The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D149)

Whereas, Absalom Jones in 1792 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded Saint Thomas African Episcopal Church, the first African-American congregation in the Episcopal Church; and

Whereas, Absalom Jones, Peter Williams, Jr., James Theodore Holly, Alexander Crummell, James Solomon Russell, George Freeman Bragg, Jr., Edward Thomas Demby, Tollie Leroy Caution, Pauli Murray, John Melville Burgess, Barbara C. Harris, and many others in the blessed company of all faithful people have labored in the one struggle to build the Church, to eradicate racism in the Church, and to make one the people of the Church; and

Whereas, It is the responsibility of all Episcopalians to increase our knowledge of the one faith by developing a truly multi-cultural historiography and by preserving and sharing this common religious heritage; and

Whereas, The National Union of Black Episcopalians, the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and Saint Thomas African Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, are co-sponsoring a national bicentennial celebration, 200 Years of the Black Presence in the Episcopal Church: One Faith, One People, One Struggle, to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 7, and 8, 1992; and

Whereas, The Most Rev. Edmond Lee Browning, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and the Rt. Rev. Allen Lyman Bartlett, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and the Rt. Rev. Franklin Delton Turner, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, are the Honorary Chairs of this historic occasion; therefore be it

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church endorse and support the national bicentennial celebration, 200 Years of the Black Presence in the Episcopal Church: One Faith, One People, One Struggle.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In the first Resolved, following "celebration," insert "on November 6, 7, and 8, 1992, to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."

Add a second Resolved:

and be it further

Resolved, That it is the responsibility of all Episcopalians to increase our knowledge of the one faith by developing a truly multi-cultural historiography and by preserving and sharing this common religious heritage.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #137)