The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A195)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, affirming the biblical understanding that human beings have been given a vital responsibility for the earth's environment in trust for this and future generations, declare that environmental stewardship must be a top priority of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention call on all citizens of the world and Episcopalians in particular to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for our environment; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention urge all Episcopalians to exercise prayerful theological discernment based on factual knowledge before judging or acting on any proposed environmental action.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, affirming our responsibility for the earth in trust for this and future generations:

1. Declares that Christian stewardship of God's created environment, in harmony with our respect for human dignity, requires response from the Church of the highest urgency;
2. Calls on all citizens of the world, and Episcopalians in particular, to live their lives as good stewards with responsible concern for the sustainability of the environment and with appreciation for the global interdependence of human life and the natural world; and
3. Urges all Episcopalians to reflect on their personal and corporate habits in the use of God's creation; to share with one another ideas for new responses; and to act as individuals, congregations, dioceses, and provinces of the Episcopal Church in ways that protect and heal all interdependent parts of creation. Such action should include prayerful theological discernment and factual knowledge. It should also consider global and local links and the balance of environmental integrity with economic sufficiency for human living; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and God's call to us in the servanthood of Christ, continue to engage environmental issues, passionately caring for the earth and striving to live into the promises and mandates which are ours as stewards of creation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention call upon the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint an interdisciplinary, multicultural Environmental Stewardship Team, accountable to the Executive Council, consisting of not more than fourteen members, representing each province and a broad spectrum of Church membership, whose gifts and expertise are suitable to the task. The mission of the Environmental Stewardship Team is to educate, motivate and facilitate congregations, dioceses and provinces toward local and regional plans, advocacy and action. The Team will work with other environmental groups of common interest; and be it further

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention include in the program budget an appropriation of $100,000 per year during the 1992-1994 triennium to carry out the work of the Team; and be it further

Resolved, That the Environmental Stewardship Team report regularly to Executive Council during the triennium and to the 71st General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention request the Presiding Bishop to communicate immediately and directly to all Episcopalians, the scope and urgency of this resolution.

Deputy Estes of South Dakota introduced Indian youths from Navajoland who led the House in singing "On Eagles' Wings."

Deputy Newell of Ohio moved an amendment to the substitute to A195.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the 3rd, 4th and 5th resolveds in their entirety.

The amendment was ruled out of order as the budget has already been adopted.

First Newell amendment ruled out of order

Deputy Newell of Ohio appealed the ruling of the Vice-President.

Chair Upheld

The House returned to its consideration of the substitute to A195 (Affirm Biblical Understanding on Environment).

Deputy Newell of Ohio moved an amendment to the Substitute to A195.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the 3rd and 5th resolves in their entirety.

Motion defeated

Second Newell amendment defeated

A vote was taken on the substitute to A195.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #226)