The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2022-D091 |
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| Title: | Define an "Equal Place" in the Life of the Church |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church affirms that an "equal place" protects the rights of all in the life, worship, governance, and employment of the church, including the rights of laity to participate fully in church-wide and diocesan bodies as provided by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and of individual dioceses; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are directed to conduct an internal review that they are in full compliance with Canon I.17.5; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall ensure that the rights of the laity are affirmed and respected in all diocesan bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to ensure that all lay appointments and assignments (non-elected) to diocesan-wide bodies represent the diocese's racial and ethnic diversity; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to promote the participation of underrepresented lay groups in elections to diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to ensure that accommodations are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That church-wide bodies are encouraged to ensure that laity has an equal voice in church-wide leadership, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to ensure that diocesan-wide bodies ensure that equal voice is given to the laity, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to proactively address barriers or other inequalities that discourage or prevent lay participation in the diocesan-wide elections; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses are encouraged to ensure that resources are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Baltimore, 2022 (New York: General Convention, 2023), p. 554. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | The Rev. José Rodríguez-Sanjuro |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Congregational and Diocesan Vitality |
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Congregational and Diocesan Vitality presented its Report #9 on Resolution D091 (Defining Equal Place in the Life of the Church) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(D091)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church affirms that an "equal place" protects the rights of the laity to have equal voting representation on church-wide and diocesan bodies unless otherwise specified by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall ensure that the rights of the laity are affirmed and respected in all diocesan bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall ensure that all lay appointments and assignments (non-elected) to diocesan-wide bodies represent the diocese's racial and ethnic diversity; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall promote the participation of underrepresented lay groups in elections to diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall ensure that accommodations are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, That church-wide bodies shall ensure that laity has an equal voice in church-wide leadership, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall be encouraged to ensure that diocesan-wide bodies ensure that equal voice is given to the laity, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall be encouraged to proactively address barriers or other inequalities that discourage or prevent lay participation in the diocesan-wide elections; and be it further
Resolved, That dioceses shall be encouraged to ensure that resources are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church affirms that an "equal place" protects the rights of
the laity to have equal voting representation on church-wide and
diocesan bodies unless otherwise specified by the Constitution and
Canons of the Episcopal Church protects the rights of
all in the life, worship, governance, and employment of the church,
including the rights of laity to participate fully in church-wide and
diocesan bodies as provided by the Constitution and Canons of the
Episcopal Church and of individual dioceses; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses are directed to conduct an internal review that they are in full compliance with Canon I.17.5; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall ensure that the rights of the laity are affirmed and respected in all diocesan bodies; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall are encouraged to
ensure that all lay appointments and assignments (non-elected) to
diocesan-wide bodies represent the diocese's racial and ethnic
diversity; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall are encouraged to promote the participation of underrepresented lay groups in elections to diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall are encouraged to ensure that accommodations are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies; and be it further
Resolved, that church-wide bodies shall are encouraged to ensure that laity has an equal voice in church-wide leadership, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall be are
encouraged to ensure that diocesan-wide bodies ensure that equal voice
is given to the laity, except as otherwise specified by Canons; and be
it further
Resolved, that dioceses shall be are encouraged
to proactively address barriers or other inequalities that discourage
or prevent lay participation in the diocesan-wide elections; and be it
further
Resolved, that dioceses shall be are encouraged to ensure that resources are granted on equal terms to lay and clerical members of diocesan-wide bodies.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #127)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Congregational and Diocesan Vitality presented its Report #14 on HB Message #127 on Resolution D091 (Defining Equal Place in the Life of the Church) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #299)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 11.
| Abstract: | The 80th General Convention affirms “equal place” protects the rights of laity to participate fully in church-wide and diocesan bodies and directs dioceses to review that they are in full compliance with Canon I.17.5. |
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