The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention admit the Diocese of Venezuela to The Episcopal Church USA and recognize it as a diocese in union with General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention designate the Diocese of Venezuela as a member diocese of Province IX of The Episcopal Church; and be further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Venezuela be entitled to all rights pertaining to membership in The Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, voice and vote in the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, in accordance with the rules of those houses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese of Venezuela be obligated to undertake all responsibilities pertaining to diocesan membership in The Episcopal Church as provided in the Constitution and Canons, including, but not limited to, conforming its constitution and canons to the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; submitting annual diocesan and parochial reports to the General Convention Office; contributing annually to the apportionment budget of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society; and reporting fully on any financial assistance it receives from the General Convention budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention affirm that the clergy and lay employees of the Diocese of Venezuela will be eligible to participate in companion pension plans administered by the Church Pension Fund, subject to the rules of the Church Pension Fund; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention urge the Church Pension Fund to work with the Diocese of Venezuela to develop a plan to cover its clergy; and be it further

Resolved, That the portion of this resolution accepting the Diocese of Venezuela into union with the General Convention shall become effective on such date as the Executive Council adopts a resolution accepting and approving a certification to it by the Secretary of the General Convention that she has received from the Diocese the following:

1. A certified copy of the Constitution of the Diocese that contains an unqualified accession to the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and otherwise conforms in essential part to such Constitution and Canons;
2. A certified copy of the canons of the Diocese that conform in essential part to the canons of The Episcopal Church;
3. An annual diocesan report and annual parochial reports required by Canon I.6 for the last full year prior to compliance with this resolution;
4. A commitment by the Diocese to a contribution to the budget of The Episcopal Church for the year in which the Diocese is to come into union with the General Convention; and
5. An audited accounting of any funds received by the Diocese from the General Convention budget in the last full year prior to compliance with this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention reaffirm the principle that dioceses of this church that are not located within the United States may seek autonomy according to the procedures set forth in Resolution [A]235a of the 1991 General Convention or may join other provinces of the Anglican Communion.