The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D070)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the year 2000, which will commemorate two millennia since the birth of Jesus, the herald of God's Jubilee, be declared a Jubilee Year, to be known as Jubilee 2000, by this 70th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for this Jubilee Year by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of debt forgiveness by:

working to develop a sound financial plan for the forgiveness of debts presently owed by nations in the Two-Thirds World to governments and financial institutions in the western industrialized world; and

working to develop practical plans for the forgiveness of debts owed by the poor in our own society to financial institutions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for Jubilee 2000 by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of faithful stewardship of God's creation by:

working to alter lifestyle patterns of resource use among Episcopalians and among Americans generally, in the direction of recycling materials, decreasing wastefulness, conserving energy resources, maintaining a moderate standard of living, and living in harmony with the environment; and

working to encourage responsible use of the earth's resources by Americans abroad and by other peoples and nations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for Jubilee 2000 by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of human liberation by:

strengthening the Church's efforts to liberate persons in our own society from all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, addiction, abuse, violence and poverty, and

strengthening the Church's efforts to liberate persons internationally, especially political prisoners and including peoples suffering on account of war, foreign intervention, or oppressive economic and political systems; and be it further

Resolved, That the prospect of Jubilee 2000 be publicized throughout our Church and that dioceses and parishes be encouraged to develop plans to implement debt forgiveness, environmental stewardship and human liberation in preparation for Jubilee 2000; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on World Mission, the Standing Commission on Peace, the Standing Commission on Metropolitan Areas, the Jubilee Ministry at the Episcopal Church Center and other appropriate bodies of the Church be requested to cooperate in developing a plan for the implementation of this resolution--such a plan to include consultation with the Anglican Consultative Council, Anglican and ecumenical partners, other religious bodies, financial institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations -- and provide a progress report to the 1994 General Convention.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the year 2000, which will commemorate two millennia since the birth of Jesus, the herald of God's Jubilee, be declared a Jubilee Year, to be known as Jubilee 2000, by this 70th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for this Jubilee Year by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of debt forgiveness by:

-- affirming current initiatives to reduce and forgive debts presently owed by nations in the Two-Thirds World to governments and financial institutions in the western industrialized world, and offering this Church's voice and vision to the strengthening of such efforts; and

-- participating in the development of sound financial plans for the forgiveness of debts owed by the poor in our own society to financial institutions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for Jubilee 2000 by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of faithful stewardship of God's creation by:

-- working to alter lifestyle patterns of resource use among Episcopalians and fellow citizens at home and abroad through implementation of this Church's vision for "communion with the environment"; and

-- working to encourage responsible use of the earth's resources by other peoples and nations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church prepare for Jubilee 2000 by seeking to implement the biblical Jubilee imperative of human liberation by:

-- strengthening the Church's efforts to liberate persons in our society from all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, addiction, abuse, violence and poverty, and

-- strengthening the Church's efforts to liberate persons internationally, especially political prisoners and including peoples suffering on account of war, foreign intervention, or oppressive economic and political systems; and be it further

Resolved, That the prospect of Jubilee 2000 be publicized throughout our Church and that dioceses and parishes be encouraged to develop plans to implement debt forgiveness, environmental stewardship and human liberation in preparation for Jubilee 2000; that Anglican partners and other churches and religious bodies be invited to join this initiative; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council be requested to develop plans for the implementation of this resolution through appropriate agencies of this Church and interim bodies of General Convention--such implementation to include consultation with the Anglican Consultative Council, Anglican and ecumenical partners, other religious bodies, financial institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations--and provide a progress report to the 71st General Convention.

The Bishop of Virginia moved to refer the matter to Executive Council.

The Bishop of Northern Indiana moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

The House voted on the motion to refer.

Motion carried

Resolution referred to an Interim Body

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #139)

House of Bishops

The Secretary announced that the following message had been received from the House of Deputies: HD Message #377--D070 (Jubilee 2000). The House of Deputies received HB Message # 139 and concurred.