The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Congregational and Diocesan Vitality presented its Report #5 on Resolution A132 (Task Force to Study Congregational Vitality Indicators) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A132)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention authorizes the creation of a task force to study indicators of 21st century congregational vitality and how The Episcopal Church can collect data that measures those indicators; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies appoint the members of this task force, to include at least 2 bishops, 5 clergy, one of which must be a deacon, and 5 laypeople with appropriate representation from urban and rural congregations, congregations in which people of color are a majority, and congregations that represent the full geographic and economic diversity of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force coordinate with the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church to ensure that the parochial report form is revised to collect data from congregations that will measure vitality in the 21st century; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force issue a report to the 81st General Convention that includes proposed canonical changes to codify the proposed measurements; 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 $25,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention authorizes the creation of a task force to study indicators of 21st century congregational vitality and how The Episcopal Church can collect data that measures those indicators; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies appoint the members of this task force, to include at least 2 bishops, 5 clergy, one of which must be a deacon, and 5 laypeople with appropriate representation from urban and rural congregations, congregations in which people of color are a majority, and congregations that represent the full geographic and economic diversity of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of House Deputies is encouraged to include as an additional member one who has served on the most recent House of Deputies State of the Church Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That this task force work closely with the Task Force on the State of Membership in The Episcopal Church (A156) and the House of Deputies State of the Church Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force coordinate with the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church to ensure that the parochial report form is revised to collect data from congregations that will measure vitality in the 21st century; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force issue a report to the 81st General Convention that includes proposed canonical changes to codify the proposed measurements; 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 $25,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Deputy Cole of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Add "including at least one member from outside the United States" to the second Resolved.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on Resolution A132 as amended

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #166)