B010 Direct Executive Council to Create a task force to revise the disciplinary process of Title IV

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention direct the Executive Council to appoint a new task force of 18 persons composed of all nine provinces, all orders of ministry, and representing the diversity of the Episcopal Church created for a term of three years or one triennia, to revise the disciplinary process of Title IV; and be it further

Resolved, that the task force present their finds and recommendations to the 82nd General convention; and be it further

Resolved, that the work of the newly created task force include the following

  1. Consider in developing the process the mission of The Episcopal Church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer's catechism, is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ;”
  2. Consider the processes of truth and reconciliation developed in South Africa following the end of Apartheid and Coventry Cathedral;
  3. Include a process for discipline of lay persons appointed and elected to serve at all levels of the Episcopal Church;
  4. Develop a process for listening to and documenting the experiences of those at all levels involved in Title IV;

And be it further

Resolved, that the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $10,000.

Explanation

The Title IV as it currently is exercised and experienced is functioning as a process of retribution rather than restoration. Revising the process to be in line with the mission of the Episcopal Church and in the spirit of compassionate pastoral care it behooves us as a Church to revise the Title IV process.

Currently we have no process for disciplining elected or appointed lay persons within the Episcopal Church.