Special Task Force? Yes, but not yet

This morning the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies issued a joint statement announcing a delay in the naming of the members of the Task Force on Structure, Governance and Administration mandated by Resolution C095 of the 2012 General Convention.

The text of that resolution mandates as well that the Task Force "shall have as many as 24 members, appointed jointly by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies by September 30, 2012."

That deadline came and went, and Preludium had thought that perhaps the announcement would come at the fall meeting of Executive Council. Not so.  The text of the joint statement from the PB and President HOD is as follows:

The Episcopal Church
Office of Public Affairs

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 

 

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings have released the following statement concerning the special task force for church structural reform.

“We are offering an update on the selection of the members of the special task force on structural reform. 
We wish to express our deep thanks and appreciation to the hundreds of people who were nominated or who have indicated a desire to serve on the special task force for church structural reform. Over 450 people have expressed interest in serving.  
At this point, we are reviewing all the nominations, and we are discerning the composition of this important task force. Following the Executive Council meeting in October and our planned participation in the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting in New Zealand also in October and November, we will devote our attention to this large and critical task. 
It is important to know that we are  carefully reviewing each and every nomination and then discerning whom to appoint given the many gifted people who have offered to serve. There is an abundance of rich gifts being offered for this work, and we are delighted to discover how far we agree on the direction and potential names for this task force. We expect to announce the members on or about December 1. 
Please note that the budget and mandate for this special task force begins in 2013.
We are thankful for your continued prayers through our discernment.”

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings

Neither the Statement by the Presiding Officers, nor the Office of Public Affairs, mentions the September 30th date, but ENS suggests that the reason for delay is the large number of persons interested in serving. More than 450 people asked to serve on this Task Force. 

So good news, bad news, good news. Good news that there are so many willing to serve, bad news that the clear mandate of General Convention could not be followed. Good news that work is underway.