C007 Support for the Provinces as Part of The Episcopal Church Structure

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That The Episcopal Church (TEC) support the Provincial part of The Episcopal Church structure by:

  • participating in the networking and, when appropriate, the ministries of the Provinces
  • ensuring each Province has the resources it needs to fulfill its commitment and responsibility to The Episcopal Church
  • consulting with the Provinces for their support and participation in identifying qualified persons to serve TEC on various Interim Bodies; and be it further

Resolved, That Provincial ministry of TEC be partially funded through the establishment of a budget line for Provinces I - VIII in TEC budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the Provincial Representatives to Executive Council and the Provincial Leadership Conference together determine how this funding is to be distributed throughout Provinces I - VIII each year. Each Province will include its accounting for any funding received in the annual Provincial report to Executive Council; and be it further

Resolved, That The General Convention request a budget allocation of $80,000 per budget year for the implementation of this resolution.

Explanation

Province IX currently receives funding from TEC; therefore, Province IX is not included in this request.

Provinces are part of The Episcopal Church structure; and this relationship has the potential to strengthen other relationships of TEC (church wide programs and ministries) with the Dioceses. The Province is committed to strengthening the connections between the Dioceses within the Province as well as with the wider Episcopal Church. The responsibility for the functioning of the Province is shared between the Dioceses in the Province and the wider Episcopal Church. Part of the responsibility involves the financial support that helps to enable the ministry of the Province.

in order for the system to work the best it can, each part must be cared for. This resolution offers one concrete way of supporting the Provincial part of the system called The Episcopal Church.