Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 2015-A030
Title: Support Ecologically Responsible Stewardship of Church Property
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is directed to implement a program to develop parish and diocesan resources designed to support local ecologically responsible stewardship of church-related properties and buildings. The program shall be implemented in cooperation with an Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation composed of one person from each province by April 1, 2016. Each province member of the Advisory Council shall convene, in their respective provinces, Regional Consultive Groups ("RCG's") on the Stewardship of Creation. Each RCG shall be comprised of no fewer than five experts in areas of environmental sustainability appropriate to the demographic, ecological, cultural and geographic specifics of each region. These should include, but not be limited to, consultants in food and water security, property development, alternative energy, and engineering. Each RCG will also include theologians, educators and liturgists to provide resources in education and formation. These RCGs shall:

1. Compile and develop theological and formational material for teaching the theology of stewardship of creation;

2. Create networks designed to share ideas and information for practical application among the regions, such as sustainable development and green conversions of church- related properties, including without limitation, energy audits, solar conversions and other alternative energy, community gardens, and development of fallow property;

3. Be available for consultation to the Dioceses and Parishes.

The Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation shall create a structure for allocation of money to fund RCG initiatives at Parish and Diocesan levels within a year of the 78th General Convention, and serve as the granting body; and be it further

Resolved, That $700,000 be allocated for this purpose, which includes the $500,000 already allocated to the Fifth Mark of Mission, so that $100,000 will be available for the support of the RCGs themselves, and $600,000 be available to provide direct grants to Dioceses and Parishes in the implementation of these programs and support of measurable pilot projects. Of the $100,000 funding the RCGs, $40,500 is to be allocated for the Task Force meetings. Recognizing that this is new work, and a newly formed taskforce, they shall convene in person for their initial meeting, and thereafter determine their needs for future meetings, with funding available for them to meet once yearly. The remaining $59,500 is to be used for regional meetings of the RCGs according to regional needs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Advisory Council shall report back to the 79th General Convention on the progress and ongoing results at the local and provincial levels.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 882-883.