Minutes of the Proceedings of the Episcopal Electing Convention Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, New Jersey May 4, 2013

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1 Minutes of the Proceedings of the Episcopal Electing Convention Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, New Jersey May 4, 2013 A Special Convention, called by notice in the Election Booklet on March 21, 2013 for the purpose of electing the Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, was held on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Trinity Cathedral, 801 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, following a 9:00 celebration of Holy Eucharist by the Rt. Rev. George E. Councell, XI Bishop of New Jersey. At 10:27 a.m., Bishop Councell welcomed clergy, lay deputies, and the press. He gave opening announcements and then introduced the Acting Chancellor of the Diocese, Canon Paul Ambos, Esq. and the Recording Secretary, Canon Constance White. Ms. Cheryl Browne, Secretary of Convention of the Diocese of New Jersey, reported that one-fifth of the canonically resident clergy and one-fourth of the congregations of the diocese were represented, and she declared that there was a quorum. At 10:31 a.m., Bishop Councell called to order the Electing Convention of the Diocese of New Jersey and gave opening announcements. Bishop Councell thanked the members of the Episcopal Election Committee and asked them to stand for recognition. Ms. Deborah Schmidt, Chair of the Episcopal Election Committee, thanked the Rev. Canon Terrence W. Rosheuvel, for his guidance and spiritual help in serving as Chaplain to the Episcopal Election Committee. She expressed gratitude to the Very Rev. Ronald H. Clingenpeel, Consultant to the Episcopal Election Committee, the Office of Transition Ministry of The Episcopal Church, and the Rt. Rev. Clayton Matthews for their guidance. Ms. Schmidt thanked Paragraph, Inc., the designer, editor, and producer of the Profile, the Report of the Election Committee, and the Election Booklet, for their outstanding work. Ms. Schmidt offered special thanks to the Committee for their work, dedication, and spirituality during this process. She also thanked the members of the Diocese, both clergy and lay, for their support and cooperation. Bishop Councell preceded the report of the Committee on Credentials of Lay Deputies by noting that a question had been raised as to the ability of lay deputies elected by mission congregations and by Trinity Cathedral to legally vote at this convention, as a result of language changes passed by the Annual Convention in amending the classification canons of the diocese earlier this year. Since it did not appear that the intention of Convention was to abrogate voting representation that had been recognized for years, he ruled as Chair that any lay deputies certified by the Committee would be accorded full voting rights at this Electing Convention. He further directed the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons to review the language of the canons and recommend any clarifying amendments that it deemed necessary. Mr. Marcus Gales, a member of the Committee on Credentials of Lay Deputies, certified that all parochial reports had been submitted as required by canon and all credentials of lay deputies were in order, except for St. Andrew s by the Sea, Allenhurst, Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, and Christ Church, South Amboy. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the report of the Committee on Credentials of Lay Deputies. Canon Paul Ambos, Esq., Chair of the Committee on Dispatch of Business, Rules of Order, and Agenda, stated that the proposed Rules of Order for the Episcopal Electing Convention were provided to the Clergy and Lay Delegates in their Electing Convention Booklet, pages 4 6. Canon Ambos noted that as provided by canon, the Electing Convention uses special Rules of Order adapted for the limited purpose of electing a bishop but otherwise patterned on the Rules of Order that were used at the Diocesan Convention in March. Likewise, the proposed Agenda is also for this limited purpose. Canon Ambos on behalf of the Committee moved the adoption of the proposed Rules of Order for the Episcopal Electing Convention, and the motion was passed. He then moved on behalf of the Committee the adoption of the Agenda for the Electing Convention of the Diocese of New Jersey as provided to the Clergy and Lay Deputies in their Electing Convention Booklet, page 6. The motion was passed. 1

