General Convention’s House of Deputies declined to concur with the House of Bishops on an amended version of Resolution C061, which states that all baptized persons have equal access to the discernment process of this church. The action took place on Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif.

However, the House of Bishops removed several phrases which listed specific individuals, including the following phrase: “No person shall be denied access or have his or her discernment process terminated because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons.”

Diamante A. Tavolaro of Rhode Island, a female to male transgendered deputy, agreed with the committee on world mission which recommended that the amended resolution not be approved. He said he would prefer that convention try again in three years’ time.

Several deputies suggested that it would be preferable to adopt an imperfect resolution rather than none at all, but others pointed out that the language in the current canon is fairly close to the amended language proposed by the bishops.

Eventually deputies using electronic voting devices voted about 60-40 against concurring with the House of Bishops’ version.

Steve Waring reporting from General Convention in Anaheim.