The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation presented its Report #7 on Resolution A013 (Facilitating the Development of the Church's Ministry of the Care of Creation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A013)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention affirm the Presiding Officers’ call to the Church to recognize Care of Creation as an integral part of The Jesus Movement; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention establish the role of Officer for the Stewardship of Creation as a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff to directly support the work of The Episcopal Church in issues of Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation; and be it further

Resolved, That this role shall be responsible to serve as a resource person for the Church, a liaison between parishes and Episcopal institutions with their many creation care initiatives, network developer for sharing best practices, contact person for the denomination, partners and parishes, ambassador between evangelism, racial justice and stewardship of creation, and advocate for funding, visibility and action; and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance allocate $390,000 for the cost of this position for the 2019-2021 triennium.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention affirm the Presiding Officers' call to the Church to recognize Care of Creation as an integral part of The Jesus Movement; and be it further

Resolved, That, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we recognize that the Earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24), has been made in and through Christ (John 1) and we are placed in it as a garden planet (Genesis 2); and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention establish the role of Officer urge the establishment of an additional senior staff position for the Stewardship Care of Creation as a member of the Episcopal Church Center Presiding Bishop’s staff to directly support the work of The Episcopal Church in issues of Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation; and be it further

Resolved, That this role shall be responsible tostaff person shall serve as a resource person for the Church, a liaison between parishesEpiscopal faith communities and Episcopal institutions with their many creation care initiatives, network developer for sharing best practices, contact person for the denomination, partners and parishes faith communities, ambassador between evangelism, racial justice and stewardshipcare of creation, and advocate for funding, visibility and action; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention authorize a Task Force for the Care of Creation to develop this aspect of the ongoing mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force of up to 20 persons be appointed jointly by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop, with members to include a geographically diverse representation from the Church mindful to include younger generations, people of color and native persons who are and will be disproportionately affected by climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force work during the period of 2018-2021 and submit a report to the 80th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall develop and refine the small grants program begun by the 2015-2018 Advisory Council for Stewardship of Creation to support local and regional eco-ministry efforts; engage eco-justice site projects, and further develop creation care networks based on bioregions (a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by human-made divisions) and/or areas of affinity, (e.g. renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, liturgy, Christian formation); and be it further

Resolved, That the staff person for the Care of Creation shall liaise with and support the work of the Task Force for the Care of Creation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall receive and help disseminate case studies and best practices in keeping with the spirit of the Paris Climate Accord, that is, supporting humanity’s transition from industrial life to sustainable life; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention recommend to the President of the House Deputies and the Presiding Bishop in consultation with the Task Force to establish and to appoint persons to a Theology of Creation Working Group tasked with facilitating innovative educational offerings in environmental ethics and theology for the formation of clergy and laity; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance allocate $1.1 million for the implementation of this resolution and staff support and leadership from The Episcopal Church.

Resolved, that the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance allocate $390,000 for the cost of this position for the 2019-2021 triennium.

The Rt. Rev. Steven Miller, Bishop of Milwaukee, moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete "Presiding Officers" and insert "the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on Resolution A103 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #42)