ORIGINAL TEXT
Resolution:D009
Title:Bilingual Skills
Topic:Ordained Ministry
Committee:14 - Ministry
House of Initial Action:Bishops
Proposer:The Rev. Paul Carmona PhD

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That the 76th General Convention urge the dioceses of The Episcopal Church to require that, prior to final approval for ordination, all candidates for sacred orders demonstrate at least an intermediate level of fluency in a language other than English, preferably a language that would further the evangelical mission of the diocese for which the respective candidate will be ordained; and be it further

Resolved, That all bishops be strongly encouraged to acquire at least an intermediate level of fluency in a language other than English that would enable them to proclaim the Good News more effectively to the linguistically diverse populations of their dioceses.


EXPLANATION

Because the general population of most dioceses of The Episcopal Church is far more
ethnically and linguistically diverse than the constituent membership of those dioceses, and because it is the Christ-given mission of the Church to preach the Good News to all, regardless of their ethnic, racial, or linguistic background, the acquisition of appropriate linguistic fluency is indispensable for effective ministry to the diverse populations that live within the boundaries of our dioceses.