The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
84th Meeting of the Convention
October 20–21, 2006,
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg
RESOLUTIONS
Date: August 6, 2006
Resolution offered by: Catawba Convocation
Subject: Our Fiscal Story as a Diocese
Whereas, in order to encourage the communicants of
the diocese and their individual stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, now
therefore,
Be it resolved that the diocese through the Diocesan
Executive Council (DEC) shall construct the numbers, graphs, charts, and
illustrations to communicate our total fiscal story from Statement of Mission
2000 through proposed Statement of Mission 2007 (i.e., income and expense, total
income, number of personnel, debt levels, outreach, insurance cost, pension
cost, salaries, national church pledge. Graphs, pie charts, bar graphs will aid
greatly in the presenting and communication of this message.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED
Date: August 14, 2006
Resolution offered by: The Rev. Robert Gaillard
Kirkland, Rector
Name of church: Good Shepherd, York
Subject: Biblical literacy
Whereas, we are concerned at the level of biblical
literacy in the Church; and
Whereas, we believe “Holy Scripture containeth all
things necessary to salvation” (Article VI); and
Whereas, we believe “All Scripture is inspired by
God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped
for every good work: (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NRSV); and
Whereas, our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20a); now therefore,
Be it resolved that this 84th Convention
of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina call upon the clergy
and people of this diocese to
provide the means for members of congregations
to reaffirm our commitment to “read, mark, learn and
inwardly digest” (BCP, pg. 236) the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments in such a way that they may “be ready to make a defense for the hope
that is within us” (1 Peter 3:15), to “do the work of an evangelist and to carry
out our ministry fully” (2 Timothy 4:5b).
Date: October 11, 2006
Resolution offered by:
The Rev. Preston B.
Huntley, Jr.
Name of Church: St. John’s,
Winnsboro
Co-sponsored by: The Rev. Rob
Brown, St. Matthew’s,
Spartanburg;
The Rev. Timothy Dombek, St. James, Greenville; The Rev. Linda Gosnell,
Holy Cross, Simpsonville; The Rev. Alan Leonard, St. Margaret’s,
Boiling Springs; The Rev. John Nieman, Holy Trinity, Clemson; The
Rev. Rhett Winters, Retired Priest of the Diocese; The Rev. Jim Workman,
St. Michael’s, Easley.
Subject: Reaffirming Our Unity
in Christ
Whereas
we recognize that at many and
various times in history the Church has struggled to maintain unity, and
Whereas
in these times within the life of
our church we desire to reaffirm our unity in Christ Jesus, and
Whereas
reconciliation is the mission of
the Church, therefore
Be it resolved
that this 84th
Convention of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina solemnly reaffirms the
Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral as a sound expression of our unity in mission,
generosity of spirit, and joy in our common life; the text of which follows:
The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral 1886, 1888
Adopted by the House of Bishops Chicago, 1886
We,
Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in
Council assembled as Bishops in the Church of God, do hereby solemnly declare to
all whom it may concern, and especially to our fellow-Christians of the
different Communions in this land, who, in their several spheres, have contended
for the religion of Christ:
1. Our
earnest desire that the Saviour’s prayer, “That we all may be one,” may, in its
deepest and truest sense, be speedily fulfilled;
2. That
we believe that all who have been duly baptized with water, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, are members of the Holy Catholic
Church;
3. That
in all things of human ordering or human choice, relating to modes of worship
and discipline, or to traditional customs, this Church is ready in the spirit of
love and humility to forego all preferences of her own;
4. That
this Church does not seek to absorb other Communions, but rather, co-operating
with them on the basis of a common Faith and Order, to discountenance schism, to
heal the wounds of the Body of Christ, and to promote the charity which is the
chief of Christian graces and the visible manifestation of Christ to the world;
But
furthermore, we do hereby affirm that the Christian unity…can be restored only
by the return of all Christian communions to the principles of unity exemplified
by the undivided Catholic Church during the first ages of its existence, which
principles we believe to be the substantial deposit of Christian Faith and Order
committed by Christ and his Apostles to the Church unto the end of the world,
and therefore incapable of compromise or surrender by those who have been
ordained to be its stewards and trustees for the common and equal benefit of all
men.
