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Results of 2009 General Convention

Economic Justice

More than twenty years ago, the 1988 General convention adopted a resolution "Taking Action for Economic Justice," Since the Diocese of Michigan introduced it that year, it was nicknamed “The Michigan Plan." The Episcopal Network for Economic Justice (ENEJ) arose out of the work that followed the church’s implementation of the 1988 resolution.

Now twenty plus years later, the ENEJ backed six resolutions to expand the original plan plus promote other economic justice work. To provide background information for the bishops and deputies ENEJ prepared a 29-page booklet, Twenty Years Later: Response to a Crisis with the goal of Strengthening Economic Justice Ministry in the Church in a Time of Fiscal Crisis. Five of the six ENEJ backed resolutions passed both houses in some form—C049/A111, B006, B009, B010, and D017.

ENEJ resolutions

C049, Renew and Strengthen Economic Justice Ministry, lists actions from "traditional acts of mercy" to "increased advocacy." It directs the Executive Council to develop a strategic plan to address issues of domestic economic justice and report back to the 2012 General Convention. However, an amendment deleted funding for Episcopal Network for Economic Justice (ENEJ). [Similar Resolutions A111 and C035 did not pass either house. The bishops rejected A112 providing funding for ENEJ.

B006 Immigration: Economic Justice Implications, is a comprehensive resolution calls for fair treatment of immigrants and their families. It deals with protection provided by due process of law, end raids on immigrants, give illegal immigrants a pathway to legalization, end the 287.G partners program allowing local police to enforce immigration law. [B028, Immigration Reform, with a similar goal, was discharged since it was not needed.]

Another immigration related resolution, D076, urges Congress to pass a law giving equality to same-gender couples. It would allow a citizen to sponsor an immigrant partner.

B009 Regulation of the Financial Crisis supports regulations of banking and financial sectors, especially those policies that negatively impact moderate and low-income people.

B010 Crisis of the Global Economy supports a regulatory agency at the international level "with the authority to promote and enforce agreed upon principles of fair trade and regulations governing international trade, commerce and the environment." This was referred to Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns to study and review before the 2012 General Convention.

A comprehensive resolution, D018; "Address the Global Economic Crisis," invites the church to use the resolution during Lent 2010 for penitential reflection on the brokenness of the global economic order and its reformation. It says the economic crisis is as much a spiritual, moral and ethical crisis as it is a financial crisis. It urges the church to reflect on its complicity in the causes of economic crisis. It also urges the House of Bishops Theology committee to develop a "pastoral teaching resource on God's mission of the global economic crisis." D018 is compatible with the ENEJ backed B010.

D017 urges legislation to extend cancellation of Third World Debt, especially in countries where the per capital income of less than $3 a day, that funds freed up by debt cancellation be used to combat extreme poverty. Both Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation and ENEJ supported this resolution.

Other resolutions

D019 restored the line item for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) making them a mission priority through 2015. It increased the amount from 0.7 percent to one percent. The original budget deleted this item saying the MDGs were being funded in other ways. This generated a strong reaction to this omission. [C053 urging the national church to continue a budget line item of 0.7% for the MDGs did not pass, probably because D019 did.]

A140 commends the Presiding Bishop (PB) for sponsoring a summit on domestic poverty in May 2008.

A155 would establish a program for the alleviation of domestic poverty It also praises the PB's domestic poverty summit. A155 focuses on the poorest counties in the US; that many these encompass federal reservations for Native Americans.

A178 encourages dioceses, congregations and individuals to remember and support Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) during Lent through prayers and a special offering. ERD works globally to alleviate hunger fight disease and strengthen communities.

These did not pass.

A165, Women and Money, urging the Pension Fund to invest in funds promoting gender equality was "discharged" meaning the topic was covered elsewhere or was simply dismissed.

Deputies rejected D080 setting aside July 14 (during the convention) as a day of fasting with money not spent on food is given to the Episcopal Relief and Development for hunger relief. No reason is available.

For information about Episcopal Network for Economic Justice visit:  www.enej.org

Education

A110 Bridging the education gap between rich and poor

B025 urges every congregation to develop a partnership with a local public school; asks every Episcopalians to give 40 hours annually supporting public education; and calls on the U.S. government to support equity in public education.

D014 urges diocesan environmental commissions or committees to educate parishes on decisions that affect the lives and health of the most vulnerable in our society (children, indigenous peoples and nonwhite communities).

D015 supports human and merciful treatment of God's creation and educate parishes about the most vulnerable animals.

