Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, October 24-27, 2014, reaffirms its support of General Convention Resolutions 2009-D035, Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, and 2012-A128, Examine Impact of Doctrine of Discovery, and of the work of the Church as it addresses the issues of historical trauma caused by the colonizing dispossession of the lands of indigenous peoples and the disruption of their way of life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church reaffirms its support of the ministry and advocacy of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society staff in the Offices of Ethnic Ministries, Government Relations, Faith Formation, Global Relations, Racial Reconciliation, Social Justice and Advocacy Engagement, and other departments as they engage grassroots, tribal, governmental, and Episcopal individuals and entities to do the ongoing work called for in repudiating and examining the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery, including the historical and generational trauma from the Residential Boarding School era; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church reaffirms its commitment to ongoing education of and advocacy with the members of the Church regarding the historical reality and impact of the Doctrine of Discovery and elimination of the Doctrine’s presence in the Church’s contemporary policies, programs, and structures; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church encourages the dioceses, the bishops, the clergy, and the lay leaders of the Church to renew their efforts of education, advocacy, and self-reflection in the spirit of living into the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery as an active affirmation of the Baptismal Covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being and of Mark of Mission IV, which states “To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.”