LIVE: House of Deputies "conversation" on B033

In the closing hours of General Convention 2006 in Columbus, the House of Bishops and House of Deputies passed a resolution entitled B033:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.

It was passed with some major arm-twisting from the newly elected Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori who took the unprecedented action of appealing to the House of Deputies in person and speaking to the floor after the debate had started.

Today the House of Deputies will revisit B033 and have open conversation on this resolution that was passed in an attempt to answer the Windsor Report's request of The Episcopal Church and refrain from establishing blessings for same sex unions nor elect and consecrate any more partnered gay bishops.

We're here on the floor with the press following the developments. Right now they are attempting to vote on candidates standing for different positions but are having some major technical difficulties and some confusion as the deputies attempt to vote. The deputies seem in good humor about it all, which makes it rather entertaining.

We've now heard a report from the World Mission Committee which has been charged with many of the resolutions that would repeal B033. I've got the video (taken from the press box) below:

Part One begins with a review of how B033 was ratified and what happened after it's ratification.



Part Two continues the story of what happened after B033 was ratified by the 2006 General Convention.



And here we see the House of Deputies receive their instructions for sharing their narratives with one another, or, to answer the question as Mr. Dylan might say, "How does it feel?" For in the end, it will be about how they feel that will determine what they do next:



Tomorrow there will be a lottery amongst the deputies and the winners will be permitted to speak publicly at mics as consideration of the repeal of B033 continues tomorrow.

UPDATE: Read S.C. Deputy Steve Wood's blog posting from the floor of the House of Deputies here. Don't miss it!