The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #54 on Resolution C004 (Inclusion of June 19th, "Juneteenth" in the Church's Liturgical Calendar in Recognition of the End of Slavery in the United States) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(C004)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That June 19, "Juneteenth," observed on every occurrence of June 19th, be included in the Church’s liturgical calendar in recognition of the end of slavery in the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the following material be included in “Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints”:

This day is set aside both for celebration and repentance.  It is a day of celebration because on this day in 1865 the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom;  and it is a day of repentance not only because they learned of their freedom two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but also because of the history of slavery and its subsequent legacy of racism in the United States.  Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that enslaved people were now free, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation itself had little impact on slave-owning Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops available to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the Union forces were finally strong enough to overcome the residual resistance and proclaim freedom to the remaining enslaved people.

Slavery is rightly called “the Original Sin of the United States of America.”  Though slavery was ended throughout all of the United States on December 6, 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the ongoing sin of systemic racism continues to this day.  White people and white power structures, including The Episcopal Church, have benefitted from the institution of slavery.   Black people continue to experience injustice in numerous ways.  Slavery gave way to Jim Crow segregation, lynchings, redlining, mass incarceration, and police brutality, among many other forms of oppression.  Though the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s brought about legislative reforms for Black citizens, inequity, injustice, and systemic racism continue.  These are in stark contrast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is incumbent on the Church and each Christian fully to realize and to embody our baptismal vow to “strive for justice and peace, respecting the dignity of every human being,” committing to the work of bringing about the Beloved Community for which God created us.

Let Juneteenth be a day of celebration and also a day of repentance and atonement.

And be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention authorize for trial use the new and revised collects for commemorations as found in the Blue Book.

Add to Revised Collects and Commemorations:

Collect for Juneteenth:

(Rite I)

O God of all life and truth, whose loving care knoweth no bounds and whose will it is that all people shall live in freedom:  We give thee thanks that on this day in 1865 the last enslaved people in our land learned of their freedom. Give us thy grace to repent of the sin of racism in the United States and to seek thy guidance to dismantle the systems of white supremacy it hath engendered. Give us the courage continually to work for justice and freedom for all peoples for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, in whom thou hast set us free from the bondage of sin and death; and who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(Rite II)

O God of all life and truth, whose loving care knows no bounds and whose will it is that all people shall live in freedom:  We give you thanks that on this day in 1865 the last enslaved people in our land learned of their freedom.  Give us your grace to repent of the sin of racism in the United States and to seek your guidance to dismantle the systems of white supremacy it has engendered. Give us the courage continually to work for justice and freedom for all peoples for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have set us free from the bondage of sin and death; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm                                                   Lessons

82: 1-5, 8                                             Exodus 6: 5-8

Psalm 146: 1-2, 5-10                           Luke 4: 14-21

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop liturgical materials to lament the historic evil of slavery and celebrate the emancipation of enslaved peoples, considering historically significant dates such as Emancipation Day and Juneteenth in the United States, Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico, Independence Day in Haiti, and days of similar import in the 13 nations, commonwealths, or convocations of churches which are a part of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, that the SCLM develop these materials in consultation with church leaders in all nations, commonwealths, or convocations of churches where The Episcopal Church has dioceses or convocations and where slavery is a part of the national history; and be it further

Resolved, that the SCLM present these materials to the 81st General Convention for consideration for inclusion in The Book of Occasional Services; and be it further

Resolved, that dioceses and congregations be encouraged to develop local commemorations lamenting slavery and its effects and celebrating emancipation on days deemed appropriate by them.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

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