The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention affirm the President of the House Deputies' and the Presiding Bishop's call to the Church to recognize Care of Creation as an integral part of The Jesus Movement; and be it further

Resolved, That, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we recognize that the Earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24), has been made in and through Christ (John 1) and we are placed in it as a garden planet (Genesis 2); and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention urge the establishment of an additional senior staff position for the Care of Creation as a member of the Episcopal Church Center staff; and be it further

Resolved, That this staff person shall serve as a resource for the Church, a liaison between Episcopal faith communities and institutions with their many creation care initiatives, network developer for sharing best practices, contact person for the denomination, partners and faith communities, ambassador between evangelism, racial justice and care of creation, and advocate for funding, visibility and action; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention authorize a Task Force for the Care of Creation to develop this aspect of the ongoing mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force of up to 20 persons be appointed jointly by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop, with members to include a geographically diverse representation from the Church mindful to include younger generations, people of color and native persons who are and will be disproportionately affected by climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That this Task Force work during the period of 2018-2021 and submit a report to the 80th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall develop and refine the small grants program begun by the 2015-2018 Advisory Council for Stewardship of Creation to support local and regional eco-ministry efforts; engage eco-justice site projects, and further develop creation care networks based on bioregions (a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by human-made divisions) and/or areas of affinity, (e.g. renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, liturgy, Christian formation); and be it further

Resolved, That the staff person for the Care of Creation shall liaise with and support the work of the Task Force for the Care of Creation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall receive and help disseminate case studies and best practices in keeping with the spirit of the Paris Climate Accord, that is, supporting humanity’s transition from industrial life to sustainable life; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention recommend to the President of the House Deputies and the Presiding Bishop in consultation with the Task Force to establish and to appoint persons to a Theology of Creation Working Group tasked with facilitating innovative educational offerings in environmental ethics and theology for the formation of clergy and laity; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance allocate $1.1 million for the implementation of this resolution and staff support and leadership from The Episcopal Church.