D072 Amend Canon I.6.5 to Provide for Mission-Driven Data Strategies Regarding the Vitality of the Church

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention amend Canon I.6.5 to add item c as follows:

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c. The collection, analysis, and dissemination of these and other data regarding the membership, composition, activities, health, or vitality of the Church shall be undertaken in consultation with a professional researcher familiar with best practices in survey design, analysis, reporting and dissemination.

 

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c. The collection, analysis, and dissemination of these and other data regarding the membership, composition, activities, health, or vitality of the Church shall be undertaken in consultation with a professional researcher familiar with best practices in survey design, analysis, reporting and dissemination.

And be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention direct the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to establish a staff position of Officer for Mission-Driven Data Strategy, to implement the work of canon I.6.5.c, including to:

  • Collaborate with the Office of the General Convention to manage research and data required by Church canons (e.g. Parochial Report) and other research and data needs identified by the General Convention;
  • Equip The Episcopal Church, including the Executive Council, the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, Standing Commissions, and Interim Bodies, to make data-informed decisions by conducting relevant research, data collection, projection, analysis, and evaluation;
  • Provide, manage, and design experiments and processes (including related goals, metrics, and measurement) to develop and evaluate new and existing programs and initiatives;
  • Disseminate Church research and data widely through a centralized data repository managed by this Officer;
  • Support use of Church data by providing trainings, such as webinars, to inform and equip members of the Church in their ministries;
  • Employ professional best practices in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of Church data through the use of software and consultants as needed; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention request that the Executive Council consider a 2025-2027 budget allocation of $150,000 annually for the implementation of this resolution, covering salary, benefits, and operations for this role.