The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention create a task force with membership appointed by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop consisting of ten (10) representatives. The task force shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from local diocesan clergy formation programs, representatives from seminaries (particularly persons involved in tuition assistance programs), fund development professionals within The Episcopal Church, and representatives from organizations (such as the Society for the Increase of Ministry and United Thank Offering) that provide funds to assist persons in obtaining advanced theological education. The task force shall be made up of two (2) bishops, three (3) priests or deacons, and five (5) members of the laity. It shall develop and implement a plan to provide need-based scholarship funding to individuals pursuing theological education who are preparing to serve as priests or deacons in non-stipendiary, or part-time or bi-vocational ministries. This plan shall work to expand the funding available to aspiring priests and deacons who are engaged in theological education other than full-time seminary education. In addition to considering other funding sources, the task force shall examine the possible use of donor-directed endowment funds held in trust by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society [DFMS] as a partial means to fulfill this mandate; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force shall begin on January 1, 2019, and end at the end of the 80th General Convention, unless its mandate is extended by that Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force shall communicate information about any scholarship plan to members of The Episcopal Church and provide a report to the 80th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $60,000 for the implementation of this resolution.