The Acts of Convention

Whereas, the Iglesia Episcopal Puertorriqueña (I.E.P.)--Puerto Rican Episcopal Church--on the 12th of September of 1970 and on the occasion of its first Special Convention in the city of Ponce, and by a substantial majority, voted to establish by the year 1982 the Episcopal Church in Puerto Rico as a national Church with self-government, self-propagation, and self-support; and

Whereas, the mandate of the Special Convention in Ponce was in accordance with the thinking, strategy, and missionary policies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America (PECUSA); and

Whereas, the 71st Convention of the I.E.P. held in October of 1978 reaffirmed the action of the October 1976 diocesan Convention, advancing the 1982 target date to January 1, 1980 and requested PECUSA to grant extra-provincial status to the I.E.P. and to transfer metropolitical authority over to the I.E.P. to the President of the Ninth Province and its Synod, in accordance with the decision of the 6th Synod of the Ninth Province in 1975 in El Salvador; and

Whereas, fulfilling its desire to establish a national Church, the I.E.P. has, in the last nine years, dedicated itself to the development of a plan for autonomy in the areas of finance, metropolitical jurisdiction, liturgy and self-government; and

Whereas, the results of this plan can be measured in terms of economic growth as reflected in local self-support, and in the development of new sources of income as well as in terms of canonical self-government and liturgical growth; and

Whereas, the I.E.P. has planned and worked since 1970 to attain autonomy with the present goal of uniting with no less than three other viable Dioceses in the Caribbean to form a Regional Council, having metropolitical authority in accordance with guidelines of both the Executive Council (April 19, 1979) and the Anglican Consultative Council IV (May, 1979); and

Whereas, a proposed covenant has been drafted by representatives from the I.E.P. and PECUSA that would establish the precepts and the guidelines for a new relationship between the I.E.P. and PECUSA once autonomy has been achieved; be it therefore

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the covenant between the I.E.P. and PECUSA, (a copy of which is attached as Exhibit I), be approved; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention grant to the Iglesia Episcopal Puertorriqueña status as an extra-provincial Diocese under the provision of Title I, Canon 10, Section 3(e)(1) in accordance with item 12 of the Covenant between the Episcopal Church and I.E.P.; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the metropolitical authority over the I.E.P. be vested in the President of the Ninth Province and its Synod, pending the creation of a Regional Council having metropolitical authority, and including Puerto Rico; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That in accordance with the terms of item 11 of the Covenant, the Executive Council be authorized to act on behalf of PECUSA; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That such review shall include any reports and recommendations made by the members of the Joint Committee of Consultation referred to in item 2 of the Covenant; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the members of the Joint Committee of Consultation representing the PECUSA be appointed by the Presiding Bishop; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention accept in the name of PECUSA the most profound gratitude of the I.E.P. for having guided, guarded, and supported its life during its formation as part of the Church.