D080 Building Community to Discern and Call Episcopal Leadership in the Episcopal Church on Navajoland
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm its “readiness to affirm the election and consecration as Bishop someone so called and nominated by the Episcopal Church in Navajoland;” and be it further
Resolved, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church of North America establish a process, within its Constitution and Canons, for the Episcopal Church on Navajoland to discern and call its own bishop, subject to the consent of the House of Bishops; and be it further
Resolved, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church of North America collaborate with and support the Episcopal Church on Navajoland in establishing its own rules and procedures for the local discernment and calling of a bishop; and be it further
Resolved, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church of North America create a process, within the parameters of its Constitution and Canons, for the Episcopal Church on Navajoland, in the event that the person it discerns and calls to serve as bishop is not confirmed by the House of Bishops, to continue its discernment subject to the rules and process it adopts, and call another candidate to serve as its bishop, subject to the consent of the House of Bishops; and be it further
Resolved, the 80th General Convention appropriate $50,000 to support these efforts.
Explanation
Pursuant to Resolutions 1976-B175 and 1979-C05, the Episcopal Church on Navajoland (Navajoland) was created out of ceded territories from the Diocese of Utah, Arizona, and the Rio Grande. Pursuant to Resolution 1982-D013, Navajoland was canonically recognized as the only Area Mission of the Episcopal Church. In 1988, pursuant to Resolution
1988-B003, the 69th General Convention declared its “readiness to affirm the election and consecration as Bishop someone so called and nominated by the Episcopal Church in Navajoland.”
Despite the 69th General Convention’s stated confidence in the people of Navajoland to discern and call its own leadership, a 1994 amendment to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church was required to afforded deputies from ECN full voice and vote at General Convention (1994-A013). And, despite the 69th General Convention’s stated confidence in the people of Navajoland to discern and call its own leadership, Navajoland continues to have its bishops “assigned by the House of Bishops,” pursuant to Canon I.11.2(c) of Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church.
The people of Navajoland remain ready to discern and call their own episcopal leadership. The people of Navajoland hope that the Episcopal Church will recognize the work of the Spirit in their midst and honor their own distinct processes of discernment. The people of Navajoland desire collaboration with the House of Bishops, General Convention, and the Presiding Bishop’s Office to develop a joint process of discernment for episcopal leadership within the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in order to discern and call their own bishop.