The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Evangelism presented its Report #6 on Resolution A037 (Evangelism) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A037)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm our commitment to the Great Commission and to double the church by 2020; and be it further

Resolved, That every lay person, bishop, priest, and deacon of our church exercise personal evangelism by talking intentionally about what God is doing in our lives and what our church is doing and by inviting neighbors, family, and friends to worship with us; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention direct Church Center staff to develop practical resources and training for personal and congregational evangelism with diverse populations including among others young adults, ethnic and racial populations, and new immigrants.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm our commitment to improve the health of our congregations and our church by breathing life into the Great Commission and the Goals of 20/20, so that our church is more reflective of the demographics of our community; and be it further

Resolved, That each and every bishop deepen his/her commitment, intention, prayer, and action, individually and by working together through the House of Bishops, to cast a vision of mission for the church, and to lead us there; and be it further

Resolved, That every lay person, bishop, priest, and deacon of our church speak with passion about what God is doing in our lives in order to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That following the example of radical hospitality entrusted to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, every lay person, bishop, priest, and deacon of our church invite others to join us in praise and service; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention direct the Church Center staff to engage diverse populations including among others, youth and young adults, ethnic and racial populations, persons of various sexual orientation, various socio-economic classes, new immigrants, and communities in Province IX, the Diocese of Haiti and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe to identify and develop practical resources and training for personal and congregational evangelism; and be it further

Resolved, That this resolution be presented at services in every Episcopal congregation and published in diocesan media to affirm our commitment to evangelism.

Deputy Meyers of Chicago moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the first resolve clause, delete all words after the word “church” and, following the word “church,” insert the words “by faithfully living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and by working toward the goals of 20/20.” In the sixth resolve clause, delete the words “presented at services in every Episcopal congregation and” and, after “published in,” insert the words “congregational and.”

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Mbele-Mbong of Churches in Europe moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the fifth resolve clause, after the word “Haiti,” add a comma and insert the words “the Virgin Islands.”

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy McMahon of Western Massachusetts moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

In the fifth resolve clause, after the word “orientation,” add a comma and insert the words “persons with disabilities.”

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Vice-President announced that the time for debate had expired.

A vote was taken on Resolution A037 as amended.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #145)