The 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church took place July 5-13, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Significant statements and decisions related to The Episcopal Church emerged from this gathering, including trial marriage rites for same-sex couples, transgender access, Safe Church training, statements on racial reconciliation, and study of lay family leave benefits.

NAES has compiled a list of resolutions adopted by GC79 that may be of interest to Episcopal schools, along with a brief overview of the role General Convention plays in the Church.

What is General Convention?

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church. Much like the United States Congress, General Convention is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Bishops (current and former bishops) and the House of Deputies (elected clergy and lay representatives from each diocese).

General Convention gathers every three years for approximately ten days and acts through the adoption of resolutions. A resolution becomes an Act of Convention after both Houses adopt it in the same form and at the same General Convention.

The work of General Convention includes:

adopting legislation of concern to the Church;
amending the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution, and the Canons of the Church;
adopting a triennial budget for The Episcopal Church;
and electing candidates to offices, boards and other committees.

Although individual bishops and deputies at General Convention may have deep ties to one or more Episcopal schools, neither NAES nor Episcopal schools as a group have representation in General Convention’s legislative bodies.

How is the work of General Convention relevant to Episcopal schools?

The majority of resolutions passed at General Convention address any number of social, theological, or institutional issues of importance to The Episcopal Church. As such, they are not binding on Episcopal schools. Nonetheless, NAES believes that Episcopal school leaders should be aware of and take seriously formal statements and calls to action adopted by General Convention, particularly those that can inform school programs or policies.

Some resolutions are in the form of changes to the Canons of The Episcopal Church (church law). These may, in fact, be binding on Episcopal schools that are “subject to the authority of the church.” Two recent examples are the resolutions related to lay pension and medical benefits which were passed a General Conventions of 2006 and 2009. The 2018 General Convention did not produce canonical changes that would directly impact Episcopal schools.

NAES has compiled below a list of resolutions of the 79th General Convention that we believe are of most interest to Episcopal schools.

Accepted Resolutions

#GC79 General Convention Recap

What is General Convention?

How is the work of General Convention relevant to Episcopal schools?

Accepted Resolutions

Safe Church – Defining, Preventing & Reporting

Legislation related to Lay Personnel

Inclusion

Liturgical Alterations and Resources

Resources

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