Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention celebrate and support the ministry of the Association for Episcopal Deacons (AED) which for the past 50 years, has served as the primary network to enourage and grow the dioaconate, an order of ministry in The Episcopal Church, and provide resources and guidlelines for its continuing development; for engaging the diakonia of all believers for over 50 years by encouraging, growing, and providing resources and guidelines for the continuing development of the diaconate, an order of ministry in The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention acknowledge that AED is the only Episcopal organization building ecumenical diaconal partnerships, and it serves as the church’s resource portal for the diaconate, without financial support from the Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention consider that Episcopal deacons, the primary supporters of AED, often personally fund their formation, ministries, and on-going professional development; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention encourage individuals, congregations, seminaries, dioceses, and jurisdictions to support the work of AED by becoming members, participating in its conferences and activities, and engaging the work of diakonia in their own contexts; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention requests that the Executive Council's Joint Standing Committee on Finance, make a capacity-building $450,000 budget allocation be budgeted during the next triennium to support the infrastructure necessary for the sustainability and growth of AED, subject to appropriate financial oversight.