(ENS) In another step toward the Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention in Anaheim, California, the process of forming legislative committees has begun.

Deputies have until September 30 to express three preferences for appointment to one of 23 committees.

While a preliminary review of those completed forms will begin next week, according to House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson, no appointment decisions will be made until after the deadline. Anderson will appoint deputies to the committees and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will appoint bishop members.

To aid the appointment process, deputies also have been asked to outline their previous General Convention experience as well as their experience in the wider Episcopal Church. "It's likely that first-time deputies without wider church experience won't be appointed" to the committees, Anderson said.

There is a lot to learn about General Convention, she said, and first-time deputies can find themselves overwhelmed and feeling like observers rather than active participants. Anderson said this can be especially true when first-time deputies are named to legislative committees.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • General Convention 2009