Employment

Several resolutions relate to employment both in the church and as public policy

C083 commends the efforts of volunteers and elected officials who have established sites where day laborers are treated fairly and create a fair environment for day labor employment.

C048 urges Congress to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as classes protected by Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

D039 urges Congress to pass a labor reform law designed to better protect employees seeking to engage in collective bargaining and to form and join unions without fear and retaliation. The explanation in the resolution notes that in 1991, the church's Executive Council expressed alarm over reprisals taken against workers who sought to organize. It adds that the Employee Free Choice Act would reform the nation's basic labor laws by requiring employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide mediation and arbitration to first-contract disputes and establish stronger penalties for violation of the rights of workers seeking to form unions or negotiate first contract.

A137 continues a task force to study church employment policy.

A138 establishes mandatory lay-employee pension plans. Supporters called it a "matter of justice." (Episcopal News Service, July 11, 2009)

A166 would provide a standard for parental leave for employees of Episcopal churches.

A177 establishes a denominational health plan for employees who work at least 1,500 hours per year. It starts January 1, 2013.

D032 Nondiscrimination in lay employees. Although the church is generally exempt from federal, state and local employment discrimination laws, the resolution commits the church not to discriminate in employment.

Environment

Some information for this section came from EpEN (Episcopal Environmental Network).

C011 urges the U.S. government to enact subsidies for renewable energy (solar, wind and research new technologies), specifies that electricity suppliers obtain twenty percent of their electricity from renewable energy.

C012 urges the church to support policy decisions affecting the health and well being of humans and ecosystems be used scientifically evaluated peer-reviewed data; and support legislative efforts that maintain the highest degree of scientific integrity.

D031 urges the president and Congress to commit the United States, along with other nations, to lower atmospheric carbon by 25 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. This fall world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate a global climate treaty. However, the amended resolution deleted the call for a global day of climate action on October 24, 2009.

D060 rejects nuclear options both nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.

A045 asks the church to restrict the use of bottled water when safe and encourages every baptized Christian to practice simple energy and water conservation.

Two resolutions (D014 and D015) ask dioceses to educate parishes on environmental issues. D014 urges diocesan environmental commissions or committees to educate parishes on decisions that affect the lives and health of the most vulnerable in our society (children, indigenous peoples and nonwhite communities). D015 supports human and merciful treatment of God's creation and educate parishes about the most vulnerable animals.

C064 endorses the Earth Charter, encouraging dioceses and congregation to do the same. [Since C044 did the same thing as C064 and not needed, it was "discharged."]

C070 urges the church to become a signatory to the Genesis Covenant, a public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of fifty percent over ten years.

C078 calls for prayers or a liturgy for the loss of a companion animal. These would be included in the next edition of the Book of Occasional Services. The resolution called for pastoral care for people who grieve over this loss; that all animals are a part of "All Creation, for which we care called to be a steward of God's gifts." A report will be made at the 2012 convention [Since C076 did the same thing, it was "discharged."]

A157 Climate Change and Millennium Development Goals acknowledges the affects of climate change on achieving the MDGs. Changes in the climate can lead to periods of drought and flooding which in turn affects crop yields and water quality.  Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology, and Faith to study and review before the 2012 General Convention

D019 restored the line item for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It increased the amount from 0.7 percent to one percent. The original budget deleted this item saying the MDGs were being funded in other ways. This generated a strong reaction to this omission. [C053 urging the national church to continue a budget line item of 0.7% for the MDGs did not pass, probably because D019 did.]

The following did not pass both houses

A035 would have established a standing commission on the Environment. According to EpEN both houses "concurred" with the totally revised resolution that included no funding (the original resolution asked for a commission and $45,000). Instead, the revised resolution recommends that the Episcopal Church "establish a Group to evaluate the current system of standing commissions." Pending completion of that evaluation and report to the 77th General Convention (2012), "No new Standing Commissions [shall] is established." Establishment of an environmental commission is delayed until at least 2012

A156 Sacred Acts for Sacred Water was amended to delete a request for a half-time staff person and $60,000. It still has its original intent urging congregations to study the theology of creation and the place of water in creations. Then it was "recommitted" back to the Stewardship and Development committee, which took no further action

C034 and D001 directing the church to create an innovative liturgy about creation cycle of the Pentecost season (from St. Francis Day to Advent) were assigned for the Standing Committee on Music and Liturgy for consideration for the 2012 General Convention

The House of Deputies rejected B001 to amend the parochial report to include data on the annual energy consumption in total costs of electricity, oil and gas of all church properties. The data would have enabled the Episcopal Church to calculate the carbon footprint of church properties.

