Stand Firm

LIVE BLOG: From the Floor of the House of Deputies: The Budget Debate & DOMA Resolution

The parliamentarian is going through the special rules for debate on the budget.

President: I will entertain clarifying questions only about the rules of debate.

A motion has been made to reconsider the rules [rule 24] regarding not introducing legislation on the last two legislative days.

A SC deputy has asked to amend the suspension of those rules to apply only to the budget.

The question is moved on the motion to suspend Rule 24 for the purposes of new legislation today.

[TEXT to Rule 24: 24. Except by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, no new business requiring concurrent action shall be introduced in this House after the third second legislative day of its session, and no matter which originated in this House and which requires concurrent action by both Houses shall be considered by the House after the eighth seventh legislative day.]

Pennsylvania—In the spirit of Ubuntu—members of Black Caucus are in appreciation of the church. If the heartbeat is mission—we need to acknowledge the pain that this budget will bring. The clock is ticking for the environment and the church as well.

[President reminds house that we have only 10 minutes to discuss the “Revenues” topic.]

Western Michigan: As a member of the black caucus and in the spirit of ubuntu—we stand with the staff members of the Episcopal family who will lose their jobs. [missed other]

Jennings, Ohio: Are we discussing revenues or the canonical section at this time?

Long Island: Seek to move forward in this church—speaking on behalf of all members of the African diaspora—working for continued reconciliation and healing. Pledge to strengthen our parishes and worshiping communities.

Wilson, Newark: In the spirit of ubuntu I rise to speak to this budget. While we feel that we have lost much and we grieve it—it is not a death knell. The work of anti-racism and reconciliation must continue. Women’s voices must be heard. Continue to visit the prisoner . . .

[It appears that there will be further speeches of this type and I will only blog

Deputy ???: Propose following revision of budget on communications—to allow for a continued monthly publication of Episcopal Life and the communication survey. Amend to add essentially $1,614,936]. This number has been provided by the Office of Communications as its estimate of advertising revenues from their publication. . . . The amendment will allow us to fulfill D037 passed by this house earlier.

Board of Governors Deputy of Episcopal Life—rise to speak in favor of this amendment. We need some facts—to gather data and facts through the survey. If we are going to change our practice away from monthly newsprint we need to give our diocesan partners time for this change. Urge support of this amendment.

Arkansas deputy: Identify what percentage of the asking that your diocese gives to the budget.

East Carolina: The floor amendment of this budget is painful—less than totally responsible. We need to trust our committee. This committee has worked hard, agonizing over the cuts. We cannot responsibly micromanage the line items on this budget. I urge you to vote against each and every amendment, which I will do.

Western Massachusetts: Page 38, 2.0, a single asking shall be applied at the rates of “up to” 21%. Add the words “up to.”

We had to cut our diocesan budget and cut every other part except the pledge to the national church. My biggest concern is the 24 dioceses who have not offered their diocesan reports. We simply don’t know what they can provide.

Southeast Florida: Raise question whether this is appropriate at this time, since it deals with revenue. My understanding is that the time had expired.

Jennings, Ohio—move amendment—to add 17K per year to line 141 HOD Staff Costs and to fund it by reducing Chief Operating Officer/Strategic Planning. Enables bicameral structure of our polity by asking for a staffing level of two in the HOD staff office—requested by our President, Bonnie Anderson. Primary voice for this house is our wonderful president. Ensure that she has the tools necessary to represent us as she did so well in this past triennium.

Deputy: It would be difficult for her to continue her work without the proper staff support that she needs. Urge to put back the money necessary to have her office staffed properly.

[Numerous other deputies rising to support the need to add staff for Bonnie Anderson]

Deputy: rise to speak against it as I speak against all amendments to the budget. My own parish has had to go through the same things making these painful decisions.

Deputy: For me this amendment is about polity. As far as I’m concerned we have one unpaid representative. This amendment is asking for staff to do its job. This is the senior house.

Deputy: Moves an amendment to reduce Line 124, Column M by $250,000 and add a line in the budget of $250,000 for “Study to move the Episcopal Church Center out of New York City]

Time we are living in poses many challenges. The Episcopal Church Center in NYC is very expensive.

