What’s Happening on Thursday, May 3, 2012

Every morning the Committee on Agenda and Calendar meets at 6:30 a.m. with the presiding bishops for the day, and the chairs of the legislative committees. Here are some notes from that meeting:

• Presiding Bishops
• Bishop Thomas Bickerton
• Bishop Michael Coyner
• Bishop Scott Jones
• Bishop James Swanson

• As of this morning, the General Conference has dealt with 24% of the calendar items eligible for floor debate and consideration (non consent items).

• The focus of the morning’s session will be the constitutional name change from lay speaker to lay servant. This will be followed by several petitions related to human sexuality.

• The afternoon session will begin with a conversation on changes in the clergy pension plan.

• Other items which may be considered:
• Constitutional changes on the ability of agencies to make decisions on funding and other items between General Conferences.
• Certified advocates
• Fund budgets
• Bishop retirement
• Balance between lay and clergy
• Pornography
• General agency petitions