D080 Recommendation for Ecumenical Agreements
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 79th General Convention direct the Executive Council to include language in the several agreements that govern the exchange of clergy between denominations to allow and encourage bishops to communicate information regarding any and all disciplinary actions in a cleric’s history, and enter into new agreements specifically for the exchange of information about involved clergy.
Explanation
Under ecumenical agreements like Called to Common Mission, and the interim agreement with the United Methodist Church, the exchange of clergy from other denominations has become increasingly common. However, it occasionally happens that in such exchanges, information about misconduct by these clergy is not appropriately transmitted to their sending bishop, and/or not appropriately shared within The Episcopal Church. This proposed revision would ensure that within our polity, clergy from other traditions are neither held to theological standards which they cannot endorse, but nor are they held exempt from the standards of behavior we hold Episcopal clergy to. This also allows for bishops to communicate with each other about any offenses our clergy might commit while working in other churches.