Deputy: Since 1960 The Episcopal Church has discovered the west. NYC not the geographical center of the US.

Montana Deputy: Supports amendment. It is timely for us to consider pushing for a much more economical place to base our church. A place much more centrally located and one that many of us can call during *our* times of operation.

Cole of Colorado: moves to reconsider the amendment to add money to staff of Bonnie Anderson’s office.

Motion to reconsider adding funding for Bonnie Anderson’s staff fails overwhelmingly.

Deputy: We have committed as a church to telling our story in our own print publication, not allowing other media to tell our story for us.

Deputy: Move to restore cuts from Mission Funding program by authorizing Executive Council to use $3 million from reserves. I have been the CEO of professional services firm for ??? years. I have never seen the logic in cutting operations people who have already paid for themselves in startup costs.

In line 277, restore an allocation of 60K a year for total of 180K to office of women’s ministries and charging the wisdom of Executive Council. Need to have coordination to facilitate women’s networks.Need someone who I can call for information—and we need a coordinator of women’s ministries.

We have the mandate to eradicate racism—and who will do that. Who will talk to the diocesan about doing the anti-racism training? And who will do the training?

Colorado deputy: Urge us to defeat amendment and all other amendments. The Episcopal Church has too many factories producing too many Hummers. We need priests and bicycles.

Fontaine: requests moment of prayer for all the staff that they might find healing and hope in their lives.

—limited to total of 35 minutes
—committee has 5 minutes to report
—5 minutes to respond to questions of clarification
—speakers limited to 1 minute
—chair will recognize alternate viewpoints
—no motion to terminate debate shall be in order before the time limit shall have expired
—Special order to be heard at 9.30 a.m.

Deputy: We are tearing this church apart—I urge you to vote this down. Christians of good will can disagree on this.

Gunderson: Our committee saw this as a civil right. Because people cannot take care of themselves and others, this is essential.

Lewis: Everything the church does should be theological. We are putting the horse before the cart. I hope and pray that we would desire balance in this church.

Cole, Colorado: This body and this church has consistently said that we value inclusion for all people. The dispute we have is a theological dispute. Several states have already affirmed that marriage is for everyone. Defense of Marriage acts stand in the way of equal marriage rights for all.

Albany: I chose as an adult to become an Episcopalian because I valued personal conscience. In the past, this house has always supported the freedom of individuals to express their conscience. The majority of this house does support gay rights. Go for it. Get out there. Get involved. This resolution calls on all Episcopalians. Imagine how you would feel if a resolution called for all Episcopalians to vote Republican. Vote no.

Rochester: I am doing what the previous speaker suggested doing. This church has been in support of civil rights and this is a civil rights matter. I am legally married in one jurisdiction but not in the US.

Kelly, Rio Grande—Support for all people who are children of God. However, this motion seeks to bring two things together that do not belong. One is about civil rights, and the other is about the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage.

Hawaii deputy: [asks about relation to vote by orders, doctrinal discipline and Title IV discipline concerning marriage vote]

Matters of marriage are doctrinal but are not of Doctrine with a big D—our doctrine of marriage really means doctrinal with a small d and did not fit with under the term of Doctrine that is subject to Title IV.

Charlie Holt, Central Florida: We have a 40 year companion diocese relationship with Honduras—the longest running companion relationship in the Anglican Communion. I move a substitute resolution—substituting the original resolution with the exception of the word “coup” that the bishop of Honduras originally submitted with his strong language. I have spoken with him several times and he prefers original language.

Deputy: We are not competent to weigh in on a complex situation like this—the Episcopal Church is not familiar with the situation in that country. I don’t think we have any business in telling the OAS what to say in this matter.

Honduras Deputy—speak in support of this amendment—should go in record as being in total opposition of their actions.

Again, I think it’s a great idea to call for dialogue and to commend the process with Costa Rica [???] I don’t think we have any business to tell the American Organization of States not to take a stand on their coup.

Holt, Central Florida—it waters down further what Bishop Allen is trying to accomplish there to keep his diocese at the table with that particular organization and at the table with the country.

President asks HOD to greet deputies of Quincy, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, and San Joaquin with applause.

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