2 Bishop Councell announced the following appointments, some previously in effect, for this Convention: Parliamentarian: Canon Paul Ambos, Esq., Acting Chancellor of the Diocese. Chaplains: The Rev. Canon Terrence W. Rosheuvel and the Rev. Terry Martin. Committee on Rules of Order and Dispatch of Business: Canon Paul Ambos, Esq., Chair, Paul De Sarno, Esq.; the Rev. Peter T. Manzo, the Rev. Ronald N. Pollock, and Ms. Norma R. Tucker. Committee on Credentials of Lay Deputies: The Rev. Charles D. Sasso-Crandall, Chair, Ms. Electra Burdick, Mr. Marcus Gales, Mr. Robert Sargent, and Mrs. Rose Sargent. Balloting Committee: The Rev. John L. Hain, Dcn., Chair, Mr. Jerry Allen, the Rev. Louis J. De Sheplo, Dcn., the Rev. Leslie G. Mazzacano, Dcn., the Rev. Frederick B. May, Dcn., the Rev. Douglas J. Reans, the Rev. Elmer L. Sullivan, and Ms. Norma Tucker. On behalf of the Episcopal Election Committee, Ms. Deborah Schmidt, Chair, placed the following persons in nomination for the office of Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey: The Reverend David Anderson, Rector of St. Luke s Parish, Darien, Connecticut The Reverend Dr. Joan E. Beilstein, Rector of Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring, Maryland The Reverend Dr. Allen F. Robinson, Rector of St. James Church, Baltimore, Maryland The Reverend Canon Melissa M. Skelton, Rector of St. Paul s Church, Seattle, Washington and Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership of the Diocese of Olympia The Reverend Canon William H. Stokes, Rector of St. Paul s Church, Delray Beach, Florida The Reverend Martha Sylvia Ovalle Vásquez, Rector of St. Paul s Church, Walnut Creek, California. On behalf of the Episcopal Election Committee, Ms. Schmidt placed the following persons, who were nominated through the independent nomination process, in nomination for the office of Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey: The Very Reverend René R. John, Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, New Jersey The Reverend Canon Donald J. Muller, Rector of St. Peter s Church, Medford, New Jersey The Reverend Canon Dr. Francisco Pozo, Vicar of Christ Church, Trenton, New Jersey. Ms. Schmidt noted that the order of the names on the ballot was randomized by VoteScan. Bishop Councell asked if there are any further nominations. There being no nominations from the floor, Ms. Schmidt moved that nominations be closed. The motion was seconded and passed. Bishop Councell called upon Deacon Jack Hain, Chair of the Balloting Committee, to give voting directions. In addition to the printed directions in clergy and lay delegates packets, he emphasized using the correct ballot, how to mark the ballot, and how to have the ballots collected. The First Ballot was cast. Bishop Councell recognized the Rt. Rev. G. P. Mellick Belshaw, Retired Ninth Bishop of New Jersey, and the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss, Retired Tenth Bishop of New Jersey, who was unable to be with us today. Bishop Councell acknowledged members of the Cathedral Staff. The Rev. Gregory Bezilla, Chair of the Transition Committee, gave a report. He recognized and thanked the members of the Transition Committee for their work on transition and also noted the work of this committee still to be done. Bishop Councell then acknowledged the members of the Diocesan House staff for all of their hard work in preparing for the Electing Convention. Bishop Councell called upon Deacon Sally Maurer to play the Cathedral organ, and the Convention sang hymns 680 and 525 from The Hymnal 1982 and hymns 12 and 196 from Lift Every Voice and Sing II. Then the Bishop said a prayer, and all were asked to be seated. Deacon Hain reported the results of the First Ballot: Total Votes Cast: 570 2