C005 urged Episcopal clergy to endorse The Clergy Letter Project reconciling religion and science and opposing the teaching of creationism and intelligent design in public schools. However, it was "discharged" with no reason given.

For Episcopal Ecological Network's website visit: http://eenonline.org/  For Science and Technology visit: ecusa.anglican.org/science

Health

A077 Episcopal Health Ministries asks congregations to explore and implement health ministry

A081 asks the church to provide accommodations for staff members and volunteers with disabilities to attend conferences and meetings on behalf of the church.

A177 establishes a denominational health plan for employees who work at least 1,500 hours per year. It starts January 1, 2013.

C051 shows concern for health and economic needs of wounded soldiers and veterans.

C071 calls on congregations to undertake discussions within the parish the issue of health care coverage in the US, that the church contact elected officials on the issue. The Diocese of East Tennessee bio ethics committee, which introduced resolution C071, prepared a three-session curriculum guide on the Christian basis for universal health care. The diocesan website is: www.etdiocese.net

C073 Re-evaluation of care for mentally ill was sent to the Standing Commission on Health to study and review before the 2012 General Convention.

D048 urges Congress to adopt a "single payer" universal health care program

C088 urges health care coverage for all in the U.S.

Health-HIV/AIDS

A159 urges all levels of the church to communicate with HIV/AIDS service providers about the Issue of HIV/AIDS

A160 advocates for access to adequate medical care for people living with AIDS

A161 urges the church to include accurate and comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention in youth education programs.

A162 urges the Executive Council to convene a domestic strategy meeting to develop a comprehensive response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

A163 mandates that the national church saff, diocesan and other leaders take the NEAC AIDS tutorial, an online tutorial available on www.neac.org

International Affairs

Specific countries

A034 calls for an end of the US embargo against Cuba.

B024 Cuban annuity, establishes a benevolent fund to provide Cuban Episcopal Church clergy an annuity-- needed because of the embargo and the 2001 Patriot Act limiting funds

A036 supports solidarity with the people in Haiti, its model of ministry despite natural, political and economic disasters.

Lloyd Emmanuel Allen, Bishop of Honduras, introduced B031 expressing hope for reconciliation in Honduras after a military coup ousted President Manuel Zelaya June 2009. This has resulted in civil unrest. The Diocese of Honduras is part of Province IX of the Episcopal Church and shares many companion relationships with U.S.-based dioceses and parishes. A041, a comprehensive resolution, says the war in Iraq does not meet the criteria of "just war" tradition, urges U.S. to withdraw all troops by December 31, 2011.

D084 expresses solidarity with the Church of Pakistan, especially the Diocese of Peshawar that border Afghanistan. Established in 1970, the Church of Pakistan is a united church with ties to the Anglican, Scottish Presbyterians, Methodists and Lutheran churches. Most of the 900,000 members are Anglicans. The resolution also calls for an end of using pilotless drones and missiles to attack targets within Pakistan.

A032 urges the US government to champion human rights in the Philippines until violations cease.

A033 addressed the fragile situation in Sudan urging, "renewed international commitment to the successful political implementation" of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and increased and better-coordinated economic-development and investment efforts--in southern Sudan. In urging continued advocacy and prayer from all Episcopalians for peace with justice in the Sudan, General Convention specifically called for "internationally coordinated efforts to care for and resettle the several million refugees and persons who have been displaced internally as a consequence of the Sudanese long-running conflicts." (Matthew Davies, "Global Concerns," Episcopal Life Daily, July 27, 2009

C052 asks the media to increase coverage of the situation in the Sudan, Darfur and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

D007 promotes Sudan Peace and Episcopal Church partnerships.

A037 proposes a prayer to be used in Advent and Christmas for the wall around Bethlehem and other barriers to come down.

These Middle East resolutions did not pass.

The bishops rejected B027 on Israel/Palestine where opponents called for a more balanced approach. The resolution, which never made it to the House of Deputies because of the bishops' action, had called for dismantling the wall between Israel and Palestine, creating a sovereign Palestinian state and ending "the ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land, demolition of housing and the displacement of people." Previous General Convention or Executive Council resolutions have addressed all of these concerns. The bishops' action in Anaheim did not repudiate earlier resolutions. [ENS, July 17, 2009; Matthew Davies, "Global Concerns," Episcopal Life Daily, July 27, 2009.)

These were "discharged." D059 was similar to B027. A038, Reaffirm Resolution 1991-A149, and A039, Wall Around Palestine, urged a change of policies by the Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. governments. A040 called for a single sovereign state of Palestine. D030 urged an end to the blockade of the Gaza strip. 

