The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D069)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 72nd General Convention endorse substantive dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities, dialogue that maintains the theological integrity of both faith communities and commitment to genuine human rights and religious freedom as has been affirmed by the 71st General Convention (D015); and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention urge the World Council of Churches and others that dialogue with Muslims includes equal representation from within the Christian and Muslim communities, and especially the inclusion of Christians who fairly represent and give voice to the concerns of the indigenous Christian community, and the inclusion of both religious and political leaders of both faiths; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention urge the World Council of Churches and others in their Christian-Muslim dialogues to acknowledge and address matters of legal and institutional discrimination against minorities, requesting all governments to honor reciprocity of respect for the free exercise of religion, noting especially that the discrimination against Christian minorities in some Muslim states is legal, formal, and systematic with very little procedural or substantive basis for challenges; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention urge the World Council of Churches and others to press for the recognition of equal legal status for converts and to oppose any state-enforced sanctions imposed on converts or on their spiritual leaders as a violation of international principles, of rights of conscience, and as inconsistent with the desire for freedom of religious expression by Muslims in states in which they are a minority.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 72nd General Convention endorse substantive dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities, dialogue that maintains the theological integrity of both faith communities and commitment to genuine human rights and religious freedom as affirmed by the 71st General Convention (D015); and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention urge the Presiding Bishop's Advisory Committee on Interfaith Relations, the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and others in dialogue with Muslims to include equal representation from within the Christian and Muslim communities, and especially those representing indigenous Christian communities; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention urge all those involved in Christian-Muslim dialogues to address patterns of both legal and illegal discrimination against minorities; and be it further

Resolved, That this action of the Episcopal Church be communicated to the Presiding Bishop's Advisory Committee on Interfaith Relations, the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and diocesan interfaith dialogues.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #223)