Resolution Number: 2012-B024
Title: Promote Alternative to the School-to-Prison Pipeline
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention acknowledge that we live in a society where there exists "a pipeline from school to prison," a devastating process that undermines the hope of children and young people in challenged communities, and replaces that hope with a belief that incarceration is not only inevitable, but is a laudable Rite of Passage worthy of pursuit that will give them status in their communities. Rather we believe that The Episcopal Church can promote an alternative vision necessary to transform these unjust structures of society; and be it further

Resolved, That the offices of Black Ministries and Social and Economic Justice work collaboratively to identify and support and/or create programs, and work with local leaders to empower challenged communities to, through grass roots organizing and education, turn the Pipeline to Prison into a Pipeline to the Kingdom; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committe on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $300,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 2012 (New York: General Convention, 2012), pp. 711-712.

Legislative History

Author: The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Social and Urban Affairs

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #36 on Resolution B024 (Pipeline to the Kingdom: An Alternative to School to Prison Pipeline) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution

(B024)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention proclaim the liberating and healing power of the Good News of the Kingdom of God as The Spiritual Pipeline necessary to embolden Episcopalians to meet the cultural challenges that undermine the future hope of children and young people who believe that incarceration is not only inevitable, but that it is a Rite of Passage worthy of pursuit in their local communities; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church promote an alternative vision of cradle through college as The Educational Pipeline necessary to transform unjust structures of society whose punitive emphasis erode the future hope of children and young people while their local communities are stigmatized by labels of criminal offenders rather than as scholarly contributors; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church continue to promote asset-based community development offered collaboratively by the Offices of Black Ministries and Social & Economic Justice as The Organizing Pipeline for local Episcopal faith communities willing to put their faith into action as a witness to children and young people that they do not struggle alone, nor in vein, and that the future hope they seek includes the strengthening of their home communities; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church adopt and promote alternative Rites of Passage and Christian Formation offered by the Offices of Black Ministries and Lifelong Christian Formation as The Formation Pipeline necessary for Episcopalians to invite children and young people to see themselves as valued members of the Kingdom of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $300,000 in the 2013-2015 triennium for the implementation of this Resolution.

Committee Substitute

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention acknowledge that we live in a society where there exists "a pipeline from school to prison," a devastating process that undermines the hope of children and young people in challenged communities, and replaces that hope with a belief that incarceration is not only inevitable, but is a laudable Rite of Passage worthy of pursuit that will give them status in their communities. Rather we believe that The Episcopal Church can promote an alternative vision necessary to transform these unjust structures of society; and be it further

Resolved, That, the offices of Black Ministries and Social and Economic Justice work collaboratively to identify and support and/or create programs, and work with local leaders to empower challenged communities to, through grass roots organizing and education, turn the Pipeline to Prison into a Pipeline to the Kingdom; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $300,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message # 213)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #36 on HB Message #213 on Resolution B024 (Pipeline to the Kingdom: An Alternative to School to Prison Pipeline) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #345)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 12.

Abstract:   The 77th General Convention requests that Church offices work with local leaders to promote programs that offer an alternative vision to the inevitability of incarceration that occurs along the path from school to prison.
Notes:  

Resolution 2012-D080 was discharged because the matter was considered in 2012-B024.