In a statement following convention, the Reverend Canon Brian Grieves, senior director for mission centers, and Maureen Shea, director of the Office of Government Relations, said, "The Episcopal Church, based on resolutions passed at its previous General Conventions regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, remains firmly committed to a just peace that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, guarantees Israel's security and Palestinian aspirations for a viable sovereign state with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both Israel and Palestine. (Matthew Davies, "Global Concerns," Episcopal Life Daily, July 27, 2009)

Immigration

B006 Immigration: Economic Justice Implications, is a comprehensive resolution calls for fair treatment of immigrants and their families.

D076 urges Congress to pass a law giving equality to same-gender couples. It would allow a citizen to sponsor an immigrant partner.

General resolutions

These passed both houses.

A042 rejects the first use of military action.

A043 urges the US government and the UN to extend international refugee conventions and national immigration norms to provide relief for victims of international criminal gangs.

A044 urges creation of an ad hoc team on international gangs.

A167 supports legislation intended to assist victims of trafficking, especially women and children, recover and reintegrate into society in a respectful and safe manner.

C020 rejects the use of torture.

C051 shows concern for health and economic needs of wounded soldiers and veterans.

D060 rejects nuclear options both nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.

D078 bans the use, export, stockpiling and production of cluster bombs.

B010 Crisis of the Global Economy supports a regulatory agency at the international level "with the authority to promote and enforce agreed upon principles of fair trade and regulations governing international trade, commerce and the environment." This was referred to Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns to study and review before the 2012 General Convention.

D018 "Address the Global Economic Crisis," a comprehensive resolution, calls on the church to especially address this during Lent 2010. It says the economic crisis is as much a spiritual, moral and ethical crisis as it is a financial crisis. It urges the church to reflect on its complicity in the causes of economic crisis. It urges the House of Bishops Theology committee to develop a "pastoral teaching resource on God's mission of the global economic crisis." D018 is compatible to B010.

D017 Cancellation of Third World Debt, especially in countries where the per capital income of less than $3 a day, that funds freed up by debt cancellation be used to combat extreme poverty.

D019 restored the line item for the MDGs. It increased the amount from 0.7 percent to one percent. The original budget deleted this item saying the MDGs were being funded in other ways.

Prisons/Criminal Justice

A109 Model prisoner ministry was sent to Standing Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy to study and review before the next General Convention.)

B021 Call for access to DNA testing in order to identify persons wrongly imprisoned and true committers of a crime.

C075 directs the program officer of Domestic Justice and Jubilee Ministries to assist diocese in establishing and supporting summer camps for children who have parents in prison or on pardon or probation or who have experienced a parent’s incarceration.

D095 Prison Ministry Sunday urges all churches to focus on ways to minister to God’s children behind bars, those returning to the community and their families and victims.

Racism, Oppression

A142 Recommit to being anti-racists for next three triennia (until 2018)

A143 Extend resolution 2006-A123 to General Convention 2012, urges dioceses to research instances where they were implicit or profited from transatlantic slavery.

A145 calls for a study of diocesan processes to recruit people of color to pursue ordination and analyze how people of color are deployed.

B020 calls on the on the Sanding Commission on Liturgy and Music to add Thurgood Marshall to the church calendar.

Native Americans/indigenous people

A140 focuses on the poorest counties in the US; many of these encompass federal reservations for Native Americans.

A144 extends resolution 2006-A127 to General Convention 2012 that brings into the focus of the wider church other forms of oppression besides slavery

A148 doing justice and alleviating poverty, increases by 25 percent the national church budget to support four "aided dioceses" serving native Americans-South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska and Navajoland.

A150 endorses for the Oklahoma Consultation for leaders in indigenous ministry.

A152 directs the Executive Council Committee on Indigenous Ministries to assess preservation of burial sites of indigenous people in countries that constitute the church.

A153 urges Federal tribal recognition of Native American groups living in Virginia, Georgia, New York, Long Island, Wisconsin and Hawaii.

A155 establishes a program for the alleviation of domestic poverty It also praises the Presiding Bishop's domestic poverty summit in 2008. A155 focuses on the poorest counties in the US; that many these encompass federal reservations for Native Americans

B022 endorses the Diocese of Oregon’s commitment to partner with the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde to seek return of Pacific Northwest tribal artifacts from the British Museum.

