The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance presented its Report #1 on Resolution D031 (Budget Priorities) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D031)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 75th General Convention endorse the following statement of mission priorities in rank order for the for the 2007–09 triennium and direct the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget & Finance to use these priorities in forming the Budget for The Episcopal Church.

We offer these mission priorities as an expression of our commitment to Jesus Christ. We are committed to the importance of our ministry of reconciliation and communion at every level of our communion.

We embrace diversity and seek to promote inclusion and power sharing which underlie and inform all priorities, decisions, and all that we do. In faithfulness to these commitments, we continue to honor our covenants and partnerships with domestic and overseas dioceses. We recognize that the work of mission depends in large part on increasing the leadership capacity of clergy and lay leaders of the church. We affirm the spirit of the budget adopted by the 74th General Convention and identify for the mission of the Church during 2007–2009 the following priorities, listed in rank order of importance:

1. JUSTICE AND PEACE: Promoting justice and peace for all of God’s creation and continuing and accelerating the leadership role and programs of The Episcopal Church, which support the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals* in the dioceses of The Episcopal Church and in the world.
2. YOUNG ADULTS, YOUTH AND CHILDREN: Reaching out to young adults, youth and children through intentional inclusion and full incorporation in the thinking, work, worship and structure of the Church.
3. RECONCILIATION AND EVANGELISM: Reconciling and engaging those who do not know Christ by participating in God’s mission of reconciling all things to Christ and proclaiming the Gospel to those who are not yet members of the church.
4. CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION: Revitalizing and transforming congregations through commitment to leadership development, spiritual growth, lifelong learning, dynamic and inclusive worship, greater diversity, and mission.
5. PARTNERSHIPS: Reaffirming the importance of our partnerships with provinces of the Anglican Communion and beyond and our relationships with ecumenical and interfaith partners.

*The Millennium Development Goals

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Achieve universal primary education

Promote gender equality and empower women

Reduce child Mortality

Improve maternal health

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Ensure environmental sustainability

Develop a global partnership for development

Deputy Lane of Rochester moved an amendment to the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Rank priority number two, “Young Adults, Youth and Children,” as the first priority on the priority list.

Debate followed on the amendment.

Deputy Vanderstar of Washington moved an amendment to the amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Rank priority number three, “Reconciliation and Evangelism,” as the first priority with Young Adults, Youth and Children as the second priority on the priority list.

Debate followed on the amendment.

Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania moved the previous question on all amendments and the original motion.

A vote was taken to terminate debate.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Thomas of Alaska challenged the decision of the Chair on the voice vote. A vote was taken to sustain the decision of the Chair.

Motion carried

Chair upheld

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution D031.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #20)