Resolution EC22to24MBMW 004

Resolved, that the Executive Council, meeting virtually from October 25-27, 2023, extends its sympathy to the communities of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church in Douglas, Arizona, two churches badly damaged by arson and motivated by bias against women and LGBTQ people and recognizes the superseding federal indictment bringing him to justice; and be it further

Resolved, that the Executive Council reaffirms its repudiation of the acts of violence that inevitably result from the rhetoric and tactics of political scapegoating, and be it further

Resolved, that the Executive Council reaffirms its advocacy for expanding the list of federal bias categories qualifying hate crimes to include real or perceived gender, sexual orientation, or disability, and be it further

Resolved, that the Executive Council calls upon church networks to advocate in states and localities to expand bias categories to include race/color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender/sex, gender identity, and disability, enhance penalties in bias crimes, and improve data collection, and be it further

Resolved, that the Executive Council commends the Office of Government Relations for its continuing work to advocate for increased hate crimes protection funding.

 

 

On October 6, 2023, the US Attorney in Arizona issued a press release detailing additional hate crimes charges under federal statute:

“A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count superseding indictment yesterday against Eric Ridenour, 58, of Douglas, for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce, Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire, and Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony . . . According to the superseding indictment, further investigation and evidence elicited in court testimony allege that Ridenour intentionally started the fires in both churches because of his hostility toward their progressive doctrines, particularly their practice of having women and members of the LGBTQ community serve as church leaders.” https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/hate-crime-charges-added-burning-douglas-churches-case

Arizona Bishop Jennifer Reddall called upon Arizona civic and religious leaders of all political parties and all faiths to join the Episcopal Church in asserting that all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexuality, have the right to exercise their religious beliefs in safety; and commending those leaders use their platforms to examine rhetoric and legislation that makes it socially acceptable to target women and LGBTQ+ people for their identity. Press Release from the Office of The Rt. Reverend Jennifer Reddall - Diocese of Arizona (azdiocese.org)

While federal statute was invoked by the US Attorney in Arizona in this case, many states do not include a wide range of bias categories in their own statutes: Hate Crimes | United States Department of Justice | Hate Crimes | Laws and Policies

Additionally, laws in some jurisdictions increase penalties for bias crimes motivated by identified factors, and improved data gathering would allow states to more clearly identify areas of specific need and allocate support and resources.

Prior Acts of Convention and Resolves of the Executive Council

Burning of Black and Multi-racial Church and Civic Institutions (1996)

Executive Council: Resolution # EXC061996.19 (episcopalarchives.org)

Call to Include Gender, Sexual Orientation and Disability in Federal Hate Crimes Legislation (1998)

Executive Council: Resolution # EXC111998.22 (episcopalarchives.org)

Call to Include Gender, Sexual Orientation and Disability in Federal Hate Crimes Legislation (2000)

Acts of Convention: Resolution # 2000-C029 (episcopalarchives.org)

Condemn Unjust Scapegoating

Acts of Convention: Resolution # 2018-A230 (episcopalarchives.org)

Hate Crimes Against Asian and Pacific Islanders (2021)

GCO Governing and Interim Bodies (generalconvention.org)