Resolution Number: 1979-D083
Title: Support the Principle of Affirmative Action
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 66th General Convention support the principle of affirmative action--especially, special admissions programs for minorities in universities and professional schools and programs to upgrade unskilled workers to the skilled level; and be it further

Resolved, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Executive Council, within the 1980-82 triennium, to initiate programs of public education on affirmative action at all levels of the Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Executive Council to communicate our support of affirmative action to the major religious bodies of the United States and urge them to endorse, support, and implement affirmative action.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 1979 (New York: General Convention, 1980), p. C-134.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Social and Urban Affairs

House of Deputies

On the tenth day, the Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #38 on Resolution D-83, and recommended adoption of the Resolution with amendment, as follows:

Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, minorities are more than twice as likely to be in lower paid service industries as the white majority; five times as likely to be private household workers; twice as likely to be farm laborers; while whites are twice as likely to be higher paid skilled craft workers and three and a half times more likely to be managers and administrators; and

Whereas, according to the United States Commerce Department, black family median income is 57% of white family income; and white high school dropouts have a 22.3% unemployment rate as against a 27.2% unemployment rate for black youth with a college education; and

Whereas, according to Statistical Abstracts of the United States, blacks are under-represented in the less hazardous and are over-represented in the more hazardous occupations--e.g., in the steel industry, of those working at the coke ovens, where lung and respiratory cancers are the highest, 90% are black; and

Whereas, according to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, "...overt racism and institutional subordination provide definite benefits to a significant number of whites..."--e.g., "...exploitation of members of the subordinated groups through lower wages, higher prices, higher rents, less desirable credit terms, or poorer working or living conditions than those received by whites..."; and

Whereas, according to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, many federal agencies have ignored or subverted affirmative action requirements, thereby impeding minorities from moving into higher paid professional, managerial, and skilled trade jobs; and

Whereas, the 64th General Convention passed a resolution supporting "Project Equality", which endorses the idea of affirmative action; and

Whereas, resolutions opposing racial discrimination within the Church and in society have been passed by several General Conventions (e.g., 57th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 64th); therefore be it

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 66th General Convention support the principle of affirmative action--especially, special admissions programs for minorities in universities and professional schools and programs to upgrade unskilled workers to the skilled level; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Executive Council, within the 1980-82 triennium, to initiate programs of public education on affirmative action at all levels of the Church; and be it further

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 66th General Convention instruct the Executive Council to communicate our support of affirmative action to the major religious bodies of the United States and urge them to endorse, support, and implement affirmative action.

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #178)

House of Bishops

On the tenth day, HD Message #178 on Resolution D-83 (Affirmative Action) was received.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #222)

Abstract:   The 66th General Convention supports the principle of affirmative action and instructs the Executive Council to initiate programs of public education on affirmative action at all levels of the Church.