering at General Convention 2015 is Sunday, June 28 at 10 a.m.

Resource Links:

United Thank Offering

Young Adult Service Corps (YASC)

The Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) is a ministry for those interested in exploring their faith in new

ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion. YASC offers young adults

a unique opportunity to be an active part of what God is doing in the world.

Resource Links:

Young Adult Service Corps

Youth in the Church

Responding to the spiritual needs of preteens and teens is about building trusting relationships. The

Episcopal Church strives to walk with young people on their journeys from childhood to adulthood,

recognizing their gifts for ministry, their questions about spirituality, and their desire to make a difference

in the world.

Resource Links:

Youth Ministries

Episcopal Youth Event