* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:A148
Title:Doing Justice and Alleviating Poverty; Identity; Growing Congregations; Strenthening Governance and Foundations for Mission; Promoting Anglican Partnerships
Topic:Reconciliation
Committee:11 - Church in Small Communities
House of Initial Action:Bishops
Proposer:Executive Council Committee on Indigenous Ministries

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 76th General Convention urgently request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget & Finance to increase by 25% the base budget support awarded at General Convention 2006 to each of the three "aided dioceses" (South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska) and the Navajoland Area Mission for ministry with Native peoples in the 2010-2012 triennial budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget & Finance maintain the current level of funding in the Draft Budget (382,200) for the Program Budget of the Office of Native Ministries (line 210) in the 2010-2012 triennial budget.


EXPLANATION

The Episcopal Church has more than 400 years of commitment to ministry among Native People. Four dioceses (South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska and Navajoland) are among those that receive base budget support through General Convention for their work with Native Americans. These dioceses are unable to fulfill their ministries due to a lack of internal resources and insufficient funding from The Episcopal Church. Due to the lapse of the Decade of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation funds, an increase is needed for the ministry of the Office of Native Ministries in order to accomplish the mandate of Resolution 2006 D046 that re-committed The Episcopal Church to a Second Decade of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation from 2007-2017.

In real dollars that has been no increase in funding for these dioceses since the reorganization from the old Coalition-14 funding to a line item of The Episcopal Church's General Convention Budget. Factoring for inflation and budget readjustments that have occurred between General Conventions, there has been a drop in financial resources of more than 35% since 1990. This has meant choices of having congregational leadership doing more with less or doing away with certain ministries and initiatives. With the present inflationary cycle, even a 15% increase is not likely to make up for added transportation costs in serving these largely rural communities.


* 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.