| Resolution Number: | 2000-A106 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Adopt the Stewardship Statement and Affirm Tithing |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church adopt the following Stewardship Statement of the Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development to be its own:
STEWARDSHIP STATEMENT
We believe... We are the children of God, and we need to give. In every aspect of our lives we are entrusted to be stewards of God's creation. God invites us to give freely and to exercise joyfully our gifts through mission and ministry.
We commit ourselves... To boldly claim God's abundant provision in our lives; to offer extravagantly our time, talent, and money to do God's work; and to practice tithing as a minimum standard of giving.
We challenge members of the Episcopal Church... To confront our fears of scarcity; to embrace a new vision of stewardship through a joyful response to God's extravagant gifts; and to empower the mission of Christ through generous giving.
We invite... Leadership groups in dioceses and congregations to develop their own stewardship statements in order to promote response to the gospel;
and be it further
Resolved, That we, the Deputies and Bishops of this Convention, give thanks to God for those who embrace tithing as a faithful individual response to the grace of God; and do hereby affirm through our signatures these professed beliefs and practices; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to collect the signatures with this resolution and publish the list of signatures in the Journal.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 443. |
|---|
Legislative History
| Author: | The Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Stewardship and Development |
House of Bishops
Original Text of Resolution:
(A106)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church adopt the following Stewardship Statement of the Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development to be its own:
STEWARDSHIP STATEMENT
We believe...We are the children of God, and we need to give. In every aspect of our lives, we are entrusted to be stewards of God's creation. God invites us to give freely and to exercise joyfully our gifts through mission and ministry.
We commit ourselves... To boldly claim God's abundant provision in our lives; to offer extravagantly our time, talent, and money to do God's work; and to practice tithing as a minimum standard of giving.
We challenge members of the Episcopal Church... To confront our fears of scarcity; to embrace a new vision of stewardship through a joyful response to God's extravagant gifts; and to empower the mission of Christ through generous giving.
We invite... Leadership groups in dioceses and congregations to develop their own stewardship statements in order to promote response to the gospel;
and be it further
Resolved, That we, the Deputies and Bishops of this convention, give thanks to God for those who embrace tithing as a faithful individual response to the grace of God; and do hereby affirm through our signatures these professed beliefs and practices; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to collect the signatures with this resolution and publish the list of signatures in the Journal.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #22)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Stewardship and Development presented its Report #8 on HB Message #22 on Resolution A106 (Affirmation of Stewardship Statement and the Tithe) and moved concurrence.
Deputy Anderson of Michigan moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Insert "the minimum standard of giving for" after the words "tithing as."
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
A vote was taken on Resolution A106.
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #57)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 7.
| Report Reference: | Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development, Reports to the 73rd General Convention, 2000, pp. 469-478. |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The 73rd General Convention adopts the Stewardship Statement and affirms the practice of tithing. |
| Notes: | The resolution called for publication in the Journal of the names of bishops and deputies who signed in affirmation of the tithe. The bishops' signatures are found on pages 121-22 of the Journal 2000. The minutes also read that, "Due to the illegibility of many [Deputies'] signatures, the list could not be recreated in the Journal." |