As
inherent parts of this sacred deposit, and therefore as essential to the
restoration of unity among the divided branches of Christendom, we account the
following, to wit:
1. The
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the revealed Word of God.
2. The
Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith.
3. The
two Sacraments,––Baptism and the Supper of the Lord,––ministered with unfailing
use of Christ’s words of institution and of the elements ordained by Him.
4. The Historic Episcopate,
locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the
nations and peoples called of God into the unity of His Church.
Furthermore, Deeply
grieved by the sad divisions which affect the Christian Church in our own land,
we hereby declare our desire and readiness, so soon as there shall be any
authorized response to this Declaration, to enter into brotherly conference with
all or any Christian Bodies seeking the restoration of the organic unity of the
Church, with a view to the earnest study of the conditions under which so
priceless a blessing might happily be brought to pass.
Note: While the above form of the Quadrilateral
was adopted by the House of Bishops, it was not enacted by the House of
Deputies, but rather incorporated in a general plan referred for study and
action to a newly created Joint Commission on Christian Reunion.
Lambeth Conference of 1888
Resolution II
That, in
the opinion of this Conference, the following Articles supply a basis on which
approach may be by God’s blessing made towards Home Reunion:
(a) The
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as “containing all things
necessary to salvation,” and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
(b) The
Apostles’ Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the
sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
(c) The
two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself––Baptism and the Supper of the
Lord—ministered with unfailing use of Christ’s words of Institution, and of the
elements ordained by Him.
(d) The
Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the
varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His
Church.
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
84th Meeting of the Convention
October 20–21, 2006,
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg
Date: July 18, 2006
Offered by: The Rev. L. Howard Maltby, Dean of the
Midlands Convocation
Name of Church: St. Alban’s, Lexington
Subject: Proposed Canonical Revisions in regard to
Standing Committee and Diocesan Executive Council
Whereas, the combined role and function of Standing
Committee and Diocesan Executive Council creates the potential scenario for a
conflict among two bodies with quite different purposes;
Whereas, the significance of Convocations and the
part they play in greater exercise of the Mission and Ministry of the Diocese
and the implementation of the Long-Range Plan is constrained under the current
structure;
Whereas, a Standing Committee whose members are
elected “at large” at the Annual Diocesan Convention, and a Diocesan Executive
Council whose members are would be
elected at the Convocation level allows
would allow increased franchise of
Convocation delegates and representation by Convocations regardless of size;
Be it therefore resolved, that the 84th
Convention direct the Diocesan Executive Council to spend the next year studying
the role and function of the Standing Committee and Diocesan Executive Council
and, how the above-mentioned concerns may be addressed; and
Be it further resolved, that the Diocesan Executive
Council report its findings to the 85th Annual Convention; should
action be proposed, the recommended timetable follows: a proposed amendment tot
the diocesan Constitution be made at the 85th Convention; and a draft
of an amendment to the Diocesan Canons for consideration in advance of the 86th
Convention be presented.
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
84th Meeting of the Convention
October 20–21, 2006,
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg
Date: October 18, 2006
Resolution offered by:
Bruce D. Carter, delegate from St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Columbia
Subject: Support of
Missions
Whereas,
Matthew 28:18-20a, also known as the Great Commission, is Jesus’ command to us
to spread the Good News;
Whereas,
the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina (the Diocese) has embraced the
Great Commission as a guiding principle of the Diocese; and,
Whereas,
in our Baptismal Covenant, we covenant that we will proclaim by word and example
the Good News of God in Christ and seek and serve Christ in all persons; and
Whereas,
Title VI, Section 4, of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese charges the
Convocations of the Diocese with studying and developing programs to address the
local needs of the Diocese; and
Whereas,
Title VIII, Canon 6, of the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese provides for
the establishment of missions within the Diocese and directs that “the Deanery
[sic.] shall assist in the nurture and growth of the Mission into Parish
status”; and
Whereas,
several missions currently exist with the Diocese; now therefore,
Be it resolved
that this 84th Convention of the Diocese calls upon those
Convocations within whose bounds mission churches exist to develop comprehensive
plans to carry out the responsibilities imposed by the Constitution and Canons
of the Diocese as regard the nurture and growth of the Missions into Parish
status. These plans should encompass not only the monetary needs of the Mission,
but should also address ways to assist with Christian formation, program
development, and other assistance to nurture the growth of the Missions.
