Exception to Works-for-Hire Policy of the DFMS
Resolution text
Resolved, That the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of the America (the “DFMS”), to the extent that it owns any interest in the book written by the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, during, or as a result of the work done during, her Intensive Development Leave, which began July 27, 2020, hereby assigns those rights, in full and without reservation, to Canon Spellers, in consideration of her work.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of Executive Council, requests that the Joint Standing Committee for Governance and Operations review the Works for Hire policy in the Employee Handbook of the DFMS and present a report on its work, which may include a revision of the Policy, at the meeting of Executive Council in October 2020.
Explanation
The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation Care, has been granted an Intensive Professional Development Leave effective July 27, 2020 in order to write a book about how Christian communities might use this historic moment of displacement and disruption in order to reassess our identity, detach from empire, surrender privilege, re-center on Jesus, and finally pursue Beloved Community. See attached proposal.
The Work-for-Hire Policy contained in the Employee Handbook of the DFMS may not properly allow its employees to publish works. As such, the DFMS, through its Executive Committee, wishes to grant to Canon Spellers any rights it may have in the book she writes during, or as a result of the work done during, her Intensive Professional Development Leave.