The Acts of Convention

Whereas, large and small cities in which God's people dwell are threatened today by a fundamental change in their economic base which contracts their ability to provide human services at a time when inflation and unemployment are increasing the need for such service; and

Whereas, patterns of capital outflow from the cities, industrial plant closings and relocation, and the loss of local control of investment resources in city after city have confronted thousands of workers in cities, small towns, and rural areas with the specter of the loss of livelihood and the collapse of entire communities; and

Whereas, the stabilization and vitalization of communities can occur only where their residents have access to a degree of control and management of the resources of the community; and

Whereas, the Church, together with many other major institutions in society, possesses vast resources which could be channeled into the redevelopment of local urban and neighborhood economies, thus reversing a pattern of disinvestment which has brought urban communities to new and frightening levels of crisis; and

Whereas, the Episcopal Church counts among its members many persons with a lifetime of knowledge in financial and development affairs who could bring expertise to discussion of urban development needs and the ethical and moral dimensions of present patterns of economic instability and maldistribution of economic resources; therefore, be it

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 66th General Convention of the Episcopal Church endorse and encourage the involvement of the Church at local and diocesan levels in efforts to conserve and rebuild the cities of the nation through community economic redevelopment, and in efforts to restore the communities' access to those resources and control over their use which will enable them to provide for the general welfare of their populace; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that this Convention urge Parishes and Dioceses to develop patterns of use of Church investments and property in support of local economic development projects, to involve those of its members who are participants in the economic community in creative dialogue concerning urban development needs and the moral and ethical dimensions of the new international economy and its impact on older industrial communities.