* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:D035
Title:Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery
Topic:Reconciliation
Committee:09 - National and International Concerns
House of Initial Action:Deputies
Proposer:Dr. John Chaffee

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention repudiates and renounces the Doctrine of Discovery as fundamentally opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our understanding of the inherent rights that individuals and peoples have received from God, and that this declaration be proclaimed among our churches and shared with the United Nations and all the nations and peoples located within The Episcopal Church's boundaries. This doctrine, which originated with Henry VII in 1496, held that Christian sovereigns and their representative explorers could assert dominion and title over non-Christian lands with the full blessing and sanction of the Church. It continues to be invoked, in only slightly modified form, in court cases and in the many destructive policies of governments and other institutions of the modern nation-state that lead to the colonizing dispossession of the lands of indigenous peoples and the disruption of their way of life; and be it further

Resolved, that The Episcopal Church review its policies and programs with a view to exposing the historical reality and impact of the Doctrine of Discovery and eliminating its presence in its contemporary policies, program, and structures and, further, that this body directs the appropriate representatives of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies, to inform all relevant governmental bodies in The United States of its action and suggest similar and equivalent review of historical and contemporary policies that contribute to the continuing colonization of Indigenous Peoples and, further, to write to Queen Elizabeth II, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, requesting that her Majesty disavow, and repudiate publicly, the claimed validity of the Christian Doctrine of Discovery; and be it further

Resolved, that each diocese within the Episcopal Church be encouraged to reflect upon its own history, in light of these actions and encourage all Episcopalians to seek a greater understanding of the Indigenous Peoples within the geo-political boundaries claimed by the United States and other nation states located within the Episcopal Church's boundaries, and to support those peoples in their ongoing efforts for their inherent sovereignty and fundamental human rights as peoples to be respected; and be it further

Resolved, that the 76th General Convention direct the Office of Government Relations to advocate for the U.S. government's endorsement of the "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," which the United States has refused to endorse (only the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have failed to sign on).


EXPLANATION

European Christian religious leaders, such as Pope Nicholas V, Martin V, Pope Alexander VI, and Pope Leo X, used the concept of discovery in a manner that was dehumanizing to indigenous peoples. These and other religious leaders used the discovery doctrine as a way of justifying European monarchs sending royal representatives and explorers forth in a conquering manner in order to take over Indigenous lands and possessions, and to enslave, kill, or subject the Indigenous peoples they encountered. Following that tradition, King Henry VII granted a charter to John Cabot and his sons on March 5, 1496. It authorized the Cabots, by whatever means were necessary, to take possession and assume a conquering dominion over the lands of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. The charter specifically authorized John Cabot and his sons "to find, discover and investigate whatsoever islands, countries, regions or provinces of heathens and infidels, in whatsoever part of the world placed, which before this time were unknown to all Christians." The Charter also reads in part, "John and his sons or their heirs and deputies may conquer, occupy and possess whatsoever such towns, castles, cities and islands by them thus discovered that they may be able to conquer, occupy and possess, as our vassals and governors lieutenants and deputies therein, acquiring for us the dominion, title and jurisdiction of the same towns, castles, cities, islands and mainlands so discovered." In the past, Indigenous Peoples' representatives have called upon Queen Elizabeth II to repudiate the Cabot Charter and other similar Royal Charters.

The English subsequently put into effect their conquest of North America with two charters granted by Queen Elizabeth I, the head of the English Church, in which the Christian Doctrine of Discovery was a driving justification. The first was in 1583 to Henry Gilbert, and the second in 1584 to Walter Raleigh. The letters patent to Walter Raleigh gave him and his heirs the power to discover "such remote heathen and barbarous landes Contries and territories not actually possessed of any Christian Prynce and inhabited by Christian People" and to exploit the resources and people of those lands to the full extent of their power, including "all the soyle of all such landes Countryes and territories so to be discovered or possessed as aforesaid and of all the Cittyes Castles townes villages and places in the same" and the full power to dispose of all this as they wish.

This resolution would put the Episcopal Church on record condemning the Christian Doctrine of Discovery and supporting Indigenous Peoples in their call for the repudiation of the 1496 Royal Charter issued to John Cabot and his sons and other similar Royal Charters which sanctioned European invasion of the Western Hemisphere. The resolution also calls upon each diocese to reflect upon its relationship with the Indigenous Peoples within its area to understand the history of its relationship with them, to build a relationship with all such Peoples, and to support them in their political and legal struggles for their inherent sovereignty and fundamental human rights as peoples to be respected.


* 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.