The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Education

The House of Deputies Committee on Education presented its Report #13 on Resolution A082 (Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A082)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopt the following text as The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation:

Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ and is informed by Scripture, Tradition and Reason.

I have called you friends… John 15:14-16

Through The Episcopal Church, God INVITES all people:

• Into a prayerful life of worship, continuous learning, intentional outreach, advocacy and service.
• To hear the Word of God, to honor church teachings and continually to embrace the joy of Baptism and Eucharist, spreading the Good News of the risen Christ and ministering to all.
• To respond to the needs of our constantly changing communities, as Jesus calls us, in ways that reflect our diversity and cultures as we seek, wonder and discover together.
• To hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people, placing ourselves in the stories of our faith, thereby empowering us to proclaim the Gospel message.

"…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit…" -John 15:14-16

Through The Episcopal Church, God INSPIRES all people:

• To experience Anglican liturgy, which draws us closer to God, helps us discern God’s will and encourages us to share our faith journeys.
• To study scripture mindful of the context of our societies and cultures, calling us to seek truth anew while remaining fully present in the community of faith.
• To develop new learning experiences, equipping disciples for life in a world of secular challenges and carefully listening for the words of modern sages who embody the teachings of Christ.
• To prepare for a sustainable future by calling the community to become guardians of God’s creation.

"…I am giving you these commands that you may love one another…" -John 15:17

Through The Episcopal Church, God TRANSFORMS all people:

• By doing the work Jesus Christ calls us to do, living into the reality that we are all created in the image of God and carrying out God’s work of reconciliation, love, forgiveness, healing, justice and peace.
• By striving to be a loving and witnessing community, which faithfully confronts the tensions in the church and the world as we struggle to live God’s will.
• By seeking out diverse and expansive ways to empower prophetic action, evangelism, advocacy and collaboration in our contemporary global context.
• By holding all accountable to lift every voice in order to reconcile oppressed and oppressor to the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is a lifelong journey with Christ, in Christ and to Christ.

And be it further

Resolved, That

1. We urge that each diocese to read and study the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation and to live it out locally.
2. We urge the seminaries and other institutions concerned with formation and education and leadership in The Episcopal Church, to engage the charter as a tool to advance their support for persons in their Christian Formation.
3. We urge The Episcopal Church’s Evangelism and Congregational Life Center to commit staff during this triennium to communicate, advocate and implement the charter, and report progress to the Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education before the 77th General Convention.

And be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $30,000 for the implementation of this resolution during the 2009-2012 triennium.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church adopt the following text as The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation:

Lifelong Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ and is informed by Scripture, Tradition and Reason.

I have called you friends… John 15:14-16

Through The Episcopal Church, God INVITES all people:

• To enter into Into a prayerful life of worship, continuous learning, intentional outreach, advocacy and service.
• To hear the Word of God through Scripture, to honor church teachings and continually to embrace the joy of Baptism and Eucharist, spreading the Good News of the risen Christ and ministering to all.
• To respond to the needs of our constantly changing communities, as Jesus calls us, in ways that reflect our diversity and cultures as we seek, wonder and discover together.
• To hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people, placing ourselves in the stories of our faith, thereby empowering us to proclaim the Gospel message.

"…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit…" -John 15:14-16

Through The Episcopal Church, God INSPIRES all people:

• To experience Anglican liturgy, which draws us closer to God, helps us discern God’s will and encourages us to share our faith journeys.
• To study Sscripture mindful of the context of our societies and cultures, calling us to seek truth anew while remaining fully present in the community of faith.
• To develop new learning experiences, equipping disciples for life in a world of secular challenges and carefully listening for the words of modern sages who embody the teachings of Christ.
• To prepare for a sustainable future by calling the community to become guardians of God’s creation.

"…I am giving you these commands that you may love one another…" -John 15:17

Through The Episcopal Church, God TRANSFORMS all people:

• By doing the work Jesus Christ calls us to do, living into the reality that we are all created in the image of God and carrying out God’s work of reconciliation, love, forgiveness, healing, justice and peace.
• By striving to be a loving and witnessing community, which faithfully confronts the tensions in the church and the world as we struggle to live God’s will.
• By seeking out diverse and expansive ways to empower prophetic action, evangelism, advocacy and collaboration in our contemporary global context.
• By holding all accountable to lift every voice in order to reconcile oppressed and oppressor to the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is a lifelong journey with Christ, in Christ and to Christ. [sic]

And be it further

Resolved, That we affirm that Christian Faith Formation in The Episcopal Church is a lifelong journey with Christ, in Christ and to Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That

1. We urge that each diocese to read and study the Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation and to live it out locally.
2. We urge the seminaries and other institutions concerned with formation and education and leadership in The Episcopal Church, to engage the charter as a tool to advance their support for persons in their Christian Formation.
3. We urge The Episcopal Church’s Evangelism and Congregational Life Center to commit staff during this triennium to communicate, advocate and implement the charter, and report progress to the Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education before the 77th General Convention.

And be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $30,000 for the implementation of this resolution during the 2009-2012 triennium.

Deputy Sturm of Southern Ohio moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the third resolve clause in section number one, delete the word “that.” In the fourth resolve clause, substitute the year “2010” for the year “2009.”

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Smylie of Wyoming moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the first resolve clause, delete the words “Through The Episcopal Church,” in each of the three main sections.

Deputy Perry of Chicago moved the previous question on the amendment and the main motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Smylie amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution A082 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #83)