The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention affirm that baptism is the source of all ministry and that education for ordained ministry takes place within the context of preparing all for ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention directs the Standing Commission on Ministry Development to convene ministry education and formation providers, including the deans, faculty, alumni/ae, and students of the eleven Episcopal seminaries and of the divinity schools of colleges and universities that have significant numbers of Episcopal students and/or Anglican studies programs; representatives of the Association of Theological Schools; leaders and students of diocesan ministry schools, especially those that provide total and team ministry training programs; representatives of the Association of Episcopal Deacons; FORMA; Living Stones Partnership; provincial and diocesan Commissions on Ministry; the House of Bishops Theological Education Committee; the General Board of Examining Chaplains; those knowledgeable about the emergent church movement; representatives of Episcopal camp and conference centers; Episcopal chaplains; diocesan transition ministers; staff from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Diversity Social and Environmental Ministries; and the Standing Commission on Ministry Development, in a series of regional consultations to generate a shared vision of theological education and formation for ordained ministry and to explore and develop exemplary models for forming candidates and assessing their proficiency and competency for ordination; and be it further

Resolved, That the participants in each regional consultation shall include laity, deacons, priests and bishops as well as at least two persons for whom English is not their first language; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission report to the 78th General Convention its findings and recommendations; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $210,000 for the hiring of a project manager, research and office expenses, and funding for regional gatherings necessary for the implementation of this Resolution in this triennium.