The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D009)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 72nd General Convention call upon the United States Government to:

1. Eliminate any and all funding for the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia and close the school;
2. Cease any further training of the military leaders from the countries of Central America, South America and the Caribbean; and
3. Reallocate the funds that have been spent on the School of the Americas to support programs for women, children, the hungry, the homeless, and other victims of violence in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention instruct its Secretary to send this resolution to:

1. The President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and to the Chairpersons of the Armed Forces Committees and Appropriations Committees of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives; and to
2. The dioceses of the Episcopal Church with the request that they study and pray about this issue and communicate with senators and representatives accordingly.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its sorrow and compassion for the suffering of many citizens of Central America, South America and Caribbean nations who, under regimes formerly supported by the United States, have suffered at the hands of military officers who attended the School of the Americas, now located in Fort Benning, Georgia; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church call upon the President of the United States to assure that no United States government sponsored training facility teaches techniques intended to suppress democratic voices and/or violate any inter-American conventions on human rights; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church stand in solidarity with those countries now struggling to build strong, democratic societies and institutions including uncompromising civilian control of the military; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention call upon the President and Congress of the United States to review the conduct of all military training programs to ensure that they emphasize a concern for human rights and democratic principles. Debate followed on Resolution D009.

Deputy Presler of Massachusetts moved the original resolution.

Debate followed on the Presler motion.

The question was called to terminate debate on the Presler motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Presler motion.

Motion carried

Debate followed on Resolution D009.

The question was called to terminate debate on Resolution D009.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution D009.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #204)

House of Deputies

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #27 on HB Message #203 on Resolution D009s (Call for Closure of the School of the Americas), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence.

Debate followed on Resolution D009s.

Deputy McGarry of Michigan moved the original resolution.

Debate followed on the McGarry motion.

The question was called to terminate debate on the McGarry motion and on the main motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the McGarry motion.

Motion carried

A vote was taken on Resolution D009s.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #327)