A148 Amend Canons to Underscore Support for the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That Canon 1.1.8 is hereby amended by adding new subsection b and renumbering the remaining subsection as follows:
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Canon I.1.8
Sec. 8.
a. The General Convention shall adopt, at each regular meeting, a budget for The Episcopal Church, including for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop together with the necessary expenses of that office, the necessary expenses of the President of the House of Deputies including the staff and Advisory Council required to assist in the performance of the duties and matters related to the President’s office, and the applicable Church Pension Fund assessments. To defray the expense of this budget, an assessment shall be levied upon the Dioceses of the Church in accordance with a formula which the General Convention shall adopt as part of The Episcopal Church budget. It shall be the duty of each Diocesan Convention to pay its assessment to the Treasurer of the General Convention according to the schedule established by the Executive Council.
b. The Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice (the “Coalition”), created by the 80th General Convention, shall be funded in part with an annual draw on one-tenth of the Church’s unrestricted trusts and endowment funds as determined in the most recent audited financial statements at a percentage rate equal to the draw percentage applied to fund the Church’s budget as described in subsection 8.a of this Canon. The estimated funding amount for the Coalition shall be described in The Episcopal Church budget for informational purposes only. The funding for the Coalition shall be provided by the Treasurer after the Executive Council declares the annual draw rate. The Coalition shall report to every regular meeting of the General Convention, providing audited financial statements and reports on its ministry and participation in God’s mission.
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Canon I.1.8
Sec. 8.
a. The General Convention shall adopt, at each regular meeting, a budget for The Episcopal Church, including for the contingent expenses of the General Convention, the stipend of the Presiding Bishop together with the necessary expenses of that office, the necessary expenses of the President of the House of Deputies including the staff and Advisory Council required to assist in the performance of the duties and matters related to the President’s office, and the applicable Church Pension Fund assessments. To defray the expense of this budget, an assessment shall be levied upon the Dioceses of the Church in accordance with a formula which the General Convention shall adopt as part of The Episcopal Church budget. It shall be the duty of each Diocesan Convention to pay its assessment to the Treasurer of the General Convention according to the schedule established by the Executive Council.
b.The Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice (the “Coalition”), created by the 80th General Convention, shall be funded in part with an annual draw on one-tenth of the Church’s unrestricted trusts and endowment funds as determined in the most recent audited financial statements at a percentage rate equal to the draw percentage applied to fund the Church’s budget as described in subsection 8.a of this Canon. The estimated funding amount for the Coalition shall be described in The Episcopal Church budget for informational purposes only. The funding for the Coalition shall be provided by the Treasurer after the Executive Council declares the annual draw rate. The Coalition shall report to every regular meeting of the General Convention, providing audited financial statements and reports on its ministry and participation in God’s mission.
And be it further
Resolved, That Canon I.4.6 be amended to add a new subsection k. to read as follows:
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Canon I.4.6.k
k. Nothing in this Canon shall alter in any way the Church’s obligation to fund the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as described in Canon I.1.8. other than the Executive Council’s determination of the annual draw from unrestricted trusts and endowment funds.
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Canon I.4.6.k
k. Nothing in this Canon shall alter in any way the Church’s obligation to fund the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as described in Canon I.1.8. other than the Executive Council’s determination of the annual draw from unrestricted trusts and endowment funds.
Explanation
In response to the Presiding Officers’ Working Group on Truth-Telling, Reckoning, and Healing, the 80th General Convention created the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as a voluntary association of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations, and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming Beloved Community (2022-A125).
2022-A125 further directed that the income from one tenth of The Episcopal Church’s unrestricted trusts and endowments be used to fund, in part, the work of the Coalition. The rate of the income draw is to be equal to the draw percentage applied to fund the Church’s budget as determined by the Executive Council.
This resolution, jointly proposed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and endorsed by the Constituting Group created under 2022-A125 underscores the support for the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice voted by the 80th General Convention by adding new canonical language to the Constitution and Canons. It further clarifies, by canon, that the Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice will report on its financial statements and programmatic work to every regular meeting of the General Convention.