Resolution FIN 031

Resolved, that Executive Council hereby grants permission to the deputies of color to raise $25,000 to cover additional costs of the Deputies of Color Pre-General Convention Meeting, which is funded at $40,000 in Line 520 of the 2023-2024 DFMS Budget; and be it further 

Resolved, that the appropriate officers and other officials of DFMS are authorized to take all additional actions to accomplish the purposes of this resolution.

 

Over the past many General Conventions, it has become the practice of the Episcopal Church Center, through the offices of the Ethnic Missioners, to offer deputies of color the opportunity to gather in the spring of the General Convention year. This practice has proven to be effective in orientating the new participants to the General Convention process as well as enable all participants to build community and better relationships. 

  

These pre-Conferences have had four specific goals, namely: 

· Orient deputies of color who are new to the General Convention to the otherwise complicated processes and proceedings of the General Convention; 

· Build collegiality and community by establishing mentoring relationships and organizing ethnic caucuses, and working on legislative priorities across these ethnic caucuses so that all voices are heard at General Convention; 

· Promote an ongoing program that builds solidarity and enhance the participation of deputies and bishops of color in the General Convention and the total life and work of the Episcopal Church around the three pillars of the Jesus Movement; and 

· Finally, each year presents an important message for the Episcopal Church. We want to especially allow the time for critical reflection on our daily lives. As we gather each year for daily worship, we stay grounded in hearing God's call for the Church's mission. 

  

These two-day Conferences provide orientation, learning opportunities for deputies to the General Convention who have identified themselves as “persons of color.” In part sponsored by the Office of the General Convention and the Ethnic Ministries of The Episcopal Church, this Conference brings new deputies together with seasoned deputies for orientation to the processes and structure in the General Convention which promotes fuller participation, interaction, mentoring relationships and creates caucuses and collegiality. 

In light of the demographic shift resulting in the increase of communities of color in the Episcopal Church, it is imperative that we enable, empower and equip deputies of color to exercise greater leadership in the total life and work of the Church and our common mission to the changing world. The role of the Ethnic Missioners of The Episcopal Church is facilitation and assistance and much of the leadership has been done by the Deputies of Color themselves. 

 

The total prices of hosting the meeting range from a low of $56,888 to a high of $70,808. To prevent funding oversights, the 80^th General Convention passed Resolution D019, which asked for $50,000 to pay for the costs of the meeting. However, the former Program, Budget and Finance Committee only allocated $40,000 in the 2023-2024 DFMS Budget to finance the costs of the meeting. When we asked for $50,000 in Resolution D019, we were unaware: (i). that Louisville would be a more expensive market than the Baltimore Market (where the 2022 Conference was held) and (ii) that the inflation rate would spiral upwards to the extent that it did. Therefore, we are asking for an additional allocation of $25,000, which would bring the total funding to $65,000. This amount would ensure that this vital ministry is fully funded. We have received a $15,000 check from the Diocese of Texas and have been promised a $10,000 donation from the Church Pension Group.