Deputies urge greater committee member transparency

By Melodie Woerman, July 11, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] The House of Deputies on July 11 called for greater transparency in the church by adopting a resolution requiring that the names of people serving on elected or appointed bodies be made public.

Resolution D045, proposed by Deputy Katie Sherrod (Fort Worth), mandates that members be identified within 30 days of appointment or election. Most official bodies within the Episcopal Church would be covered by this resolution, including committees, commissions, task forces, panels or "other bodies" elected or appointed by any body or any leader throughout the Episcopal Church.

Named specifically are entities created by the House of Deputies; the House of Bishops; Executive Council; Standing Commissions, Committees, Agencies and Boards; or by presiding officers or chairs of any of those groups.

The explanation that accompanied the resolution, which was entitled "Committee Member Transparency," said: "The Episcopal Church should model in its governance and life the transparency and openness all Christians are called to demonstrate."

It further stated, "Conversely, secrecy is destructive of human dignity and of our common life. Making public the names of persons elected or appointed to any body charged to work in Christ's name for the good of the Church serves the Church's health and promotes trust in one another."

This call for transparency comes after questions about a subcommittee appointed by the House of Bishops Theology Committee to study same-sex relationships. The existence of the committee was reported in the "Blue Book" of reports submitted to General Convention, but committee chair Bishop Henry Parsley of Alabama refused to provide the names of sub-committee members.

In recent weeks, some names of sub-committee members have become known through information gathered by a variety of blog writers.

-- Melodie Woerman is director of communications for the Diocese of Kansas.

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