Delegates to the Daughters of the King Triennial defeat all resolutions to change bylaws; current bylaws remain in place unchanged

After a full day - a very full day - of floor debate over resolutions proposed on the floor of the Order Daughters of the King (DOK) Triennial to change the current bylaws of the Order, it is now being reported that at the end of the legislative session today all the resolutions to change the bylaws on membership were defeated.

Earlier today the non-Episcopalian members of the Order were unseated by a slim majority. The debate this afternoon centering on membership rights in the Order was held by the Episcopalian members only. The resolutions proposed by both the official DOK bylaws committee and the "Episcopal Community" were all defeated by the assembled Episcopalian delegates. This means that the bylaws in place as Triennial began this week will stand as they are for the next three years. The Anglican and Episcopalian Chapters may continue as full members of the Order.

After all the proposed resolutions were defeated, a Roman Catholic member of the Order petitioned Triennial to re-seat the delegates that were unseated this morning. The Episcopal Triennial delegates then voted to reinstate the non-Episcopalian delegates and they were seated.

Witnesses in the room report that the National Chaplain, the Rt. Rev'd John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida told the delegates when the voting was over for the day that there was, indeed, work to be done over the next three years. It is reported that in his prayer of grace for the meal this evening, he prayed that what comes out of our mouths will be as sweet as what goes in. May it be so. To God be the glory.

SATURDAY UPDATE: Learned when I arrived today in Anaheim that the only section of the bylaws that were even addressed yesterday was the Article on membership. That debate spanned a good portion of the day on Friday and none of the other amendments were addressed on other issues. As stated earlier, at the end of the day and through much debate - some of it quite painful - the DOK Triennial voted down all the amendments and the bylaws in place that include all the members of the Order remain unchanged. The non-Episcopalian members were reseated and the Triennial continued into Saturday.

The same thing that happened on Friday happened today as well. All the amendments were voted down (those proposed by the national council and those proposed by the Episcopal Community) and so the bylaws remain unchanged. There was also a new council elected and the overwhelming majority of the members are said to favor full inclusion of all the membership, including Episcopalians, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Lutherans. They will be electing a new national president shortly.

Tonight is the traditional banquet, which will be held here in Anaheim. Tomorrow morning will be the closing banquet with Bishop Howe preaching.