Letter to Diocesan Presidents from
Sharon Lundgren, National President
regarding Voting Rights for Affiliate Chapters

ATTN:  DIOCESAN PRESIDENTS

At the November 3-6 National Council meeting in Orlando, the council unanimously approved voting rights for our affiliate chapter delegates to Triennial 2006 in the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Lutheran (ELCA) churches.

The reasons for approval are:

  1. They have asked for voting rights, so that they do not feel like second class members of the Order.
  2. They pay dues to the Order, and we use those dues for ministry here and around the world.  To refuse their vote is to uphold "taxation without representation."  If we refuse their vote, we should refuse their money.
  3. It is the right thing to do - the Christian thing to do.  In Christ Jesus we all have equal standing - we all stand at the foot of the cross.
  4. Our affiliate growth has been slow growing for 20 years among Roman Catholics (8 chapters in 20 years).  Our affiliate growth among Anglicans has been rapid over the last 24 months ... 17 new chapters, more and more in preparation.  Voting rights gives affiliates a solid reason to stay connected in one Order, rather than fragment over time into several small orders, disconnected to each other.  We take lifetime vows to the Lord.

Each diocese has their own set of bylaws.  The Diocesan Board can decide whether or not to extend voting rights to their affiliates for Diocesan Assemblies.  However, it has been our practice and tradition that National Bylaws set the norm, and provinces and dioceses usually follow the national bylaws.

The National Council looked long, carefully and prayerfully at the National Bylaws,under Article VII - Meetings, Section 1. National Convention.  If you read over it, it declares that "one delegate from each chapter" may be sent to the National Convention.  It does not declare a denominational affiliation at all.  Therefore, as a point of clarification, we ruled that any denomination, paying dues to the Order in the USA, could send a chapter delegate to the National Convention.

The Council was well aware that the numbers of voting members from our affiliate chapters will always be small in comparison with the much larger membership drawn from the Episcopal Church.  Our Episcopal heritage is in no danger of being eclipsed.  The sad divisions among Christians weakens our testimony to Jesus.  And in light of the painful reality of faithful Daughters who have been led to affiliate with newer groups seeking to maintain an Anglican-like identity, the Council hoped to offer a model of comprehensiveness and inclusivity which our Church has been unable to do officially.

As Diocesan Presidents you are the frontline on information distribution.  Please let your chapters know of this decision, and the reasons why as I have stated them.  Let us all pray to the Lord ... "May we all be one."

For His Sake,
Sharon Lundgren
National President
2003-2006

 


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Last modified: 11/15/2005