164A
BE IT RESOLVED that the last sentence of Section 6 of Canon 22 (Of the Organization of Parish or
Mission) be revised to add the words “A proposal for” at the beginning of the sentence so that the
sentence reads as follows: A proposal for the establishment of a new Parish in the particular city or
town in question shall not be again presented within a period of twelve (12) months.
Rationale: To clarify the language of the canon consistent with its intent to place a one-year
moratorium on proposals for a new parish once the lengthy and time-consuming procedure prescribed
by Canon 22 has been concluded by decision of the Bishop with the advice and consent of the Standing
Committee.
164B
BE IT RESOLVED that Canon 8 (“Of the Consultants”) be repealed in its entirety, and its space in the
Canon reserved for future use, as necessary.
Rationale: This canon’s reference to “consultants” forming an “Executive Cabinet” of the Episcopal
Board of Directors has not been utilized for at least three decades and is, in fact, contrary to the
corporation bylaws which provide for an “executive committee” of the board with limited powers
consistent with current Iowa non-profit corporation law.
Rather than re-number all the succeeding canons to accommodate this repeal, a notation under Canon 8
should simply show that it has been reserved.
***************************
164C
BE IT RESOLVED that Canon 7 (“Of the Episcopal Corporation”), Sec. 5, be amended by adding the word
“staff” to the second line before the word “consultants,” so that the section reads: “The work of the
Corporation, as it is necessary to carry out the program of the Diocesan Convention, shall be executed
through such staff, consultants, commissions and committees as it deems necessary.”
Rationale: This amendment conforms the canon to actual practice. Members of the diocesan staff carry
out diocesan programs along with commissions and committees. The generic term “consultants”
remains to provide flexibility in the hiring of future consulting services, if necessary.
*************************
164D
BE IT RESOLVED that Canon 7, Sec. 2, be amended by revising its second-to-last sentence as follows: The
President of the Standing Committee and the Chair of the Stewardship Commission shall be an ex-officio
members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation with seat and voice only. . . .
Rationale: Given the Board of Directors’ responsibility for diocesan finances and budget, it would be
valuable to have the chair of the Stewardship Committee participate in board discussions concerning
such matters.
164 E
RESOLVED,
As an act of repentance for the role of the Episcopal Church in slavery before the Civil War, for its refusal
to condemn slavery during the Civil War, and for its hand in the active segregation and oppression of
Black Americans for the 100 years following the Civil War, General Convention directs Executive Council
to immediately put up for sale, and keep for sale until it is sold, the property owned by the Episcopal
Church at 815 2nd Avenue, NYC (“815”).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
Upon the the sale of “815”, the General Convention directs Executive Council to use the proceeds to
retain an office of staff in NYC at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine or in a building owned by a
congregation in the Diocese of NY, and to establish additional offices to be housed in congregations
across the country especially in or near Ferguson, MO; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; Baltimore,
MD; Compton, CA; Chicago,ll, and other areas of the US that struggle economically and or racially.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
General Convention direct all remaining proceeds after the moves be given to the Union of Black
Episcopalians and the Episcopal Urban Caucus as monetary Reparations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
The Union of Black Episcopalians and Episcopal Urban Caucus will have utter and complete control to
determine where and how the Reparations will best be used to lift up the lives of Black Americans.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED
That the economic study each diocese was asked to perform by 2006-A123 and 2006-A127, and
reaffirmed by 2009-A143 continue, with each diocese forming a Racial Restoration Task Force to report
to the General Convention of 2021. Further, each diocese is asked to offer opportunities to learn about
our denomination’s particular racial history, and to offer a service of repentance if they have not done
so already, the offerings from which shall be added to the Reparations. Lastly, every Episcopalian is
encouraged to support secular legislation that seeks Reparations for Black Americans, as 2006-C011
states.
------------RATIONALE:
The Need for Reparations:
When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and has given evidence of due
contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces the
absolution. Before giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer, or hymn to
be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving.
Book of Common Prayer, Reconciliation of a Penitent p 446
In 2006 the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed a number of resolutions having to
do with racial reconciliation.
Resolution 2006-A123 “Study Economic Benefits Derived from Slavery“,
Resolution 2006-A127 “Endorse Restorative Justice and Anti-Racism”
Resolution 2006-C011 “Support Legislation for Reparations for Slavery”
In sum, these resolutions asked each diocese to investigate material benefits it derived from slavery;
asked the Presiding Bishop and each diocese to hold a service of repentance for slavery; apologized to
Black Americans for the role of the Church in slavery before the Civil War, for its refusal to condemn
slavery during the Civil War, and for its hand in the oppression of Black Americans for the 100 years
following the Civil War. Resolution 2006-C011 states explicit support for monetary reparations to Black
Americans.
