The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Racial Justice and Reconciliation presented its Report #21 on Resolution A125 (A Resolution Extending and Furthering the Beloved Community) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A125)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirms that striving to become the beloved community of Jesus is central to our baptismal vocation in God’s mission, and every Episcopalian is called to a lifelong vocation of racial justice and equity and the dismantling of white supremacy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention establishes an Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as a voluntary association of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming the Beloved Community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice be charged with facilitating, coordinating, encouraging, supporting, and networking The Episcopal Church’s work in racial justice and equity and the dismantling of white supremacy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies appoint a Board for the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice who will take all organizational and legal actions necessary to constitute and oversee said Coalition; and be it further

Resolved, That the Coalition be empowered to secure appropriate funding to support its work including, but not limited to, income (draw) of a tithe of 10 percent of the financial holdings of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Coalition set aside annually for the support and work of the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirms that striving to become the Beloved Community of Jesus is central to our baptismal vocation in God’s mission, and every Episcopalian is called to a lifelong vocation of racial justice and equity and the dismantling of white supremacy; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention establish the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as a voluntary association of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming the Beloved Community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice be charged with facilitating, coordinating, encouraging, supporting, and networking efforts of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals for racial justice and equity, and the dismantling of white supremacy, in collaboration with the work of the Executive Council and staff of the Episcopal Church Center; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies appoint a Constituting Group for the development, implementation, and creation of the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice, whose work includes determining and proposing all necessary organizational, canonical, legal, and other actions necessary to constitute formally and oversee said Coalition; and be it further

Resolved, That once the Coalition is constituted, it shall be funded with an annual draw on one-tenth of the trusts and endowment funds available for general use in the Episcopal Church’s budget, the income of which is currently found on Line 5 of the Episcopal Church budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the draw percentage applied to fund the Coalition be the same percentage as that applied to fund the Episcopal Church’s budget; and be it further

Resolved, That to support the development of the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equality and Justice, the Constituting Group be funded during the biennial 2023-2024 at the level of $200,000 a year.

Debate ensued.

A vote was taken on Resolution A125 as substituted.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #132)