Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive council create a committee to be known as the Coalition for Social Witness and Justice Committee (Committee); and be it further

Resolved, That the objective of the Committee shall be to assist and affirm local efforts in mission and ministries throughout the Episcopal Church in implementing programs which address human needs, empowerment of the oppressed and issues of social, economic and political justice; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee shall regularly report on the trends, needs and directions regarding the Church's mission for social witness to the Executive Council through the Standing Committee on Program and its Sub-committee on Advocacy, Witness and Justice; and be it further

Resolved, That the responsibilities of the Committee shall be as follows:

1. To serve as a coalition of church and community constituencies for advice to the Executive Council on existing and emerging issues which affect the ministries of social witness.
2. To strengthen the collaboration of efforts at the local, diocesan, provincial and national church levels.
3. To develop grant criteria and approve grants from funds designated by the Executive Council or the Presiding Bishop and to provide program development, technical assistance and advice on policy to the Executive Council.
4. To establish formal linkages to interface the work of The Committee with other Church Center units and bodies such as the Commissions on Metropolitan Communities, Human Affairs, Racism and Health; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee shall consist of eleven members, including the chair, to be appointed by the Presiding Bishop. Members of the Committee shall be persons representing components of the work of the Executive Council in ethnic and issue-oriented program areas presently undertaken by:

Appalachian Peoples Service Organization
Asiamerican Ministry Commission
Economic Justice Implementation Committee
Environmental Stewardship Team
Episcopal Commission on Black Ministries
Episcopal Council of Indian Ministries
Episcopal Peace and Justice Network
Jubilee Ministry Committee
National Commission on Hispanic Work
National Racism Committee
Women for Social Witness

At least one member of the Committee shall be a member of the Executive Council and act as liaison between the Committee and the Executive Council, and at least one member of the Committee shall be a member of the House of Bishops. The Presiding Bishop is encouraged to appoint persons who are broadly representative of the Church with respect to orders, geographical location and Province, age, sex and experience. Each member of the Committee shall be appointed for a three-year term and no member shall serve more than two consecutive partial or full terms. Initial terms of Committee members shall be appropriately staggered. The Committee shall meet at least once annually; and be it further

Resolved, That the Coalition for Human Needs and the National Commission for Social and Specialized Ministries are hereby formally terminated as such.