3 Clergy Votes: 193 Clergy Majority: 97 Lay Votes: 377 Lay Majority: 189 The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton The Rev. Canon Donald J. Muller The Rev. Martha Sylvia Ovalle Vásquez The Very Rev. René R. John The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein The Rev. Canon Dr. Francisco Pozo The Rev. David Anderson The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson The Chair announced that there was no election. Bishop Councell asked if there were any candidates who wished to withdraw, and there were none. Deacon Hain gave instructions for the Second Ballot. The Second Ballot was cast. The Rev. Terry Martin led the body in prayer. The Rev. Terry Rosheuvel led Noonday Prayers. The Convention recessed for lunch at 11:46 a.m., and attendees were asked to return by 12:45 p.m. to reconvene. Bishop Councell called the Convention to order at 12:40 p.m. and hymn 432 was sung. Deacon Hain reported the results of the Second Ballot: Total Votes Cast: 562 Clergy Votes: 190 Clergy Majority: 96 Lay Votes: 372 Lay Majority: 187 The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton The Rev. Canon Donald J. Muller The Rev. Martha Sylvia Ovalle Vásquez The Very Rev. René R. John The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein The Rev. Canon Dr. Francisco Pozo The Rev. David Anderson The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson The Chair announced that there was no election. Bishop Councell asked if there were any candidates who candidates on the progress of voting, reported for the following candidates who wished to withdraw: Mr. Richard Somerset-Ward reported that the Rev. David Anderson wished to withdraw, Mr. Steve Isham reported that the Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein wished to withdraw, The Rev. Sharon Sutton, Dcn., reported that the Very Rev. René R. John wished to withdraw, Mrs. Rosa Penã-Brown reported that the Rev. Canon Dr. Francisco Pozo wished to withdraw. Deacon Hain gave instructions for the Third Ballot upon the remaining candidates. The Rev. Terry Martin led the Electing Convention in prayer. The Third Ballot was cast. Deacon Hain reported the results of the Third Ballot: Total Votes Cast: 550 Clergy Votes: 188 Clergy Majority: 95 Lay Votes: 362 Lay Majority: 182 3

4 The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton The Rev. Canon Donald J. Muller The Rev. Martha Sylvia Ovalle Vásquez The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson The Chair declared that there was no election. Bishop Councell asked if there were any candidates who candidates on the progress of voting, reported for the following candidate who wished to withdraw: Ms. Carol Forsythe reported that the Rev. Martha Sylvia Ovalle Vásquez wished to withdraw. Deacon Hain gave instructions for the Fourth Ballot. Prayer was led by the Rev. Terry Rosheuvel. The Fourth Ballot was cast. Deacon Hain reported the results of the Fourth Ballot: Total Votes Cast: 557 Clergy Votes: 187 Clergy Majority: 94 Lay Votes: 370 Lay Majority: 186 The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton The Rev. Canon Donald J. Muller The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson The Chair declared that there was no election. Bishop Councell asked if there were any candidates who candidates on the progress of voting, reported for the following candidate who wished to withdraw: The Rev. Martha McKee reported that the Rev. Canon Donald J. Muller wished to withdraw. Deacon Hain gave instructions for the Fifth Ballot. Bishop called upon the Rev. Terry Rosheuvel for prayer. The Fifth Ballot was cast. The Electing Convention sang hymn 157 from Lift Every Voice and Sing II and hymn 390 from The Hymnal Deacon Hain reported the results of the Fifth Ballot: Total Votes Cast: 554 Clergy Votes: 186 Clergy Majority: 94 Lay Votes: 368 Lay Majority: 185 The Rev. Canon Melissa M. Skelton The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes The Rev. Dr. Allen F. Robinson Bishop Councell declared the Rev. Canon William H. Stokes elected as the XII Bishop of New Jersey. The bells of Trinity Cathedral were rung, and a Te Deum was sung (Hymn 366 in The Hymnal 1982). Bishop Councell thanked the volunteers who helped in the preparation for and carrying out of the Electing Convention. He thanked the Convention s volunteer pages. He asked for prayers for all of the candidates, giving thanks for their ministry, for the clergy and laity of our diocese, and for Bishop-Elect Stokes, giving thanks for his ministry and in anticipation of his being with us: Let us pray for God s guidance in his life and in 4

5 the life of his family. Bishop Councell offered thanks to VoteScan under the direction of Mr. William Kraft and Ms. Katherine Kish. He reminded all deputies that they must sign the Testimonial of Election form required under the Canons of The Episcopal Church before they leave the convention floor. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed, and the Electing Convention stood adjourned at 2:55 p.m. Closing prayers were offered and Bishop Councell gave his blessing. Respectfully submitted, Canon Constance L. White Recording Secretary 5