Resolution Number: 2000-A012
Title: Call for Partnerships to Address the Needs of Haiti
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention call on the Executive Council, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD/PBFWR), the Mission Personnel Office, the Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission, Companion Dioceses, the United Thank Offering, and the dioceses of ECUSA to work in partnership with the Diocese of Haiti to address the Haitian people's most urgent needs, nurture the Diocese of Haiti's independence through strategic and long-range planning, and foster mutual learning through the exchange of human resources in the form of teachers for schools, agronomists to assist farmers to reclaim land for agricultural purposes and reforestation, and medical personnel for hospitals; and be it further

Resolved, That, in the spirit of Partnership in Mission, the many parishes, dioceses, and agencies of the Episcopal Church that minister in Haiti through the Haiti Partnership explore ways in which members of the Episcopal Church outside Haiti can learn from the spirituality and witness of Episcopalians and other Christians in Haiti; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, based upon its long standing commitment, call upon the U.S. and Haitian governments, in consultation with non-governmental agencies, to develop a poverty reduction strategy for Haiti; and be it further

Resolved, That U.S. aid, debt relief, and trade initiatives be directed to implement this poverty reduction strategy.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 517.

Legislative History

Author: The Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on World Mission

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(A012)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention call on the Executive Council, the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, the United Thank Offering, and the dioceses of ECUSA to make themselves more aware of the needs of Haiti and to send, on the approval of the ecclesiastical authority there, help -- not just money -- in the form of teachers for schools, instructors to assist farmers to regain their land for agricultural purposes, and medical personnel for hospitals.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention call on the Executive Council, the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund (PBFWR), Mission Personnel Office, the Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission, Companion Dioceses, the United Thank Offering, and the dioceses of ECUSA to work in partnership with the Diocese of Haiti to address the Haitian people's most urgent needs, nurture the Diocese of Haiti's independence through strategic and long-range planning, and foster mutual learning through the exchange of human resources in the form of teachers for schools, agronomists to assist farmers reclaim land for agricultural purposes and reforestation, and medical personnel for hospitals; and be it further

Resolved, That, in the spirit of Partnership in Mission, the many parishes, dioceses, and agencies of the Episcopal Church that minister in Haiti through the Haiti Partnership explore ways in which members of the Episcopal Church outside Haiti can learn from the spirituality and witness of Episcopalians and other Christians in Haiti; and be it further

Resolved, That, the Episcopal Church, based upon its long standing commitment, call upon the U.S. and Haitian Governments to develop, in consultation with non-governmental agencies, a poverty reduction strategy for Haiti; and be it further

Resolved, That the U.S. aid, debt relief, and trade initiatives be directed to implement this poverty reduction strategy.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #89)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on World Mission presented its Report #7 on HB Message #89 on Resolution A012 (Increasing Awareness of Haiti's Need and Promoting Assistance to Haiti) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message # 117)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 10.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns, Reports to the 73rd General Convention, 2000, pp. 1-11.
Abstract:   The 73rd General Convention calls for the Church to partner with the Diocese of Haiti to address the most urgent needs of the Haitian people, and calls the U.S. and Haitian governments to develop and implement a poverty reduction strategy for Haiti.