Admission nears for Puerto Rico Diocese; Venezuela awaits OK

The House of Deputies voted yesterday to admit the diocese of Puerto Rico to the Episcopal Church as part of Province IX. If the House of Bishops concurs, the Puerto Rican bishop and delegation will immediately take their seats at this convention. The houses also will consider admitting the Diocese of Venezuela to ECUSA.

Deputies to elect president Saturday; Werner, Crew candidates

Deputies will vote at 11:30 a.m. Saturday to choose whether the Very Rev. George Werner or Louie Crew will become the next president of the House of Deputies. Werner, of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is current house president, former two-term vice president and a former deputy. Crew, of the Diocese of Newark, is a member of Executive Council and a four-time deputy.

Columbus likely site for General Convention June 12-21, 2006

Deputies voted today to scheduled the 75th General Convention June 12-21, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio. The measure now goes to Bishops.

Committee passes guidelines for stem cell research

The Social and Urban Affairs Committee sent an amended resolution (A014) to Deputies Thursday that urges the continuation of adult stem cell research and supports couples’ choice to donate embryos for research.