The House of Bishops began its legislative work of the 76th General Convention with a closed-door discussion of Resolution B033. The July 8 afternoon executive session did not discuss the merits of the 2006 resolution which pledged restraint on consecrating further gay bishops or authorizing public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions, but discussed whether the bishops would prorogue their session this afternoon to observe the House of Deputies committee of the whole meeting to discuss B033.

The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw SSJE, Bishop of Massachusetts, said the bishops could not agree amongst themselves whether to attend the first of two special meetings devoted to B033.

While Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has urged General Convention to move on from B033 to discuss current issues facing the church, the deputies believe it is important to hold the discussion, Deputy Sally Johnson said. “Our house has not had an opportunity to discuss [B033] since 2006,” Ms. Johnson said on July 9, while the bishops have had several opportunities in the intervening triennium to engage over this issue.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, opened the business session by welcoming overseas and ecumenical guests.

Present for the first business session were primates: Archbishop Phillip Aspinall of Australia, Archbishop Mauricio de Andrade of Brazil, Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi of Burundi, Archbishop Fred Hiltz of Canada, Archbishop Martin Barahona of Central America, Archbishop Henri Isingoma of the Congo, Archbishop Nathaniel Uematsu of Japan, Archbishop Solomon Yoon of Korea, Archbishop Carlos Touche-Porter of Mexico, Bishop Samuel Azariah (the Moderator) of the Church of Pakistan, Presiding Bishop Edward Malcdan of the Philippines, Bishop Albert Chama (the Dean) of Central Africa, and the retired primates of the Congo and Scotland, and ACC Secretary General Canon Kenneth Kearon, and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The primates of Tanzania and the Sudan were also expected to arrive, Bishop Jefferts Schori said, who also welcomed bishops and clergy from Cuba, Ghana, Israel, Kenya, Liberia, Myanmar and South Africa.

In a brisk session that saw little debate or controversy, the bishops adopted by unanimous voice vote Resolution A077, Episcopal Health Ministries. The Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt. Rev. James Adams, rose to offer a personal endorsement of the resolution endorsing “health ministry” as an “organizing concept” of “outreach and pastoral care” for the church.

The Committee on Liturgy presented Resolution A095 updating the church calendar to commemorate Harriet Bedell, James Theodore Holly, Oscar Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador, Tikhon, Vita Dutton Scudder, and Frances Joseph Gaudet. The resolution was passed without debate or dissent.

The House adopted an amended form of Resolution A137 — Church Pension Fund, continuing the task force studying employment practices in the church, but discharged Resolution A048 and A114 upon recommendation by the Committee on Stewardship and Development.

Resolution A081 on accommodating the people with disabilities was adopted with no discussion or debate after a technical amendment was offered by the Bishop of Minnesota.

Resolution A069 that called for funding the Mission Funding Office was adopted without debate, with two votes cast in opposition, while Resolution A076 introduced by the Committee on Ecumenical Relations calling for Dialogue with the Church of Sweden was passed without discussion with one vote in opposition. Resolution A075 approving further dialogue with the Presbyterian Church was adopted after a friendly amendment was offered by the Suffragan Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Roskam.

The Assistant Bishop of Oregon, the Rt. Rev. Sanford Hampton, closed the meeting with a plea to the House to exercise generosity. The working poor — the maids and housekeepers employed by the hotels used by General Convention — should not be overlooked and be tipped generously, the bishop said, sounding a chord he has sung in past gatherings of General Convention.

(The Rev.) George Conger reporting from General Convention in Anaheim.