Good Morning

1
Good Morning

2

• May we suggest we join in prayer,
• using the Prayer for Unity of the Church, found
  in the BCP, page 818
• The Lord be with you.

3

• O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• our only Savior, the Prince of Peace
• Give us grace seriously to lay to heart
• the great dangers we are in by our unhappy
  divisions take away all hatred and prejudice,
  and
• whatever else may hinder us from
• godly union and concord that as there is
• but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our
  calling,
• one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism,
• one God and Father of us all,
• so we may be all of one heart and of one soul,
• united in one holy bond of truth and peace,
• of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
  one mouth glorify thee through Jesus Christ our
  Lord. Amen.

4

• May we suggest a couple of ground rules for
• this time together. Since the group is so
• large, ground rules will ensure that there is
• order in this meeting and that everyone feels
• safe and heard.
• The two ground rules we suggest
• are

5

• First
• Only one person speaks at a time
• Second
• We all respect the dignity of everyone who
  speaks

6
Can we agree on these rules?
7

• We request that what is said in this meeting
  stays in this meeting, with the exception of our
  PowerPoint presentation and written materials
  presented by any attendee of this session.
• Further...
• We suggest a statement, combining our respective
  minutes of this session, be created and made
  available for the membership no later than May 1,
  2007.

8

• Can we agree to this confidential process?

9

• We thank you for scheduling this time for us
• to share our concerns with you.
• Those concerns were made available to you in
  writing in our letter to the membership in
  February 2007.

10

• We hope this time will help in clarifying our
• issues and we encourage any questions
• once we finish our presentation.

11

• We would hope to be understood and
• listened to as elders women sisters
• Daughters of the King, who are deeply
• devoted to our Lord and faithful to the
• Episcopal Church.
• We have served as you do now, and we
• come to voice our concerns,
• concerns that have been expressed
• throughout the Order.

12

• As former National Presidents
• we are called upon to help interpret and
• clarify actions within the Order.
• This comes from a sense of trust built
• through visible service over the years.
• It is neither a power to which we have
• aspired nor an attempt to wield power over
• current officers and council.

13

• Wed like to begin with a brief summary of our
  issues and then share with you what we propose be
  done about them.

14

• We acknowledge the Order is in the
• midst of transition and we have all been called
  to rethink who we are, what our purpose is, and
  where we are going, as evidenced by the actions
  taken by the National Council of 2003-2006, under
  the presidency of Sharon Lundgren.

15

• It seems to us the actions taken
• have compromised the Orders status as
• an Episcopal Order with Affiliate, Branch
• and/or International chapters, and made
• it an ecumenical organization under
• multiple authorities of many
• denominations.

16

• Our group has taken an active leadership role in
  researching the effects of councils actions at
  its November 2005 meeting when it voted for our
  Order to become fully ecumenical.

17

• We wonder why National Council would make such a
  radical change ignoring the established
  procedures for bylaw revision?

18

• We wonder why National Council would make such a
  radical change ignoring the established
  procedures for bylaw revision?

19

• It is in this vein we come to you, the National
  Council, the body charged with
• enacting rules of order for the transaction of
  business and executing all legislation of the
  Order between Triennial Conventions.

20

• We will now show you an historical
• view of the Orders ecumenical activity
• beginning in 1911, culminating with both
• Affiliate and Branch chapters, and later
• International chapters.

21

• It is obvious to us that much energy, creativity
  and hard work was done by our sisters in years
  past to open the Orders arms to women of other
  autonomous bodies.

22

• In no way do we want to undo this work!
• However we would like to see a structure
  developed which would help to maintain the
  integrity and autonomy of each body while joining
  us in spirit under a common structure composed of
  equal representation from each autonomous body.

23
EXPANSION OF THE ORDER

• God has blessed us with a Rule of Life that has
  enriched our lives and we wish to share with
  women of other traditions.

24
Sharing our Rule of Life

• 1911 There were 883 International Chapters
  and Councils in Australia, Canada, England,
  and South America
• 1917 Chapters established in Panama
• 1919 Councils of Canada and England invited to
  Triennial in Detroit
• 1980 Chapters formed in the Philippines
• and Brazil Portuguese
  materials developed

25

• 1981
• Roman Catholic Bishops make it clear dues are
  not to be paid to ECUSA - TRC, Winter 81
  Constitutional Amendment proposal regarding
  Branch Chapters TRC, Dec 81

26

• 1982 Chapter established in France at Paris
  Cathedral
• 1988 Bylaws Revised to include Affiliate
  structure proposed printed in TRC Oct 87
  with bylaws accepted at Triennial
• then printed in TRC Oct 88

27

• 1990 Winter issue of The Royal Cross Third
  RC Chapter instituted Bp Kendrick Williams
  blesses and authorizes Lexington Diocese as
  National Office RC National President
  invited to National Council with
  seat, voice, and no vote

28

• 1991 Chapters established in Uganda, opening
  the Order to other countries in Africa
• 1994 Chapters established in Cuba
• 1995 Chapters established in Honduras
• 1996 Spanish language materials developed

29

• Roman Catholic and International members paid
  dues to their respective group. Representatives
  of both invited to Triennial with seat, voice and
  no vote
• Each conformed to their own authority (church).
  The Order gave form and freedom. Ref DOK
  Bylaws, IV, Sec. 1, D-1
• Each remained autonomous in order to be equal
  partners

30

• At this time, we will share our position and
  indicate where there appear to be breaches of the
  bylawsof the Order.

