Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 1991-D056
Title: Reaffirm Opposition to Capital Punishment
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm the position taken in opposition to capital punishment by the 1958, 1969, and 1979 General Conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church oppose federal initiatives to establish constitutional procedures for the institution of the sentence of death for various crimes; and be it further

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church deplores the expansion of capital offenses by federal legislative action; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church support state and local initiatives to establish a range of community sanctions and services offering alternatives to incarceration and reducing recidivism; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop's Open Statement on Capital Punishment be sent to every Parish and Mission of our Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop's Open Statement on Capital Punishment and this resolution be sent to the President, the Attorney General, and every member of the Senate and Congress of the United States of America; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church urge the provinces, dioceses, parishes, missions, and individual members of this Church to engage in serious study on the subject of capital punishment and work actively to abolish the death penalty in their states.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 377.