Resolved, That the
Executive Council adopts the following policy on Mechanisms of Accountability
for General Convention Block Grants:
Title I Canons of the Episcopal Church in United States of
America (ECUSA) govern the organization and administration of the church.
- Canon 4.7(a)(b) requires each bishop of a diocese
receiving aid to report to the Executive Council at the close of each
fiscal year “giving account of the work in the diocese supported in whole
or in part by the Council.”
- Canon 6.4 requires an annual diocesan report based on
parochial reports to be filed with the Executive Council.
- Canon 7.1(f) requires annual independent financial audits
of each diocese.
Block grants from the General Convention typically fall into
one of the following categories:
- Domestic dioceses in the continental USA (Alaska, Eau
Claire, Eastern Oregon, Navajoland, North Dakota, South Dakota, Western
Kansas)
- Domestic organizations (Historically Black Colleges,
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries, Episcopal Conference of the Deaf,
Indigenous Theological Training Institute, National Episcopal AIDS
Coalition, Commission on Religion in Appalachia, Interfaith Center on
Corporate Responsibility)
- Dioceses/jurisdictions outside the
continental USA (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras,
Litoral, Micronesia, Taiwan, Virgin Islands)
- Dioceses associated with Province IX (Cuba,
Puerto Rico, Venezuela)
- Self-governing churches of the Anglican Communion in
covenant relationship (Central America, Liberia, Mexico, Philippines)
- Ecumenical organizations (World Council of Churches,
National Council of Churches, Church World Service)
- Anglican Consultative Council
To be eligible for funding beginning in 2004, annual
compliance with requirements of the Canons is required, as follows:
- Independent financial audits: All recipients of
block grants
- Account of the work of the diocese or organization
supported in whole or in part by the General Convention (including
evaluation of programs, goals achieved and in progress): All recipients
of block grants
- Diocesan Reports based on Parochial Reports: All
dioceses/jurisdictions of the ECUSA
A senior staff review group shall monitor compliance and
report to Executive Council.
Initial compliance will be required by June 30, 2003, for
all ECUSA dioceses and organizations (a form noting required information will
be sent to each diocese and organization). ECUSA members of joint covenant
committees shall present these requirements to their counterparts for
compliance at the earliest date possible but no later than June 30, 2004.
