The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Racial Justice and Reconciliation presented its Report #10 on Resolution A045 (Revision and Reminder of Anti-Racism Training Requirement) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A045)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That we acknowledge that all diocese have not followed the spirit of the Episcopal Church Canon Article III.6.5(g) Training regarding Anti-racism training or General Convention Resolution 2000-B49 regarding training of all ordained persons and lay leadership; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding officers remind dioceses that ordained persons and lay leaders, are required to become certified based on having completed anti-racism training; and be it further

Resolved, That the definition of “anti-racism training” include attaining a certification, which adheres to the rubric and process recommended by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism examination and TEC staff; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention Resolution 2000-B049 be amended to clarify the training requirement and read as follows:

“Resolved, That beginning on September 1, 2000 the lay and ordained leadership of the Episcopal Church, including all ordained persons, professional staff, and those elected or appointed to positions of leadership on committees, commissions, agencies, and boards be required to take anti-racism training meeting the Competency Level defined by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and receive certification of such training; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council and TEC staff select and maintain an authorized list of appropriate trainers who meet the Mastery Level defined by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and training programs that could will be used at the national level for anti-racism training; that each province select and authorize appropriate programs trainers from this list that will be used at the provincial level; and that each diocese select and authorize appropriate programs trainers from this list that will be used at the diocesan and parochial levels, each province and diocese to determine those lay and clergy leaders who are to take the training; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on National Concerns continues to develop a list of such appropriate resources; and be it further

Resolved, That each national committee, commission, agency, and board, and each province and diocese maintain a register of those who are trainers and those who have been trained, and forward this information to the Executive Council by January 1, 2003, and every two years thereafter to a TEC staff member identified on the Church website and/or other ublically visible location for this purpose, and that the Council report on this information to the 74th and 75th General Conventions and future General Conventions until such time as the Executive Council on Anti-Racism or its succeeding body determines it is no longer necessary. ”

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that we acknowledge that not all dioceses have followed the spirit of the anti-racism training required in Title III or General Convention Resolution 2000-B049 regarding training of all ordained persons and lay leadership; and be it further

Resolved, that we acknowledge that the work of dismantling racism is an essential part of spiritual formation; and be it further

Resolved, that the 79th General Convention re-affirms the necessity and importance of anti-racism training for the lay and ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church, including all ordained persons, professional staff, and those elected or appointed to committees, commissions, agencies, task forces, and boards; and be it further

Resolved, that the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and The Episcopal Church staff, The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing and Christian Formation professionals be encouraged to work together to continue to expand the resources available for trainings that can be adapted to different contexts and that address the multiplicity and intersectionality of oppressions that exist in society, and maintain online a recommended list of curricula and programs as they are developed, that could be used for anti-racism training and for training facilitators; and be it further

Resolved, that the lay and ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church are also expected to engage in ongoing spiritual formation and education focused on racial healing, justice, and reconciliation as part of our Church’s commitment to Becoming Beloved Community; and be it further

Resolved, that each committee, commission, agency, task force, and board, and each province and diocese maintain a register of those who have participated in training, and annually report to the Executive Council through the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism by January 1 each year, how many people have participated in training and what other Becoming Beloved Community formation opportunities have been offered and that the Council report on this information to future General Conventions until such time as the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism or its succeeding body determines it is no longer necessary.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #300)