The service of repentance was held October 4, 2008, at St. Thomas the African Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presiding, and in 2009 the 76th General
Convention passed Resolution 2009-A143 extending the request made by A123 in 2006.
The Episcopal Church’s apology, the service of remorse and call for economic study, the ongoing
programs to promote racial understanding are important matters of repentance and must continue
across the Church. In the Diocese of Iowa we thank God for the work of many congregations, and
especially for the harvesting of insights stirred by the Trinity Institute on Racial Reconciliation, as well as
for the Iowa Episcopalians who attended “Racial Reconciliation as Spiritual Formation” presented by
Heidi Kim, the Presiding Bishop’s Missioner for Racial Reconciliation, at the 2016 Summer Ministry
School and Retreat.
2006-A123 however expresses our need is to be a “repairer of the breach” materially as well as
spiritually; thus, as the Book of Common Prayer says, as a penitent our Church has yet, “something to be
done.”
2006-C011 commends supporting legislation for reparations through secular government. As the Church
is to be God’s light to the nations, it stands that God has given us the gift to lead the way in this effort.
As we attend to our own material debt to Black Americans we may show possibilities for how it can be
done.
The generations of economic losses can never be restored in full, but a significant act of penance in the
form of a large sum of money and by relocating national Church offices to economically deprived areas
with large Black populations, may give weight to our seeking reconciliation and acknowledge the
financial benefit our denomination had in the personal and economic deprivation of Black Americans.
The money is meant to pay a debt, and to enflesh the desire of the Episcopal Church to be reconciled
with God and our neighbor. The reparations are not meant to “fix” lives of Black Americans, but are an
act of penance and contrition for the soul of the Church. By giving the reparations to the Union of Black
Episcopalians and to the Episcopal Urban Caucus for them to decide where reparations would best go,
we release control over the money—another important act of penance and reversal of a time when all
the power was held by White Americans and their institutions.
How to make reparations?
The headquarters of the Episcopal Church at 815 Second Ave. NYC is in a location that signifies status,
wealth and power, and is out of reach for most Episcopalians. The Love of God whom we follow, Jesus,
did not house himself apart from, but lived among people. Aside from the economic cost or benefit of
owning 815, the spiritual cost to our denomination is too high. If we want to be part of the Jesus
movement, we must sell it and move.
Previous General Conventions have proposed the sale of 815, and one passed the House of Deputies in
2012. A powerful sentiment has been present for some time to free the church from this property. How
better than as a means to locate the church truly among the people, and to offer material compensation
for the time we were far away? Perhaps the Spirit is opening a positive door for us to walk through.
The resolution sees reparations occurring alongside of, not in place of, other work for racial
reconciliation. Anti-racism training, Truth and Justice Commissions, understanding the history of our
denomination in terms of race (both where we reflected God’s love and where we sinned against God)
must continue.
164 F
RESOLVED,
As an act of repentance for the role of the Episcopal Church in slavery before the Civil War, for its refusal
to condemn slavery during the Civil War, and for its hand in the active segregation and oppression of
Black Americans for the 100 years following the Civil War, The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa asks the
General Convention to give the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) to be used as an act of
making Reparations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
The Reparations will be given in one payment to the Union of Black Episcopalians and the Episcopal
Urban Caucus.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
The Union of Black Episcopalians and Episcopal Urban Caucus will have utter and complete control to
determine where and how the Reparations will best be used to lift up the lives of Black Americans.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
The funds may be assembled from a variety of sources, and at least part should be included as an item in
the Triennial Budget.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED
That the economic study each diocese was asked to perform by 2006-A123 and 2006-A127, and
reaffirmed by 2009-A143 continue, with each diocese forming a Racial Restoration Task Force to make a
report to the General Convention of 2021, and with each diocese offering a service of repentance, if
they have not done so already, the offerings from which shall be added to the Reparations, in addition
to opportunities to learn specifically about the history of the Episcopal Church during the era of slavery,
the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, as well as the conversion of our denomination that began with
the Civil Rights Movement.
------------RATIONALE:
Many institutions in our nation benefitted because of slavery, and after the Civil War took part in
ongoing oppression of Black Americans. The Episcopal Church, because so many members were
slaveowners, including Bishops, never took a stand in opposition to slavery. During the era of
Reconstruction, the General Convention of Episcopal Church did not seek to prevent parts of our church
from segregating Black Americans from Whites. During the Civil Rights movement many Episcopalians
became involved in the movement for equal rights for Black Americans, thanks to God.
