| Resolution Number: | 2000-C031 |
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| Title: | Recommend Engaging the Boy Scouts on Issues of Sexuality Orientation |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention recommend that all clergy in charge of congregations and vestries:
| 1) | Inform the local Boy Scouts of America council and other organizations of the Episcopal Church's policy adopted at the 65th General Convention (1976) that "homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church"; |
| 2) | Encourage the Boy Scouts of America to allow membership to youth and adult leaders irrespective of their sexual orientation; |
| 3) | Strongly encourage individual churches which charter or host scout units to open a dialogue with the unit leaders, scouts, and their parents regarding discrimination against youth and leaders on the basis of sexual orientation; |
| 4) | Engage in educational programs within their churches to inform members and others about these issues; and be it further |
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention recommend the Office of the General Convention send a copy of this resolution to the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 338. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | |
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| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Special Legislative Committee |
House of Deputies
Original Text of Resolution:
(C031)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention recommend that all congregations:
| 1) | Adopt a policy of being "open and affirming" to gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons, and to apply this policy to all church programs and organizations; |
| 2) | Inform the local BSA council and other organizations of this policy and how this policy applies to all; |
| 3) | Encourage the BSA to open its organization to youth and leaders irrespective of sexual orientation; |
| 4) | Encourage individual churches who charter scout units to open a dialogue with these units, their leaders, and their parents and obtain from them a pledge not to discriminate against youth and leaders on the basis of sexual orientation; |
| 5) | Support the efforts of "Scouting for All" and other groups which seek to overturn the Boy Scouts' discriminatory national policies; |
| 6) | Engage in educational programs within their churches to inform members and others about these issues. |
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention recommend that all clergy in charge of congregations and vestries:
| 1) | |
| 2) | |
| 4) | Strongly encourage individual churches |
| 6) | Engage in educational programs within their churches to inform members and others about these issues; and be it further |
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention recommend the Office of General Convention send a copy of this resolution to the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America.
Debate followed on the resolution.
Deputy Thomas of Wyoming moved an amendment to Resolution C031 as amended.
Proposed Amendment:
Add following: "2)" the words "Inform the local council of the Boy Scouts of America of the policies of the Episcopal Church and the diocese with jurisdiction over the clergy in charge or the vestry concerning the ordination of homosexual persons." The following paragraphs would be renumbered 2) as 3), 3) as 4), and 4) as 5).
Deputy Thomas also moved to add to the next to the last paragraph after the word "orientation" the words "which dialogue shall continue for at least twenty-five (25) years."
The President requested that the Thomas amendment be considered as two amendments.
Debate followed on the Thomas amendments.
The question was called.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on the Thomas amendments.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the first Thomas amendment.
Motion defeated
First Thomas amendment defeated
A vote was taken on the second Thomas amendment.
Motion defeated
Second Thomas amendment defeated
Debate followed on the resolution.
The question was called.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on the resolution.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the Resolution C031 as amended.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #119)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee On the Church and Human Sexuality presented its Report #18 on HD Message #119 on Resolution C031 (Boy Scouts of America Policy of Homosexuals) and moved concurrence.
The Suffragan Bishop of Albany moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Change all references to "Boy Scouts" to "organizations".
The Bishop of Oregon moved to call the question.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on the Suffragan Bishop of Albany's amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the Suffragan Bishop of Albany's amendment.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
The Bishop of Newark moved to call the question.
A vote was taken to terminate debate on the resolution.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on Resolution C031.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #243)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 14.
| Abstract: | The 73rd General Convention recommends that clergy initiate and encourage discussion on the issues of sexual orientation and inclusion with local Boy Scouts of America councils. |
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