A Delegate's Notes on the 110th Annual Diocesan Convention

First, a battle was avoided over the proposed reduction in 2006 of outreach funding at the diocesan level. The point had been made in at least one convocation meeting prior to convention that funds in the budget for outreach were to be zeroed out over three years in favor of outreach at the parish level. The diocesan outreach funding for 2006 had, therefore, been reduced by a third.

A number of clergy and lay people apparently disagreed with this, and, unbeknownst to most delegates at the convention, they submitted a resolution on or just prior to the first day of convention to restore funding. Negotiations took place with the convention's committee on resolutions, and that led to a new resolution being presented to the convention prior to consideration of the 2006 budget. The negotiated resolution language was displayed on large video screens and read to the convention, but no hard copy was available.

The resolution provided that not less than 5% of the diocese's operating income for 2006 be spent on outreach in North Texas. When the vote was called, the vote to approve was overwhelming. The 2006 budget, as overglossed with the special outreach resolution, was then presented and promptly approved (with very few nay votes).

Immediately thereafter, the Rev. Canon David Roseberry asked to be recognized, and came to a floor mike with a comment: Christ Church, Plano, and its vestry (and staff), he said, were concerned that they may not be able (or willing) to commit to their assessment on a 12-month basis, given the uncertainty around the General Convention of the Episcopal Church scheduled for 2006. The diocese might be thinking, he added, about contingency plans vis-a-vis the income reflected in the 2006 budget.

These comments appeared to catch diocesan leaders completely by surprise. The bishop and the president of the standing committee responded, but not all the delegates were clear on what the bishop or the president of the standing committee had on their minds.

What seemed to be generally understood by the convention was that Christ Church, Plano, might stop paying their diocesan assessment once GC 2006 concluded, and that the diocese would then face a 10% income shortfall!

The convention adjourned shortly thereafter, clearly not on the up-beat note that certain people had hoped for.

Other items acted on prior to adjournment:
• In the voting for elected offices: The Rev. Dwight Duncan and Cheryl Wetzel were elected to the Standing Committee; the Rev.s Josh Acton and Kevin Martin, and Carol Ivey, Douglas Lang, Matt Stroud, and Lana Valenta were elected to Executive Council; Dan Wilson was elected Trustee, University of the South.
• A motion to extend the term of the Reconciliation Committee was approved. (That seemed like a good idea, since the Committee sought guidance from the convention [which broke into small discussion groups] on the question, "What does reconciliation mean to you?")