The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C040)

Whereas; The 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (1991) extended the trial period of the Diocese[s] of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama, who have continued to work in a regional structure with the purpose of becoming a province of the Anglican Communion, and

Whereas; For the last three years these Dioceses have functioned with an integrative administrative structure, with a President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Chancellor and a Regional Secretary, that meet at least two times during the year to plan and to review the programs of the region; and

Whereas; Said Dioceses have written a Constitution and Canons according to the requirements of the Anglican Consultative Council and have adopted the Book of Common Prayer of 1979 of PECUSA as the official Book of Common Prayer of the region; and

Whereas; Said region and the individual Dioceses have presented a financial plan that suggests a progressive reduction in a period of four years, said plan contemplating a reduction of 1 to 5 percent of the appropriation that the Dioceses now receive from PECUSA; and

Whereas; The Dioceses have presented a plan for the development and expansion of the missionary thrust of the churches in said region, taking into consideration the region will need annual economic support for the next ten years; and

Whereas; We have initiated studies to establish a Pension Fund for clergy and lay employees in the Dioceses (this plan has not been finalized yet); and

Whereas; A Covenant Committee with members from PECUSA and the Anglican Church of the Central Region of America have met and continue to meet, to coordinate and to supervise the autonomous process according to the 1991 Resolution A235a, to make the necessary recommendations to the Executive Council and the General Convention; and

Whereas; A draft covenant has been written which defines the type of partnership and mutual cooperation between PECUSA and the new Province; and

Whereas; The Dioceses of this region are in agreement that we have complied with the majority of the criteria of Resolution A235a, with the exception of the Pension Plan;

Whereas; The Diocese[s] of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama have established the following dates to become autonomous: 1994 to present said resolution before the General Convention to be effective on January 1, 1995; therefore be it

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

1. That the General Convention of 1994 give its approval to the Dioceses of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama to form a new Province within the Anglican Communion to be effective on January 1, 1996; and
2. That the General Convention of 1994 approve the financial economic plan, as well as the missionary expansion plan for the new Province, which has been approved by the Covenant Committee of PECUSA and the Anglican Church of the Central Region of America;
3. That the period between 1994 and 1996 be used to comply with any pending criteria that have not been fulfilled so far (Pension Fund);
4. That the Covenant Committee continue its task of supervision and coordination of this process to make a final recommendation to the Executive Council of PECUSA before January 1, 1996.
   

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 71st General Convention of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America extend the trial period of the Central American Dioceses of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama by three years with the purpose of becoming a province of the Anglican Communion.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #221)