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Who comprises the General Convention?

The General Convention is composed of two legislative houses, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. The House of Deputies is made up of lay and clerical deputies who have been elected by their respective diocesan conventions. Congregations elect delegates to their diocesan conventions and these delegates in turn elect the deputies.

What happens at General Convention? How often does it meet?

The General Convention and the Executive Council of the Church vote on resolutions that, when passed, become Church policy. The General Convention of the Church meets every three years. The Executive Council meets three times a year in between General Convention.

How are subjects selected for the resolutions?

All members of the Church or any Church group can present their concerns for consideration to the General Convention. These concerns take the form of resolutions. The subjects of these resolutions considered are therefore determined by the members of the Church.

What is the process for consideration?

Any Church person or group submits a resolution either to diocesan convention for referral to General Convention, or to a deputy or bishop who can enter it for them. At Convention, all resolutions are assigned to an appropriate Convention Committee for consideration. These committees study, hold hearings and sometimes rewrite the resolutions, then decide whether to report them for consideration by the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. For any resolution to become policy, it has to be approved by both Houses of the Convention.

How is Church policy implemented?

The General Convention and Executive Council direct implementation of Church social policy by the staff of the national Church.

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