Today the idea of monetary Reparations has become common, being forwarded by a number of leaders
in the Black community as well as White. The Diocese of NY has a Committee on Reparations, and
Georgetown University has made a creative form of Reparation to the descendants of slaves who were
once owned by the University. It is time for our denomination to add material repentance to the
spiritual offering we made in the 2006 General Convention.
This issue is one that will never be embraced by all White Americans or White Episcopalians, no matter
how long or deep we seek to encourage reflection. In the meantime, Black Americans are simply owed
this monetary repentance and should not have to wait for every or even a significant majority of White
Episcopalians to come to terms with it. We need to continue to study and reflect and pray about the
history the Episcopal Church has with Black Americans, and in the meantime we also must make
restitution.
The Need for Material Reparations:
When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and has given evidence of due
contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces the
absolution. Before giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer, or hymn to
be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving.
Book of Common Prayer, Reconciliation of a Penitent p 446
In 2006 the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed a number of resolutions having to
do with racial reconciliation.
Resolution 2006-A123 “Study Economic Benefits Derived from Slavery“,
Resolution 2006-A127 “Endorse Restorative Justice and Anti-Racism”
Resolution 2006-C011 “Support Legislation for Reparations for Slavery”
In sum, these resolutions asked each diocese to investigate material benefits it derived from slavery;
asked the Presiding Bishop and each diocese to hold a service of repentance for slavery; apologized to
Black Americans for the role of the Church in slavery before the Civil War, for its refusal to condemn
slavery during the Civil War, and for its hand in the oppression of Black Americans for the 100 years
following the Civil War. Resolution 2006-C011 states explicit support for monetary reparations to Black
Americans.
The service of repentance was held on October 4, 2008, at St. Thomas the African Episcopal Church in
Philadelphia, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presiding, and in 2009 the 76th General
Convention passed Resolution 2009-A143 extending the request made by A123 in 2006.
The Episcopal Church’s apology, the service of remorse and call for economic study, the ongoing
programs to promote racial understanding are important matters of repentance and must continue
across the Church. In the Diocese of Iowa we thank God for the work of many congregations, and
especially for the harvesting of insights stirred by the Trinity Institute on Racial Reconciliation, as well as
for the Iowa Episcopalians who attended “Racial Reconciliation as Spiritual Formation” presented by
Heidi Kim, the Presiding Bishop’s Missioner for Racial Reconciliation, at the 2016 Summer Ministry
School and Retreat.
2006-A123 however expresses our need is to be a “repairer of the breach” materially as well as
spiritually; thus, as the Book of Common Prayer says, as a penitent our Church has yet, “something to be
done.”
2006-C011 commends supporting legislation for reparations through secular government. As the Church
is to be God’s light to the nations, it stands that God has given us the gift to lead the way in this effort.
As we attend to our own material debt to Black Americans we may show possibilities for how it can be
done.
The generations of economic losses can never be restored in full, but a significant act of penance in the
form of a large sum of money and by relocating national Church offices to economically deprived areas
with large Black populations, may give weight to our seeking reconciliation and acknowledge the
financial benefit our denomination had in the personal and economic deprivation of Black Americans.
The money is meant to pay a debt, and to enflesh the desire of the Episcopal Church to be reconciled
with God and neighbor. The reparations are not meant to “fix” lives of Black Americans, but are an act of
penance and contrition for the soul of the Church. By giving the reparations to the Union of Black
Episcopalians and Episcopal Urban Caucus for them to decide where the reparations would best go, we
release control over the money—another important act of penance and reversal of a time when all the
power was held by White Americans and their institutions. It is a fitting way to make amends for how
Black Episcopalians were treated in the racial history of our church.
The resolution sees reparations occurring alongside of, not in place of, other work for racial
reconciliation. Anti-racism training, Truth and Justice Commissions, Reparations Committees and
understanding the history of our denomination in terms of race (both where we reflected God’s love
and where we sinned against God) must continue.
164 G
Resolved that Canon 11 Section 3 be amended as follows:
Sec. 3. After securing Board approval, and no later than fifty(50) thirty (30) days before the call to order
of an Annual Convention, the Committee on Ways and Means shall transmit to the Minister and
Treasurer of each congregation a report of the proposed Budget and Askings.
Rationale: This brings the canon into conformity with our current practice