Resolution Number: 1997-D016
Title: Take Actions to Express Church's Support of Religious Freedom
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That this 72nd General Convention declare the Episcopal Church's solidarity with those who experience persecution by reason of the practice of their faith; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention reaffirm the 1988 General Convention's "support of the United Nations' work for religious freedom worldwide" as it is carried out by the United Nations' Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Religious Freedom, and High Commissioner for Refugees; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention affirm the mission partnership of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, responding to their guidance as to the most appropriate help this Church can provide to combat religious persecution in their home countries; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Peace with Justice to review the most appropriate ways in which this Church can respond to religious persecution abroad, taking into consideration the Anglican mission partnership and previous resolutions of the General Convention and Executive Council on religious liberty; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention urge the United States Government to increase the admission of refugees to the United States to respond to those refugees escaping religious persecution, while maintaining the current or higher levels of admissions for other refugee categories; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention:

- Encourage the Anglican and Global Relations Office of the Episcopal Church to continue its sensitive and persistent response to the needs of Anglican churches experiencing persecution;

- Encourage the office of Episcopal Migration Ministries to continue to advocate for victims of religious persecution;

- Commend to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief the material needs of Anglican Churches and other Church bodies experiencing persecution;

- Request the Standing Commission on Peace with Justice to explore ways in which the sufferings of persecuted Christians and other religious groups can be addressed through international diplomacy;

- Encourage Diocesan and Parish groups concerned with international mission to develop links of communication, prayer, and support with those experiencing religious persecution;

- Commend to the Church the Consultation on Persecuted Churches to be convened by the Episcopal Council for Global Mission in April 1998; and

- Request the Planning Committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference to include the sufferings of persecuted Christians as a major item for discussion and action for the bishops of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention request the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations to explore, in concert with the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies, ways in which inter-religious understanding can be advanced in specific situations so as to alleviate the persecution of Christians and other religious groups.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997 (New York: General Convention, 1998), pp. 780-781.

Legislative History

Author: The Rev. Titus L. Presler
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on National and International Problems

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D016)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 72nd General Convention declare the Episcopal Church's solidarity with Christians in countries where they experience officially sanctioned persecution by reason of the practice of their faith; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention reaffirm the Episcopal Church's conviction that all governments have the responsibility to protect the free exercise of religion, as implied by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention initiate steps to strengthen the Episcopal Church's solidarity with persecuted churches, including:

- Encourage the Anglican and Global Relations Office of the Episcopal Church to continue its sensitive and persistent response to the needs of Anglican churches experiencing persecution;

- Commend to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief the material needs of Anglican churches and other church bodies experiencing persecution;

- Request the Standing Commission on Peace with Justice, or its successor interim body, to explore ways in which the sufferings of persecuted Christians and other religious groups can be addressed through international diplomacy;

- Encourage diocesan and parish groups concerned with international mission to develop links of communication, prayer and support with Christians experiencing persecution;

- Commend to the Church the Consultation on Persecuted Churches to be convened by the Episcopal Council for Global Mission in April 1998;

- Request the Planning Committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference to include the sufferings of persecuted Christians as a major item for discussion and action for the bishops of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention request the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations to study the extent to which the persecution of Christians results from religious or ideological animosity and explore, in concert with the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies, ways in which inter-religious understanding can be advanced in specific situations so as to alleviate the persecution of Christians and other religious groups.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In line 18 (third Resolved clause, fifth item), delete "Commend" and insert "Recognizing our need for repentance, commend"

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #179)

House of Bishops

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #16 on HD Message #179 on Resolution D016a (Solidarity with Persecuted Churches), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence with a substitute.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, The House of Deputies concurring, That the 72nd General Convention declare the Episcopal Church's solidarity with those who experience persecution by reason of the practice of their faith; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention reaffirm the 1988 General Convention's "support of the United Nations' work for religious freedom worldwide" as it is carried out by the United Nations' Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Religious Freedom, and High Commissioner for Refugees; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention affirm the mission partnership of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, responding to their guidance as to the most appropriate help this Church can provide to combat religious persecution in their home countries; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Peace with Justice to review the most appropriate ways in which this Church can respond to religious persecution abroad, taking into consideration the Anglican mission partnership and previous resolutions of the General Convention and Executive Council on religious liberty; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention urge the United States government to increase the admission of refugees to the United States to respond to those refugees escaping religious persecution, while maintaining the current or higher levels of admissions for other refugee categories; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention:

- Encourage the Anglican and Global Relations Office of the Episcopal Church to continue its sensitive and persistent response to the needs of Anglican churches experiencing persecution;

- Encourage the office of Episcopal Migration Ministries to continue to advocate for victims of religious persecution;

- Commend to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief the material needs of Anglican churches and other church bodies experiencing persecution;

- Request the Standing Commission on Peace with Justice to explore ways in which the sufferings of persecuted Christians and other religious groups can be addressed through international diplomacy;

- Encourage diocesan and parish groups concerned with international mission to develop links of communication, prayer, and support with those experiencing religious persecution;

- Commend to the Church the Consultation on Persecuted Churches to be convened by the Episcopal Council for Global Mission in April 1998; and

- Request the Planning Committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference to include the sufferings of persecuted Christians as a major item for discussion and action for the bishops of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention request the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations to explore, in concert with the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical bodies, ways in which inter-religious understanding can be advanced in specific situations so as to alleviate the persecution of Christians and other religious groups.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #205)

House of Deputies

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #29 on HB Message #205 on Resolution D016a (Solidarity with Persecuted Churches), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #315)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 25.

Abstract:   The 72nd General Convention takes actions to express the Church's continuing support of religious freedom.