Task Force on Re-Structurig the Episcopal Church

The Task Force on Re-structuring the Episcopal Church has a Facebook page which is asking what one thing would you like to see changed in the Episcopal Church.

        My response was to reduce the size of General Convention.

        I propose that every diocese be represented by at least one priest or deacon and one lay person, and that for every 10,000 over the initial 10,000 ASA the diocese elect another priest or deacon and a lay person. Each diocese is represented by one bishop with an additional bishop for every 10,000 ASA.  Based on 2011 figures:

        For 110 dioceses that gives 220+49 = 269 House of Deputies and 135 bishops.

        The additional representation includes one each from these:

Province 1
         Connecticut 17K
        Massachusetts 18K
Province 2
        Haiti 17
        Long Island 15
        New York 20
Province 3
        Maryland 11
        Pennsylvania 15
        Southern VA 10
        Washington DC 15
Province 4
        Alabama 10
        Atlanta 17
        Central FL 13
        North Carolina 15
        South Carolina 12 (adjustment may be needed)
        SE FL 13
        SW FL 14
Province 5
        Chicago 13
Province 6
        Colorado 10
Province 7
        Dallas 12
Province 8
        Los Angeles 19
Province 9
        Honduras 10

        If we elected by province and figured one priest or deacon and one lay person for every 10,000 ASA we'd have 126 in each house.

Province 1 - 56K - 6
Province 2 - 95K - 9
Province 3 - 102K - 10
Province 4 - 171K - 17
Province 5 - 62K - 6
Province 6 - 30K - 3
Province 7 - 77K - 8
Province 8 - 21K - 2
Province 9 - 19K - 2    

          Bishops and deputies could meet together but preserve the two house concept by voting separately and requiring concurrence of both bishops and deputies.

           This is not a new idea. I remember Bishop Thomas Fraser of North Carolina suggesting it to a group of clergy in the late 1970’s. It made sense then and makes sense now.