31

• We support expanding the Order internationally,
  to other denominations and to those who have left
  ECUSA however, within the United States, the
  National Council represents and oversees the
  Order in the Episcopal Church.
• Further, the current National Council is asked to
  facilitate Affiliate and International (branch)
  structures, to mentor, not to govern.

32

• The business sessions of the last two triennials
  have been disastrous, particularly with the most
  recent past council ignoring the bylaws and the
  formal request for proper notice and education
  prior to presenting or even enacting changes.
• Roberts Rules, 9th edition, page 261, Rules
  that cannot be suspended Rules contained in the
  bylaws cannot be suspended no matter how large
  the vote in favor of doing so or how inconvenient
  the rule in question may be unless the particular
  rule specifically provides for its own
  suspension, or unless the rule properly is in the
  nature of a rule for order rather than a bylaw.
• Unless bylaw changes have been accepted by the
  triennial business session, they may not be
  enacted by council, despite councils well
  meaning intention.

33

• Article V National Council, Section 1, Members,
  D The president or appointed representative of
  a national affiliate or of a provincial or
  national international (branch) order is
  encouraged to attend meetings of the National
  Council and will have seat, and voice, no
  vote. DOK Handbook, page 63Roberts Rules,
  9th edition, page 581, 1) When the meaning of a
  bylaw is clear, the society, even by a unanimous
  vote, cannot change that meaning except by
  amending its bylaw. The interpretation should be
  in accordance with the intention of the society
  at the time the bylaw was adopted, as far as can
  be determined.
• No presidential edict nor council mandate can
  change the use or intent of a bylaw.

34

• We question the arbitrary changes and rewriting
  of history and bylaws.
• Our history tells us handbooks are updated and
  printed after a Triennial convention when new
  legislation is enacted. We question why
  handbooks were produced in 2000, 2001, 2002,
  2003, 2004, 2005.
• Beginning in the 2004 handbook, policy,
  procedures, bylaws and history were altered. All
  unauthorized by the Triennial.
• It seems that modifications to the handbook
  would be made only when Triennial authorized
  changes, and handbooks would be dated with the
  Triennial in which the changes were made.

35

• The 2003 Triennial Convention committed the
  proposed change to Article III, Section 1
  (Members) for further study by the following
  amendment
• Move to commit that all proposed bylaw changes
  go back to a National Council Committee for
  additional study and clarification and the
  establishment of a plan for implementation of
  extension of the membership to any other group
  outside those already approved by the current
  bylaws. Council is further charged with
  communication of proposed bylaw changes and the
  plan for implementation with all the membership
  through The Royal Cross at least one year prior
  to placing a proposal and implementation plan on
  the agenda of the next Triennial Assembly.
  The Royal Cross Fall 2003

36

• It seems that this was ignored and a decision was
  made by National Council to enact, giving vote to
  the Roman Catholic representative. A survey was
  done but no follow through to the Membership, no
  printing of bylaw changes one year prior to
  Triennial, and an alternate Companions Along the
  Way was proposed and implemented.
• Again, no presidential edict nor council mandate
  can change the use or intent of a bylaw.

37

• Article IV, Section 1, D, 1-5 Chapters Affiliate,
  InternationalThis bylaw states the proper
  process by which chapters other than Episcopal
  may be established and organized. We wonder why
  National Council would ignore the established
  procedures for bylaw revision?

38
It is our hope that

• the hostilities born of fear, mistrust and
  inadequacies be turned to Christian hospitality

39
It is our hope that

• National Council will follow the intent of bylaws
  and procedures, and will follow other requests
  from the governing body of the Order, the
  Triennial gathering.

40
It is our hope that

• National Council will understand that some
  Daughters feel the Triennial 2006 legislative
  session was invalid

41
It is our hope that

• history and bylaws will not be enacted nor
  printed as valid without acceptance by the
  business session of a Triennial

42
It is our hope that

• work expanding the Order will be done in
  accordance with current bylaws and procedures

43
With attention and care given

• to maintain the focus of our
• Episcopal Church heritage

44

• to create an International Council composed of
  equal representatives of each autonomous body who
  would come together in a spirit of unity to share
  and work for the spread of Christs kingdom
  especially among women and girls.

45
It is our hope that

• the history of the Order be reviewed carefully to
  more closely discover the vision and intent

46
It is our hope that

• the bylaws be updated for clarityand that full
  presentation be printed in The Royal Cross a FULL
  YEAR prior to the Triennial in Anaheim

47
It is our hope that

• National Council will find healthy ways of
  dealing with conflict within its body as well as
  within the Order

48
It is our hope that

• more opportunities for open dialogue be
  established at Triennial meetings

49
It is our hope that

• Provincial Representatives will provide
  opportunity for open dialogue and bring concerns
  and praise to the National Council

50
It is our hope that

• no further accommodation for Affiliate or
  International representation on National Council
  be made other than seat and voice

51
It is our hope that

• we work toward an understanding that Roman
  Catholic Order is an Affiliate and American
  Anglican Order is International if pastoral
  oversight is outside the USA

52
It is our hope that

• you would allow us to meet with you again, at
  full National Council in October (900-1130 a.m.
  on the 27th) to continue work together in the
  reconciliation, remedy and healing of the
  breaches and wounds caused by past actions of
  past councils, and toward the restoration of trust

53
THANK YOU!

• God Bless You