The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D023)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention proclaim the first four triennia of the 21st century to be the Season of Reconciliation within the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the House of Bishops appoint a committee of ordained and lay leaders to study the scriptural and historic role of church leaders as reconcilers and also study contemporary reconciliation and mediation methodologies developed by other denominations and by dispute resolution professionals. Upon conclusion of the study the committee should issue a report and an accompanying Study Guide for use by the entire Church, and the Bishops should issue a Pastoral Letter of Reconciliation. The Report and Pastoral Letter shall be distributed to the Church by July 2002; and be it further

Resolved, That dioceses and congregations develop and implement the principles and methods of reconciliation. These experiences will be shared with the Church at large through the web site of the Episcopal Church Center (www.dfms.org); and be it further

Resolved, That congregations consider building bridges of reconciliation with other congregations (Episcopal, non-Episcopal...) which have different racial, ethnic, cultural, and theological constituencies; and be it further

Resolved, That, following the example set by the courageous people of South Africa, the Church establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to focus on the Episcopal Church's collective historic sins. We pray that this process will promote truth-telling, justice, restitution, repentance, and reconciliation to heal our deep wounds as a part of the restoration of our unity in Christ. Because of our love for Jesus, this process will focus on three areas: sins against groups within ECUSA, sins against other Christian traditions, sins against other religious traditions; and be it further

Resolved, That all national boards, committees, and commissions have membership which is representative of the diversity of the Church, including theological diversity; and be it further

Resolved, That a task force of bishops, other clergy and laity be created to explore the role of all orders to achieve a leadership style whose governing spirit is one of reconciliation without intimidation and misuse of power. The time is long overdue to conduct a serious review and to reassess oversight (episcope) in the life of the church. This needs to be undertaken in light of the historic understanding of episcopal leadership in the Episcopal Church and its relationship to the leadership of laity and clergy together. We call to remembrance our classical Anglican approach to "those things necessary unto salvation" and "matters indifferent" and call upon bishops, other clergy, and laity to respect that freedom of interpretation and practice that forms the core of the Anglican tradition in matters of doctrine, discipline, and worship; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention establish a mutual ministry review:

• Of bishops every three years to be conducted privately and the completion thereof publicly reported by diocesan Standing Committees;
• Of the Presiding Bishop mid-term to be conducted privately and the completion thereof publicly reported by the Executive Council;
• Of the efficacy of the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies and Executive Council once a decade beginning in 2001, which is conducted privately and the completion thereof publicly reported by the Committee to Nominate the Presiding Bishop; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese engage in reconciliation using the New Commandment Task Force model of bridge building and negotiation, and develop a consensus on how we can live together without differences; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church establish a College of Reconcilers, based on the continuing education model of the College of Preachers which draws on resources from across the Church, to serve the Church as a teaching and training resource.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 73rd General Convention proclaim the first four triennia of the 21st century to be the Season of Reconciliation within the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies appoint a committee of ordained and lay leaders to study the scriptural and historic role of church leaders as reconcilers and also study contemporary reconciliation and mediation methodologies developed by other denominations and by dispute resolution professionals. Upon conclusion of this study the committee shall issue a pastoral letter on reconciliation and an accompanying study guide for use by the entire Church, and by the Executive Council as it develops a reconciliation process; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council, being informed by the pastoral letter on reconciliation, by the work done by the New Commandment Task Force and any other restorative justice work on reconciliation processes, recommend a formal process for dispute resolution and reconciliation in the church to the 74th General Convention. The process shall include, but not be limited to:

• The training of church leaders in reconciliation principles and practices;
• Ways/methods of addressing all manner of conflicts with the church (ideological and non-ideological);
• Mechanisms for accountability and oversight of this process.

The goals of this process shall be:

• Increasing the capacity of the church to practice reconciliation in the midst of profound conflicts.
• Reducing the human and financial costs associated with the resolution of conflicts.

It is intended that this process be used to address present and future conflicts in the Episcopal Church.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #152)