The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That Canon I.1.2(n) be amended to read as follows:

(n) There shall be the following Standing Commissions:

(2) A Standing Commission for Small Congregations. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and recommend to General Convention policies, priorities and opportunities to affirm and strengthen the health and development of small congregations.

(4) A Standing Commission on the Mission and Evangelism of The Episcopal Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and consider policies, priorities and concerns as to the effectiveness of The Episcopal Church in advancing, within this Church’s jurisdictions, God’s mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, including patterns and directions for evangelism, Church planting, leadership development and ministries that engage the diversity of the Church’s membership and the communities it serves, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(7) A Standing Commission on Ministry Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to:

(i) recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention for the affirmation, development and exercise of ministry by all baptized persons (lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons).

(ii) recommend strategies to General Convention for the development and support of networks of individuals, diocesan Committees and commissions, agencies and institutions engaged in recruitment, gifts discernment, education and training for ministry, leadership development and deployment.

(iii) study the needs and trends of theological education for all baptized persons, including seminary education and life-long learning, and recommend strategies to General Convention to strengthen theological education for all baptized persons.

(8) A Standing Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and theologically interpret social justice issues facing the United States and their impact on other nations, and to develop and recommend policies and strategies to the General Convention.

(9) A Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development. It shall be the duty of the Commission to recommend policies that foster within The Episcopal Church a broad understanding of Christian stewardship, both individual and corporate. The Commission shall recommend strategies to General Convention for stewardship, including education, development and planned giving, with special sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Church.

(10) A Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church. It shall be the duty of the Commission to study and make recommendations concerning the structure of the General Convention and of The Episcopal Church. It shall, from time to time, review the operation of the several Committees, Commissions, and Boards to determine the necessity for their continuance and the effectiveness of their functions and to bring about a coordination of their efforts. Whenever a proposal is made for the creation of a new Committee, Commission, Board or Agency, it shall, wherever feasible, be referred to the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church for its consideration and advice.

(11) A Standing Commission on World Mission, whose members shall include persons broadly representative of jurisdictions outside the United States of America, as well as persons having direct engagement with and experience in world mission. It shall be the duty of the Commission to review and evaluate policies, priorities and strategies for global mission, and to make recommendations regarding global mission to General Convention.

(12) A Standing Commission on Communication and Information Technology. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify, study and recommend to General Convention communication strategies, policies, priorities and technologies to strengthen the Church’s communication of the Gospel and the mission of the Church to the world at large and to improve information management and exchange within The Episcopal Church.

(13) A Standing Commission on Health. It shall be the duty of the Commission to identify and study national and international healthcare issues, practices and policies and the Church’s healthcare ministries, and to make recommendations to General Convention.

(14) A Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Formation and Education. It shall be the duty of the Commission to develop and recommend to the General Convention comprehensive and coordinated policies for children, youth, adults and seniors for lifelong Christian formation.