The Acts of Convention

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church recognize that this Convention affirm that Jesus proclaimed freedom for prisoners (Luke 4:18) and promised the possibility of justice aimed at restoration even for those who murdered him (Luke 23:34), and thus that our baptismal vow to “proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ” calls us to proclaim God’s desire for liberation for all who are incarcerated and for real justice and accountability that restores relationships, transforms situations of harm, creates community-centered safety, and aims at reconciliation, which is the core mission of the Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention affirm that reducing the number of people incarcerated in the current system of prisons and responsible policing is a moral obligation and advocate for greater justice in the use of incarceration and in the methods of policing, recognizing that the current state of our prisons and policing form an inequitable system of racial control and a site of violence and dehumanization that does not resemble nor bring about the liberating and reconciling Reign of God; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention of The Episcopal Church encourage all Episcopalians, parishes, congregations, dioceses, and prison ministries to engage at the local level in restorative and transformative justice programs, which seek to prevent and respond to crime and harm in creative and non-violent ways beyond prisons and policing; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention encourage parishes, congregations, dioceses, and prison ministries to learn and teach about prison reform including abolition and uphold Christian values within the contexts of their own ongoing work for social justice; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention hereby reaffirm and deepen The Episcopal Church’s commitment to advocacy for policy changes to end mass incarceration (Resolution 2015-A011) and defend the rights of disabled persons within the criminal legal system (Resolution 2015-D032); and The Episcopal Church’s opposition to solitary confinement (Resolution 2018-D029), private prisons (Resolution 2015-D067), monetary bail (Resolution 1973-D097), and the school-to-prison pipeline (Resolution 2015-D068); and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention of The Episcopal Church further direct the Office of Governmental Relations and urge all Episcopalians, parishes and congregations, and dioceses to advocate for policy efforts consistent with the goal of reforming prisons and policing, including reforms aimed at focusing police budgets in other community needs, such as these specific policies:

• Supporting policies for reducing traditional funding of police departments and investing more in community-based policing, and mental health/crisis response
• Supporting monetary investment in community needs such as affordable housing, health care, and education
• Supporting restorative and transformative justice efforts in the criminal legal system that bring about restitution, accountability, and healing for both perpetrators and victims
• Supporting quality of life and rehabilitation of prisoners
• Supporting capital improvements of prisons that will improve quality of life for incarcerated people and support education and rehabilitation programs rather than continued investment in increased capacity;

And be it further

Resolved, That this Convention of The Episcopal Church further direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians, parishes and congregations, and dioceses to oppose policies which do not lead toward the reform of prisons and policing, including:

• Opposing increased investment in police budgets for new hires or police “training” programs inconsistent with these goals
• Opposing police militarization through the sale or provision of military supplies from the federal government to municipal and state police departments
• Opposing governmental plans to open new prisons or jails, including plans for facilities for specific populations, such as immigrant detention facilities (see Resolution 2022-D031)

And be it further

Resolved, That this Convention of The Episcopal Church urge the Committee on Corporate and Social Responsibility and Episcopal Migration Ministries to take reform of prisons and policing into account in their advocacy and decision-making.