The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation presented its Report #18 on Resolution D053 (Stewardship of Creation with Church-Owned Land) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D053)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention recommends that all dioceses, parishes and missions create partnerships enabling the use of church-owned land for regenerative agriculture and biodiversity conservation projects in order to mitigate climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests that the Church Pension Group make available to the Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation and to each Diocese an inventory of all church-owned properties insured by the Church Insurance Company that contain unimproved land of one half acre or more which may be suitable for such projects; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests that each Diocese consider the potential for utilization of church-owned land for new ministries integrating the stewardship of Creation, particularly in situations where properties are no longer regularly utilized by a parish congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Advisory Council for the Stewardship of Creation is directed to develop model processes by which dioceses and parishes may collaborate with partner agencies to sequester carbon through regenerative agriculture and to conserve species through habitat restoration and development.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention recommends that all dioceses, parishes and missionsfaith communities and institutions create partnerships enabling the use of church-owned land for regenerative agriculture and biodiversity conservation projects in order to sequester carbon and to mitigate climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests thatdirect the Executive Council to appoint a body to gather information from the Church Pension Group, dioceses and other sources make available to the Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation and to each Diocese in order to create an inventory of all church-owned propertiesinsured by the Church Insurance Company that contain unimproved land of one half acre or more which may be suitable for such projects; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests that each Diocese consider the potential for utilization of church-owned propertyland for new ministries integrating the stewardshipcare of Creation, particularly in situations where properties are no longer regularly utilized by a parish congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Advisory Council for the Stewardship of Creation is directed tobody appointed by Executive Council develop model processes by which dioceses, faith communities and institutionsand parishes may collaborate with partner agencies to care for creation and sequester carbon through regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, green burial, and habitat restorationto sequester carbon through regenerative agriculture and to conserve species through habitat restoration and development; and be it further

Resolved, That the appointed body report back to the 80th General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #255)