| Resolution Number: | 1979-D004 |
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| Title: | Reaffirm Opposition to Capital Punishment |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Substituted and Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That this 66th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm its opposition to capital punishment and calls on the Dioceses and Members of this Church to work actively to abolish the death penalty in their States; and be it further
Resolved, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Secretary of General Convention to notify the several governors of the States of our action.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 1979 (New York: General Convention, 1980), p. C-114. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on National and International Problems |
House of Deputies
On the sixth day, the Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #10 on Resolution D-4, on Capital Punishment, and recommended adoption of the Substitute Resolution prepared by the Committee:
Whereas, the 1958 General Convention of the Episcopal Church opposed capital punishment on a theological basis that the life of an individual is of infinite worth in the sight of Almighty God, and the taking of such a human life falls within the providence of Almighty God and not within the right of Man; and
Whereas, this opposition to capital punishment was reaffirmed at the General Convention of 1969, and
Whereas, a preponderance of religious bodies continue to oppose capital punishment as contrary to the concept of Christian love as revealed in the New Testament; and
Whereas, we are witnessing the re-emergence of this practice as a social policy in many states; and
Whereas, the institutionalized taking of human life prevents the fulfillment of Christian commitment to seek the redemption and reconciliation of the offender; and
Whereas, there are incarceration alternatives for those who are too dangerous to be set free in society; therefore be it
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm its opposition to capital punishment and calls on the Dioceses and Members of this Church to work actively to abolish the death penalty in their States; and be it further
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Secretary of General Convention to notify the several governors of the States of our action.
Discussion followed.
Deputy Betts Slingluff, Jr. (Central Gulf Coast) moved an additional resolve.
Motion defeated
The question was called on the main motion to accept Substitute Resolution D-4.
Substitute resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #74)
House of Bishops
On the eighth day, HD Message #74 on Substitute Resolution D-4 was received.
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #128)
The Bishop of Oklahoma requested that his negative vote on D-4 be recorded.
| Abstract: | The 66th General Convention reaffirms its opposition to capital punishment and calls on all dioceses and individual Church members to work actively to abolish the death penalty. |
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