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Resolution Number: 2022-C058
Title: Take Action in Response to TEC's Racial Audit
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church hereby direct the Executive Council to take the following action:

  1. Investigate what is causing The Episcopal Church’s leadership positions not to be more representative of people of color and report back to the 81st General Convention a plan for overcoming those obstacles;
  2. Encourage the creation of a leadership position in each diocesan administration whose specific role is to address the societal issues that disproportionately affect black and brown people;
  3. Encourage such diocesan actions to ensure that people of color who dedicate their time, finances, and energy to sustain local parishes earn that recognition and a pathway to leadership;
  4. Encourage that all dioceses budget resources for and audit the adequacy of anti-racism training for all clergy, lay leaders, and staff;
  5. Explore how the Diocese of Maryland Truth and Reconciliation Commission can serve as a model in other dioceses;
  6. Examine discernment and ordination processes and require participation by black and brown people on nominating committees, commissions on ministry, discernment committees and any other entity involved in identifying, affirming and overseeing the diocesan process for ordination;
  7. Mandate that anti-racism training must openly address what white privilege and white supremacy means and the impact they have had on people of color.
Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Baltimore, 2022 (New York: General Convention, 2023), pp. 857-858.

Legislative History

Author: Long Island
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Racial Justice and Reconciliation

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Racial Justice and Reconciliation presented its Report #16 on Resolution C058 (Resolution Requiring Action in Response to TEC’s Racial Audit) and moved adoption.

Original Text of Resolution:

(C058)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church hereby direct

The Executive Council to take the following action:

  1. Investigate what is causing The Episcopal Church’s leadership positions not to be more representative of people of color and report back to the 81st General Convention a plan for overcoming those obstacles;
  2. Encourage the creation of a leadership position in each diocesan administration whose specific role is to address the societal issues that disproportionately affect black and brown people;
  3. Encourage such diocesan actions to ensure that people of color who dedicate their time, finances, and energy to sustain local parishes earn that recognition and a pathway to leadership;
  4. Encourage that all dioceses budget resources for and audit the adequacy of anti-racism training for all clergy, lay leaders, and staff;
  5. Explore how the Diocese of Maryland Truth and Reconciliation Commission can serve as a model in other dioceses;
  6. Examine discernment and ordination processes and require participation by black and brown people on nominating committees, commissions on ministry, discernment committees and any other entity involved in identifying, affirming and overseeing the diocesan process for ordination;
  7. Mandate that anti-racism training must openly address what white privilege and white supremacy means and the impact they have had on people of color.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #75)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Racial Justice and Reconciliation presented its Report #41 on HD Message #75 on Resolution C058 (Resolution Requiring Action in Response to TEC’s Racial Audit) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #354)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 10.

Abstract:   The 80th General Convention directs the Executive Council to take actions in response to The Episcopal Church’s racial audit, such as investigating the lack of representation people of color in leadership positions and mandating anti-racism training.
Notes:  

The final text in the Journal has dropped the formatting on item 7. This has been corrected in the Acts of Convention database.

Many resolutions concurred by the House of Bishops on Day 3 resulted in two messages being sent to the House of Deputies. The Acts of Convention followed the Journal Editor’s lead in using the second message number as the official message. House of Bishops Message #354 was preceded by House of Bishops Message #288.