Membership

Mr. N. Kurt Barnes

Ms. Judy Dailey

Mr. Mark J. Duffy

Mr. Tom Gossen

The Rt. Rev. Larry E. Maze

The Rev. Canon Edward W. Rodman

Robert Royce, Esq.

Mr. Newland F. Smith

The Rev. Dr. Gregory Straub

The Very Rev. George L. W. Werner

Summary of Work

In 1997 the General Convention approved GC Resolution 1997–A014 requesting that the Executive Council and the Board of Archives work together to secure a permanent site for the Church’s official archives and historical collections. Study committees of the Board and Council have attempted to craft alternatives that would produce a favorable solution to the pressing space problem and also make the archives accessible to the Church and close to other supportive research services. Most recently, these efforts were centered on negotiations with the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin where the Archives has been located since 1960. The Board of Archives has concluded, however, that the current arrangement with the seminary can no longer continue. A new archival facility must be constructed or obtained within the period of the next triennium.

In recognition of the relocation issue facing the Board of Archives, Executive Council has established an Archives Strategy Committee to assist the Board and Executive Council in planning and implementing the move to a new site and obtaining the funding to support the project. It is contemplated that other persons with of specific skills and experience in particular areas of concern may be appointed to the Committee from time to time to assist in the successful prosecution of this venture.

The Executive Council endorses the project and the Board of the Archives resolution (A143, see page 364) with a goal of having the Archives’ relocation completed on or before January 1, 2010. Council supports the plan to implement a case and a campaign to raise additional funds to finance the project and, if successful, establish an endowment for the maintenance of the archives; and, if deemed appropriate, to obtain access to funding sources that either would not or cannot make gifts and grants to a religious entity through a new corporate entity. The new corporate entity will be tailored to ensure that there would be no diversions of any assets or properties to other than the Episcopal Church. In each instance the Board of Archives and the Archives Strategy Committee will seek the advice and consent of the Executive Council.