The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Racial Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Healing presented its Report #11 on Resolution A035 (Establish Model Policies for Anti/Racism/Racial Reconciliation Work) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A035)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (“TEC”) recommit itself to the work of the Church as articulated first in the 70th General Convention in Resolution D-113 which called the Church to address racism inside our church, within society, and in our world; and be it further

Resolved, That TEC acknowledge that the times and circumstances demand that the Church better articulate a clear and firm commitment to Dismantling Racism, Racial Healing, and Justice and Reconciliation in a manner similar to how the Church addresses the protection of children and youth (commonly referred to as “Safe Church”); and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, not later than March 1, 2025, jointly appoint a Special Task Group of five to seven persons with experience in the use and development of Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing to create a set of Model Policies for Dismantling Racism, Racial Reconciliation, and Healing that addresses the following:

• A screening and selection process for all clergy, lay employees, and lay leaders that requires training on racial reconciliation according to the Church’s teachings
• The articulation of behavioral standards for clergy, lay employees, and lay volunteers considering:
  1. The prohibition of offensive language or actions to people of color
  2. The prohibition of any racially derogatory materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, clothing, etc.) on the Church premises or at Church events
• Education and training for all clergy, lay employees, and lay leaders considering:
  1. Training be completed every 3 years to keep knowledge and skills top of mind.
  2. Specialized training for those who recruit, screen, or select persons to leadership positions
  3. A mechanism to certify that clergy and lay leaders have the knowledge specified at least at the Awareness level specified by the Framework for Anti-Racism/Reconciliation Training document as approved by the Church in Resolution 2018-A044
  4. Criteria for the certification of Seminaries and schools of theological education that ensures they provide training specified at least at the Awareness level specified by the Framework for Anti-Racism/Reconciliation Training document as approved by the Church in Resolution 2018-A044
  5. Guidelines for delivering anti-racism/reconciliation training to different racial audiences as begun by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and Reconciliation as supplements to the Framework for Anti-Racism & Reconciliation Training - engaging the Office of Ethnic Ministries to develop Ethnic-oriented Supplements to the Framework for Anti-Racism Training
• Making the current Racial Justice Audit a permanent effort
• Identification of a diocesan Racial Reconciliation Officer who will track and possibly coordinate racial reconciliation efforts across the diocese
• Guidelines for accountability describing consequences when responding to concerns of:
  1. Discriminatory behavior toward people of color
  2. Lack of adherence to existing racial reconciliation resolutions

And be it further

Resolved, That the creation of these Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be completed by September 31, 2025; and be it further

Resolved, That the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be promulgated after they are approved by the Special Task Group; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center appoint a knowledgeable person to serve as a point of contact for dioceses to obtain information about complying with the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing; and be it further

Resolved, That not later than June 30, 2026, Guidelines for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be created by each diocese to conform to the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing with due regard to applicable local laws on the subject matters of the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses annually confirm, in writing or by email or through a survey mechanism, to a designated office in the Episcopal Church Center, that the diocese's Guidelines conform to the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church (“TEC”) recommit itself to the work of the Church as articulated first in at the 70th General Convention in Resolution D-113 1991-D113 which called the Church to address racism inside our church, within society, and in our world; and be it further

Resolved, That TEC acknowledge that the times and circumstances demand that the Church better articulate a clear and firm commitment to Dismantling Racism, Racial Healing, and Justice and Reconciliation in a manner similar to how the Church addresses the protection of children and youth (commonly referred to as “Safe Church”); and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies, not later than March 1, 2025, jointly appoint a Special Task Group Force of five to seven persons one bishop, three clergy, three lay persons with experience in the use and development of Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing to create a set of Model Policies for Dismantling Racism, Racial Reconciliation, and Healing that addresses the following:

• A screening and selection process for all clergy, lay employees, and lay leaders that who requires require training on racial reconciliation according to the Church’s teachings
• The articulation of behavioral standards for clergy, lay employees, and lay volunteers considering:
  1. The prohibition of offensive language or actions to people of color
  2. The prohibition of any racially derogatory materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, clothing, etc.) on the Church premises or at Church events
• Education and training for all clergy, lay employees, and lay leaders considering:
  1. Training be completed every 3 years to keep knowledge and skills top of mind.
  2. Specialized training for those who recruit, screen, or select persons to leadership positions
  3. A mechanism to certify that clergy and lay leaders have the knowledge specified at least at the Awareness level specified by the Framework for Anti-Racism/Reconciliation Training document as approved by the Church in Resolution 2018-A044
  4. Criteria for the certification of Seminaries and schools of theological education that ensures they provide training specified at least at the Awareness level specified by the Framework for Anti-Racism/Reconciliation Training document as approved by the Church in Resolution 2018-A044
  5. Guidelines for delivering anti-racism/reconciliation training to different racial audiences as begun by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism and Reconciliation as supplements to the Framework for Anti-Racism & Reconciliation Training - engaging the Office of Ethnic Ministries to develop Ethnic-oriented Supplements to the Framework for Anti-Racism Training
• Making the current Racial Justice Audit a permanent effort
• Identification of a diocesan Racial Reconciliation Officer who will track and possibly coordinate racial reconciliation efforts across the diocese
• Guidelines for accountability describing consequences when responding to concerns of:
  1. Discriminatory behavior toward people of color
  2. Lack of adherence to existing racial reconciliation resolutions

And be it further

Resolved, That the creation of these Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be completed by September 31, 2025; and be it further

Resolved, That the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be promulgated after they are approved by the Special Task Group Force; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church Center appoint a knowledgeable person to serve as a point of contact person for dioceses to obtain information about complying with the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing; and be it further

Resolved, That not later than June 30, 2026 by the 82nd General Convention, dioceses are urged to create Guidelines for Racial Reconciliation and Healing be created by each diocese to conform to the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing with due regard to applicable local laws on the subject matters of the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses are encouraged to annually confirm, in writing or by email or through a survey mechanism, to a designated office in the Episcopal Church Center, that the diocese's Guidelines conform to the Model Policies for Racial Reconciliation and Healing.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #147)