Be it further resolved
that this Convention call upon the Diocese, through the Diocesan Executive
Council, the Commission on Congregations or such other group as the Bishop
appoints, to establish guidelines for support, both monetary and in-kind, of
Missions and to recommend the appropriate changes to the Constitution and Canons
to ensure future Missions established in the Diocese have the support and
assistance necessary to succeed.
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
84th Meeting of the Convention
October 20–21, 2006,
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg
Date:
October 20, 2006
Resolution offered by:
The Rev. Roy W. Cole III, Priest-in-Charge
Name of Church: Church
of the Nativity, Union
Subject: Millennium
Development Goals
Whereas,
the Episcopal Church endorsed the eight global goals of eradicating
extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting
gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving
maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring
environmental sustainability, and developing global partnerships for development
at the 74th General Convention and made them a mission priority for the
coming triennium at the 75th General Convention as reflected in the
national church budget; and
Whereas,
the 75th General Convention endorsed the ONE Episcopalian campaign as
a means of encouraging Dioceses, parishes and individuals to move this work
forward; and
Whereas,
our Baptismal vows compel us to “strive for justice and peace among all peoples”
as we “seek and serve Christ in all persons”;
Therefore, be it
resolved, that the Diocese of Upper
South Carolina affiliate with the ONE Episcopalian campaign and task the
Diocesan Executive Council (DEC) to develop appropriate programs, in concert
with parishes and persons, to support the Millennium goals; and
Be it further resolved
that the DEC report back to the 85th Convention of the Diocese
annually at Diocesan Convention through the 87th
Convention with regard to the
implementation of this mission initiative.
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
84th Meeting of the Convention
October 20–21, 2006,
Church of the Advent, Spartanburg
Date: October 17, 2006
Resolution offered by: The Rev’d Alice Haynes, vicar,
St. Matthias, Rock Hill; The Rev’d Dn. Mary Catherine Enockson, curate, Our
Saviour, Rock Hill, advisor to Canterbury of Winthrop [Catawba Convocation]
Subject: College / Young Adult Ministry
Whereas, the Diocese strongly supports Young Adult
Ministry (ages 18-29) through our current Long-Range Plan, Goal #2—to increase
significantly youth and young adult participation both in church life and
governance; and
Whereas, the Episcopal Church has been known in past
decades for its fruitful ministry on college campuses, particularly appealing to
those who are asking questions and “seeking God or a deeper knowledge of Him” [BCP,
p. 386]; and
Whereas, Canterbury communities exist across our
Diocese (in 7 locations) to provide worship, fellowship, and service
opportunities for students and other young adults, persons who are not always
visible to Episcopal congregations in their area; and
Whereas, the profound challenges of our society and
our world will soon be in the hands of these same young adults who seek (or
perhaps no longer seek) the wisdom of the Church; and
Whereas, Our Lord in his earthly ministry was
himself a young adult;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the 84th
Convention of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina go on record in thanking the
Ven. Frederick C. Byrd for his contributions to this ministry and for showing
the face of Christ to many young adults throughout the Diocese; and
Be it further resolved that as congregations as
Convocations this Diocese will continue the goal of increasing leadership and
involvement among this age group, on Vestries, in mission, in worship
leadership, as Convention delegates, and in all other appropriate and creative
ways that acknowledge our mutual ministry as the baptized people of God; and
Be it further resolved that we will seek out young adults
and listen to their questions, experiences and insight, even as we commit our
prayers, skills, and financial resources to our shared ministry with them
or making disciples and passing on the faith.
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