The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2024-A015 |
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| Title: | Create a Task Force on Reparations |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) establish a Task Force to research and make recommendations on Reparations, including the creation of a Reparation Fund. The Task Force will be appointed by the Presiding Officers, consisting of 3 bishops, 3 clergy (including at least 1 deacon), and 3 lay people, whose total membership would be at least two-thirds Persons of Color; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force will be overseen by the Executive Council; and be it further
Resolved, That the charge to the Task Force is the study of and response to the historic and ongoing legacy of the displacement of Indigenous peoples and of chattel slavery, and the resulting systemic and institutional racism that prevails today; and to include the recommendation for a fund from TEC assets, the purpose of which is a sustained, meaningful, and tangible response; and be it further
Resolved, That December 31, 2026, will be the target date for the Task Force to accomplish the study and make recommendations in a report submitted to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention requests the Executive Council Joint Standing Committee on Finance to consider a budget of $150,000 during the 2024-2027 triennium for the above preliminary work.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Louisville, 2024 (New York: General Convention, 2024), p. 867. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | Secretary of General Convention |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Healing |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Healing presented its Report #10 on Resolution A015 (Owning a Commitment to Reparations) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(A015)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) endorse the creation of an independent Reparations Fund Commission, with its Convener and at least 60% of its membership being persons of color; and be it further
Resolved, That the establishment of this Commission will be overseen by the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice; and be it further
Resolved, That the charge to the Commission is the creation of a substantial fund from TEC assets, the purpose of which is a sustained, meaningful, tangible response to the historic and ongoing legacy of slavery and displacement of Indigenous peoples of what is now the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the magnitude of this fund and date for accomplishing the target amount will be determined by the Commission; and be it further
Resolved, That the Reparations Fund Commission or an entity that it approves will be responsible for defining and implementing payments of reparation.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) endorse the creation of an independent Reparations Fund Commission, Task Force appointed by the Presiding Officers whose membership would be with its Convener and at least 60% of its membership being persons of color; and be it further
Resolved, That the establishment of this Commission Task Force will be overseen by the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice The Executive Council; and be it further
Resolved, That the charge to the Commission Task Force is the study
of and response to the historic and ongoing legacy of chattel slavery,
and the displacement of Indigenous peoples, and the resulting systemic
and institutional racism that prevails today; and for the
recommendation creation of a substantial fund from TEC
assets, the purpose of which is a sustained, meaningful, tangible
response to the historic and ongoing legacy of slavery and displacement
of Indigenous peoples of what is now the United States; and be it
further
Resolved, That the magnitude of this fund and date for accomplishing the target amount will be determined by the Commission December
31, 2026, will be the target date for the Task Force to accomplish the
target study and make recommendations in a report submitted to the 82nd
General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention requests the
Executive Council Joint Standing Committee on Finance to consider a
budget during the 2024-2027 triennium for the above work the
Reparations Fund Commission or an entity that it approves will be
responsible for defining and implementing payments of reparation.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #148)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Healing presented its Report #19 on HD Message #148 on Resolution A015 (Owning a Commitment to Reparations) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #237)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 27.
| Abstract: | The 81st General Convention creates a Task Force to research and make recommendations on reparations for the legacy of the displacement of Indigenous peoples and of chattel slavery. |
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