The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D056)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm the position taken in opposition to capital punishment by the 1958, 1969, and 1979 General Conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the position taken in the Amicus (Friend of the Court) brief submitted by the Presiding Bishop in People vs. Sandoval and People vs. Silva; (attached) and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church oppose federal initiatives to establish constitutional procedures for the institution of the sentence of death for various crimes; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church support state and local initiatives to establish a range of community sanctions and services offering alternatives to incarceration and reducing recidivism; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop's Open Statement on Capital Punishment (attached) be sent to every Parish and Mission of our Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop's Open Statement on Capital Punishment and the Amicus Brief be sent to the President, the Attorney General, and every member of the Senate and Congress of the United States of America; and be it further

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church urge the provinces, dioceses, parishes, missions, and individual members of this Church to engage in serious study on the subject of capital punishment and work actively to abolish the death penalty in their states.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Delete the present second Resolved and add a new third Resolved, as follows:

Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church deplores the expansion of capital offenses by federal legislative action; and be it further.

Delete lines the sixth resolved [sic].

Deputy Goodfellow of Iowa moved an amendment to the Committee amendment to Resolution D056.

Proposed Amendment:

Restore the sixth Resolved and amend it as follows:

Following the words "Capital Punishment and," delete the words "the Amicus Brief."

Following the words "Capital Punishment and," add the words "this resolution."

The question was called on the Goodfellow amendment and the main motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Goodfellow amendment.

Motion carried

Goodfellow amendment adopted

A vote was taken on Resolution D056 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #205)