D035 Repudiates the Doctrine of Discovery found in the royal charter given to John Cabot and his sons in 1496-that Christian sovereign could assert dominion and title over non-Christian lands At the time, this doctrine had the full blessing of the church. The doctrine began in 1455 when Pope Nicholas IV gave Portugal’s king to vanquish and subdue all pagans. Advocates of the resolution said the doctrine served as a foundation of US Indian policy. The resolution asks Queen Elizabeth II to disavow and publicly repudiate the doctrine.

In 2007 the Diocese of Maine, which passed a similar resolution, sent it to the queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.  The queen referred it to the archbishop, who in turn said the Church of England did not exist when the doctrine was formulated. (Mary Frances Schjonberg, “General Convention renounces Doctrine of Discovery, ENS, August 17, 2009)

Reconciliation

A068 urges continued participation in formal reconciliation training.

Same Gender

Much of the media reporting on General Convention centered on two resolutions, D025, "Anglican Communion: Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion," and C056, "Liturgies for Blessings

D025 acknowledges that the baptized membership of the church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships; recognize that gay and lesbian people in such relationships respond to God’s call to ministry including ordained ministry and that this call is a mystery the church attempts to discern through the discernment processes in accordance with the Constitution and Canons, acknowledge that Christians disagree about some of these matters.

C056 directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for same-gender blessings and report to the 2012 convention. (Source for D025 and C056: “Summaries of General Convention actions now available,” ENS. August 14, 2009.

Other resolutions passed both houses.

C048 urges Congress to add sexual orientation as a group protected by the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

D012 supports laws to bar discrimination against transgender persons.

D020 asks dioceses to study the Ridley Cambridge Draft of a proposed Anglican covenant--or any that come after it--and report to the Executive Council which in turn reports to the 2012 convention.

D032 Nondiscrimination in lay employment. Although the church is generally exempt from federal, state and local employment discrimination laws, the resolution commits the church not to discriminate in employment.

D076 urges Congress to pass a law giving equality to same-gender couples. It would allow a citizen to sponsor an immigrant partner.

Rejected, discharged or did not pass both houses.

Clergy living in states that a same gender marriages are caught between civil law and church canons. B012, Pastoral Generosity in Addressing Civil Marriage, is designed to addresses this dilemma. It gives these bishops leeway in performing such marriages. Six states allow same gender marriages while several more states allow civil unions. While the bishops approved the resolutions, the deputies did not.

Bishops rejected C055 that supported persons in same-gender committed relationships and allow access to the discernment process for any ministry. (However, D025, listed above, did pass.)

Bishops passed C061 that "all" baptized persons have full access to the discernment process for any ministry lay or ordained. However, the deputies did not concur with the bishops' amendments.

D021 (Baptized Entitled to all Sacraments) and D022 (Consecration of Qualified Candidates) would have removed all barriers to those who are baptized from become bishops, priests, deacons or lay employees. Both were discharged (meaning no action).

Women

It should be noted that women led both houses at the 2009 General Convention. Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Shori the bishops and Bonnie Anderson the deputies.

These resolutions passed both houses:

A166 provides a standard for parental leave for employees of Episcopal churches.

A167 supports legislation intended to assist victims of trafficking, especially women and children, recover and reintegrate into society in a respectful and safe manner.

B019 Recognition of Anglican Women's Empowerment, which brings women from provinces of the Anglican communion to the annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

D042 supports passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. constitution. In 1979, General Convention endorsed the ERA. However, not enough states ratified it in the 1970s.

D062 Implementation of sexual abuse misconduct prevention training

D096 speaks out against domestic violence; covenant to pray for victims and their families; encourage all clergy and lay leaders to be trained in prevention; make such training available to others. [A similar resolution, D079, prevention of domestic violence training was returned to committee since D096 passed,]

These were sent to a standing committee or commission.

A168 deals with annual data gathering about gender parity in diocesan leadership—standing committee, commission on ministry, trial court, court of review, delegates to diocesan convention, 2009 deputies to General Convention, and chancellor. It was sent to the Executive Council Committee on the Status of Women to study and review before the next General Convention.

A170 directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to consider adding to the church calendar, the first ordinations of women on the Feast of Mary and Martha, July 29, 1974. According to the resolution, while controversial at the time, the ordinations are seen as important as the ordination of the African-American, Absalom Jones in 1795. The commission is to report to the 2012 General Convention.

Did not pass.

A165, Women and Money, a socially responsible investment type resolution, urged the Pension Fund to invest in funds promoting gender equality was "discharged" meaning the topic was covered elsewhere or was simply dismissed.

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This page last updated on Saturday, July 6, 2013 12:12 PM