The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D013)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 71st General Convention communicate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and other Christian leaders its deep gratification over the freedom of all religions incorporated into the structure of the democratic government of the newly independent state of Russia and also to the Patriarch its profound sense of thanksgiving for the good relationship which has existed between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion for two centuries; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention communicate to Christian leaders of Russia our understanding that respect for other Christian communions is a moral imperative for all Christians, growing out of the ecumenical affirmation of the Christian faith recognized in the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, which both proclaim a belief in one, catholic Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention communicate to the Patriarch concern over the recent activity of the Moscow Patriarchate to promote government legislation to limit the activity of Christians of non-Russian origin, the harsh statements coming from some members of the Holy Synod which are anti-Semitic in character, and the attempts to define the national characteristics of a Russian as exclusively Orthodox in religion, ignoring the indigenous Russian Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Jews and Muslims; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention request that Anglicans engaging in any joint Anglican-Orthodox programs and dialogue seek appropriate ways to affirm and encourage religious liberty and democratic development in Russia; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention communicate its support of religious liberty in Russia to the President of the United States, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 71st General Convention communicate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and other Christian leaders its deep gratification over the freedom of all religions incorporated into the structure of the democratic government of the newly independent state of Russia and also to the Patriarch its profound sense of thanksgiving for the good relationship which has existed between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion for two centuries; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 71st General Convention reaffirm the actions of previous General Conventions, specifically:

Res. D069 (68th General Convention, 1985) -Affirm Guidelines for Working for Religious Liberty

Res. D024 (69th General Convention, 1988) -Support and Pray for Religious Freedom Throughout the World

Res. B048 (70th General Convention, 1991) -Give Thanks for Religious Freedom and Encourage the Churches of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #207)