The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on World Mission presented its Report #7 on Resolution A161 (The South Sudanese Anglican Diaspora in the United States) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A161)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church gives thanks for the work of the Task Force on developing conversation with The Episcopal Church and the South Sudanese Anglican Diaspora in the United States; And be it further,

Resolved, that we welcome South Sudanese American Episcopalians as our siblings in Christ, baptized members of the one Body of Christ that is the Church, and as such are also a unique cultural expression of The Episcopal Church within the United States' society. In turn, we appreciate that the South Sudanese American Episcopalians and their worshiping congregations acknowledge The Episcopal Church as the historic expression of Anglicanism in the United States; And be it further

Resolved, that we acknowledge the creation of the South Sudanese Leadership Steering Group as an established Convocation in relation with the Presiding Bishop’s Missioner for African Descent Ministries; And be it further

Resolved, that we encourage the ministry of the Missioner for African Descent Ministries in coordinating and working with leaders self-selected by the South Sudanese Americans to establish and achieve mutually beneficial goals and actions. And be it further

Resolved, that we encourage bishops and diocese of The Episcopal Church to welcome and assist South Sudanese-American Episcopal worshiping communities to develop and become established by admission into union with diocesan conventions; And be it further

Resolved, that, when appropriate, The Episcopal Church receives clergy among the South Sudanese-American Episcopal communities into good standing and canonical residence in its dioceses, accepting that the South Sudanese American clergy will ascribe to and follow the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the dioceses in which they are located, and will give assent to the disciplines laid upon all clergy of The Episcopal Church (DFMS).

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church gives thanks for the work of the Task Force on developing conversation with The Episcopal Church and the South Sudanese Anglican Diaspora in the United States; And be it further,

Resolved, that we welcome South Sudanese-American Episcopalians as our siblings in Christ, baptized members of the one Body of Christ that is the Church, and as such are also a unique cultural expression of The Episcopal Church within the United States' society. In ;in turn, we appreciate that the South Sudanese-American Episcopalians and their worshiping congregations acknowledge The Episcopal Church as the historic expression of Anglicanism in the United States; And be it further

Resolved, that we acknowledge the creation of the South Sudanese Leadership Steering Group as an established Convocation in relation with the Presiding Bishop’s Missioner for African Descent Ministries; And be it further

Resolved, that we encourage the ministry of the Missioner for African Descent Ministries in coordinating and working with leaders self-selected by the South Sudanese Americans to establish and achieve mutually beneficial goals and actions.; And be it further

Resolved, that we encourage bishops and dioceses of The Episcopal Church to welcome and assist South Sudanese-American Episcopal worshiping communities to develop and become established by admission into union with diocesan conventions; And be it further

Resolved, that, when appropriate, The Episcopal Church receives clergy among the South Sudanese-American Episcopal communities into good standing and canonical residence in its dioceses, accepting that the South Sudanese-American clergy will ascribe to and follow the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the dioceses in which they are located, and will give assent to the disciplines laid upon all clergy of The Episcopal Church (DFMS).;

Resolved, that the 81st General Convention authorizes and funds an Advisory Group, appointed by the presiding officers, a Task Force on the South Sudanese-American Anglican Diaspora, that will consist of 7 South Sudanese-American Episcopalians and 4 other members, all appointed by the Presiding Officers; and be it further

Resolved, that this Task Force on the South Sudanese-American Anglican Diaspora to continue the work of the Task Force established by the 79th General Convention in 2018 to further develop the relationship between the Episcopal Church and South Sudanese-American Anglican diaspora around the Church, specifically in the areas of vocational ministries, local diocesan relationships, and youth/Christian formation issues; and be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention request Executive Council to consider a budget allocation of $30,000 $60,000 for the implementation of this resolution, to respect the cultural norm of in-person meetings.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #118)