* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:A142
Title:To Recommit to Being Anti-Racists for the Next Three Triennia (Until 2018)
Topic:Racism
Committee:10 - Social and Urban Affairs
House of Initial Action:Bishops
Proposer:Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism

Resolved, The House of Deputies concurring, That The Episcopal Church recommit and declare itself to be dedicated to continuing to work against the sin of racism and be it further

Resolved, That the Office of Anti-Racism and Gender Equality continue to design and deliver anti-racism, classism and ethnic discrimination training that examines factors and circumstances which maintain racism, classism and ethnic discrimination in the Church and in civil society; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses and provinces receive anti-racism training if they have not already done so or renew training that has been previously taken; and be it further

Resolved, That dioceses and provinces develop programs and ministries to dismantle and eradicate structures of racism, both internally and externally, and integrate the practices of anti-racism into their ongoing life and be it further

Resolved, That the Anti-Racism Committee of Executive Council develop a monitoring and reporting process for the dioceses, and that dioceses make annual reports to the Anti-Racism Committee of Executive Council.


EXPLANATION

We would lift up to this convention the principles of an ecumenical organization of which The Episcopal Church is a member, Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC). This organization, which consists of nine Protestant denominations working in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, has identified the sin of racism as the chief impediment to Christian collaboration and unity. CUIC has asked that we hold ourselves and each other accountable for eliminating racism in our churches and in civil society. We think that it is essential to continue to lift up these two key points if we are to create the "beloved community" of which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke:
"     We are to name racism as a sin; and
"     We are to hold each other accountable for its elimination.

Therefore, we want to pledge ourselves to continue to name and shine the light of Christ on all of those places where racism and other forms of oppression still exist and to hold ourselves and our sisters and brothers in Christ and all of the faith and secular communities accountable for our individual, collective, and institutional acts of both courage and cowardice, acknowledging that our faintheartedness and our refusal to confront evil and, wherever and whenever it exists, denigrates our professed love for Jesus and the imperative of the Gospel.      
 


* Note: The final language, as well as the final status of each resolution, is being reviewed by the General Convention office. The Journal of the 76th General Convention and the Constitution and Canons will be published once the review process has been completed.