C045 Amend Article I Section 4 - first reading
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the youth of the Church have seat and voice as Representatives in the House of Deputies; and be it further
Resolved, That to implement this, Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution be amended as follows:
Sec. 4 The Church in each Diocese which has been admitted to union with the General Convention, each area Mission established as provided by Article VI, and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, shall be entitled to representation in the House of Deputies by not more than four ordained persons, Presbyters or Deacons, canonically resident in the Diocese and not more than four Lay Persons, confirmed adult communicants of this Church, in good standing in the Diocese but not necessarily domiciled in the Diocese; but the General Convention by Canon may reduce the representation to not fewer than two Deputies in each order. Each Diocese, and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, shall prescribe the manner in which its Deputies shall be chosen.
Two confirmed communicants in good standing between the ages of sixteen and eighteen having not yet graduated high school or matriculated full time to college, as of the first legislative day of General Convention for which they are chosen, from each Province shall be entitled to representation in the House of Deputies as Youth Representatives in the Official Youth Presence. These Youth Representatives shall be entitled to seat and voice in the House of Deputies.
To constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the Clerical order shall be represented by at least one Deputy in each of a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation, and the Lay order shall likewise be represented by at least one Deputy in each of a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation.
And be it further
Resolved, That, to ensure funding of the Official Youth Presence, the necessary expenses for the Official Youth Presence be provided for in the budget to be submitted by the Treasurer, as provided in the Canon entitled "Of General Convention.”
Explanation
This resolution is a continuation of the “stepping-stone” history that the General Convention Official Youth Presence has been living out since its inception. In 1982, Resolution 1982-B045 was introduced to the House of Bishops proposing the motion of inviting a “Youth Presence” to come and be a part of General Convention. While this was a large step forward in bringing Youth to Convention, this resolution was vague in that lacked necessary structure and protocol for the Youth Presence to operate under. Specifically, there was no limit on how many Youth could participate and the Youth could not address Convention until they were individually recognized. In 1985, a resolution was passed that provided structure for the Youth Presence by providing funding for two Youth from each Province to come and be present at General Convention. In 1994, a resolution was passed that finally allowed the Youth Presence to be on the floor of the House of Deputies and to speak on the floor in reference to resolutions. In 2000, a resolution was passed that inserted the General Convention Official Youth Presence into the House of Deputies Rules of Order. This resolution is the latest to directly affect the structure and /or responsibilities of the Official Youth Presence. It amended the Rules of Order to ensure the placement of the Official Youth Presence within the body of the House of Deputies with the responsibilities of seat and voice. This resolution will amend the Constitution by inserting a paragraph into Article I Section 4 that grants seat and voice to two youth from each Province. Because the Youth Presence is currently only authorized in the Rules of Order, a simple vote in the House of Deputies could remove them at any time.