"Whether or not the particulars of the discussion are to repeal B033 or to affirm a 'no restrictions' policy for episcopal candidates is not the foundational question," Anderson said. "The foundational question is does the General Convention still support the use of 'restraint when consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose lifestyle poses a challenge to the wider church.'"

Diocesan conventions that have decided to ask General Convention to have that "further conversation and consideration" are taking one of two routes or a combination of those approaches. One route involves having the convention repeal B033. The second involves having the convention pass a resolution affirming that it will not place restrictions on the choice of episcopal candidates that would be in conflict with the church's constitution and canons (church laws).

For instance, the Diocese of Maine, among others, has called on General Convention to repeal or retract B033. In a resolution passed at its October 24-25 convention, the diocese directed its General Convention deputation to propose a resolution that would have the convention "refrain from restricting the field of potential candidates for future episcopates on the basis of gender or sexual orientation and will reject interference from outside the convention that would attempt to affect its parliamentary process or negate the polity of the Episcopal Church."

Among the dioceses yet to have their last pre-Anaheim convention, the Diocese of Newark's delegates agreed on January 31 to send a resolution (resolution 2009-14 available here) asking General Convention to affirm that "standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction are bound only by the rules set forth in the canons when considering consents to the ordination of any candidate to the episcopate."