The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Ministry presented its Report #19 on Resolution A027 (New Funding for Clergy Formation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A027)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention direct the Executive Council to establish a committee of Executive Council with membership appointed by the Presiding Officers consisting of no fewer than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) representatives. The committee 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 advanced theological education. The committee shall be made up of bishops, priests, deacons, and laity. It shall develop and implement a plan to provide need-based central scholarship funding to individuals pursuing theological education who are preparing to serve as priests or deacons in non-stipendiary positions or in bi-vocational ministries in small congregations. 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 committee 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 79th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation for the implementation of this resolution.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 79th General Convention create a task force withdirect the Executive Council to establish a committee of Executive Council with membership appointed by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding BishopPresiding Officers consisting of no fewer than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) representatives. The task forcecommittee 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 forcecommittee 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 central scholarship funding to individuals pursuing theological education who are preparing to serve as priests or deacons in non-stipendiary, or part-time positions or in bi-vocational ministries in small congregations. 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 forcecommittee 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.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #132)