It was day eight of the legislative session, but we were only on the calendar for day 6 by the end of the day. As the day progressed there were motions cutting the time for debate on a resolution from 30 minutes to twenty minutes and then later to fifteen. There were also motions cutting the time allotted to each speaker from two minutes to one; and finally one to cut the time each committee had to explain a resolution from five minutes to three. There was also a growing impatience with interruptions of the legislative schedule for presentations by "visitors." There was a fairly loud minority "no" vote when we were asked to suspend our rules to let the head of the Forward Movement Press speak to us.
 
In this press of business, we approved the mandatory denominational health care plan for clergy and church lay employees and a mandatory church pension plan for lay employees working over 20 hours a week. We approved resolutions on peace in Palestine, transgender civil rights, labor organizing rights, human trafficking, a strategic planning committee, and continued Eucharistic sharing with the Methodists, among a host of other measures. We also elected members of Executive Council and trustees for General Seminary.
 
The first part of the afternoon session was devoted to the budget. This was a joint meeting with the House of Bishops, and everything stopped while the bishops processed in and took seats with their respective deputations. The budget shows painful cuts. Tomorrow we will begin to debate it. Nothing can be added to the budget unless the motion also specifies exactly what other line item will be cut. The budget eliminated a number of items including the Office of Women's Ministries. I have organized a meeting tomorrow of interested deputies to see if there is anything we can do to restore some funding to this area. A number of other areas showed tremendous cuts.
 
It is clear that deputies need more help with parliamentary training. Things move too quickly on the floor to seek help from the senior deputies who are supposed to be available to help the rest of us. Procedural motions failed because they were in the wrong form, or were ruled out of order. A measure that was critical for continuing to catch up on business failed because many did not understand why it had been made. We will have to reconsider it in the morning.
 
Despite the glitches, there was still good will in the House and I heard deputies from "liberal" dioceses expressing concern that the press of business not become an excuse to block statements and amendments by those in the minority. It is big, it is messy, but it still was the CHURCH.
 
JRG
Joan R. Gundersen