By Linda S. Comins
COVID-19’s impact on the 80th General Convention has led to a significant number of resignations by members of the House of Deputies.
As of June 8, a total of 234 deputies have resigned or indicated they are not attending GC80. That figure represents 27 percent of 868 originally certified deputies. Among those not attending are the entire deputations of the Dioceses of Cuba, Honduras and Venezuela.
In addition, 99 of an estimated 455 certified alternate deputies—22 percent—have resigned, and 55 of the 483 deputies—11 percent—appointed to legislative committees have resigned from their committees, although some have remained as deputies.
Turnover, or “deputy churn” as it is referred to in the office of the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, has been especially intense in the last ten weeks as the start of convention approaches. Since April 1, 128 deputies and 12 alternates representing some 60 dioceses have resigned or said they would not attend. This includes the deputies from Cuba, Honduras and Venezuela.
Read the full article.
|