* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:A144
Title:Extension of Resolution A127 to General Convention 2012
Topic:Reconciliation
Committee:09 - National and International Concerns
House of Initial Action:Deputies
Proposer:Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church agree to extend Resolution A127, which was passed at the 75th General Convention and that the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism report back to the 77th General Convention in 2012.

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Resolution Number: 2006-A127

Title: Endorse Restorative Justice and Anti-Racism

Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended

Final Text:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church endorse the principles of restorative justice, an important tool in implementing a neutral articulation of the self-examination and amendment of life that is required to fulfill our baptismal covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th Convention, in support of and to enhance Resolution A123, call upon the Anti-Racism Committee of Executive Council to design a study and dialogue process and materials in order to engage the people of The Episcopal Church in storytelling about historical and present-day privilege and under-privilege as well as discernment towards restorative justice and the call to fully live into our baptismal covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That in the spirit of inclusion, dioceses also be invited to determine whether their call is to conduct truth and reconciliation processes in regard to other histories and legacies of racial discrimination and oppression that may be applicable in their geographic area, while not diminishing the strong call to focus on the history and legacy of slavery; and be it further

Resolved, That the dioceses will give a progress report to the Anti-Racism Committee. The Anti-Racism Committee will report their findings and recommendations to the Standing Commission on National Concerns and to Executive Council and to the 76th General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church hold before itself the vision of a Church without racism; a Church for all races.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, Columbus, 2006 (New York: General Convention, 2007), pp. 665-666.

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EXPLANATION

The committee believes that this Resolution should be extended because it brings into the focus of the wider church other stories of oppression that also should be addressed. A123 focuses only on the enslavement of African Americans, and although the heinous slavery trade deserves its own special directives, other forms of racism and oppression certainly exist. For example, many dioceses have a clear history of the exploitation and oppression of Native Americans such as in Northern Michigan where the iron ore mining industry is based on taking the iron-rich land and mineral rights from the Chippewa.
Similarly, many other northern and western dioceses have little history with African American slavery, but their maltreatment and marginalization of Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Arabs can be documented. By developing the histories/stories of other racial and ethnic groups, all dioceses would come to confront the sin of racism against all other marginalized races, ethnicities, cultures and classes, as well.


* 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.