The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #22 on A135 (Focus Mission Funding on Alleviating Poverty and Injustice) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution

(A135)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention re-affirm its commitment to the Jubilee Ministry Grants program as a continuing line item in the church’s budget at a minimum funding level of $100,000.00 per annum during the 2013-2015 triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention re-affirm its commitment to Poverty Alleviation through locally defined community development initiatives in Native People’s communities and that it expand the Church’s capacity to encourage and respond to local initiatives focused on the alleviation of poverty among other populations of poor and oppressed people by adding a line item in the church’s budget at a minimum funding level of $300,000 per annum during the 2013-2015 triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention re-affirm its commitment to summer camp programs for children of parents who are incarcerated as a line item in the church’s budget at a minimum funding level of $50,000 per annum; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $450,000 per annum for the implementation of this Resolution.

Committee Substitute

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That a faithful response to the Gospel as well as the Five Marks of Mission in this time of growing economic inequality and political gridlock requires that we "respond to human need by loving service" and "seek to transform unjust structures of society"; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church commit to a triennium of teaching, preaching, organizing, advocating, and building mutually transformative relationships with those who are poor to focus our hearts and the mission of our congregations and dioceses on reducing poverty and increasing economic and racial justice; and be it further

Resolved, That the church cultivate mindfulness about poverty in our communities and world, as well as the poverty into which Christ calls us, by including in our prayer and in every meeting agenda, time for prayer and reflection on how our work engages issues of poverty and economic and racial justice social media networks; and be it further

Resolved, That we identify and build strong partnerships within The Episcopal Church as well as with interfaith organizations and secular agencies and institutions to increase our learning and to maximize our investment of time and treasure; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church encourage congregations to join local faith-based organizing networks such as PICO (People Improving Communities Through Organizing), IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation), Gamaliel Foundation, The DART Network (Direct Action and Research Training Center), and the Inter-Valley Project to build power and to increase our effectiveness in strengthening our communities; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations and dioceses seek out training in and use the tools of Asset Based Community Development recognizing that God has blessed each of us with gifts for the good of the kingdom and that we strengthen our communities not by implementing programs from outside but by identifying and building from the assets already existing in the community; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church continue its strategic and prophetic investment in locally defined community development initiatives in Native People's communities through an annual commitment of $100,000 during the 2013-2015 triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That through asset based community development grants, community organizing grants, and Jubilee Ministry grants that The Episcopal Church support local ministries and regional trainings that increase the church's capacity to reduce poverty and increase economic and racial justice through an annual commitment of $300,000 during the 2013-2015 triennium using available social media networks of the Offices of Missions and Communication of the DFMS to communicate availability of funds and provide reports on program activity and grants made; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church's commitment to reducing poverty and increasing economic and racial justice be facilitated, encouraged, inspired, and supported by the Mission Program Office of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and by an Executive Council Advisory Committee on Domestic Poverty; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $400,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

The Bishop-in-Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

Delete the fifth resolve clause.

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Churches in Europe amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The Bishop of Upper South Carolina moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

In the second resolve, add a comma after “hearts”, add a comma after “congregations”, add “our” between “and” and “dioceses”, add “in service to God’s mission” after “justice,” and delete “and the mission of.”

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on substitute resolution A135.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message # 116)