Task Force on the Anglican Communion and Countering the Colonial Mindset

Mandate

2024-A041 Create a Task Force on The Episcopal Church-Anglican Communion Relationships

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention, pursuant to Joint Rule VII, create a task force on The Episcopal Church-Anglican Communion relationships, to work in collaboration with the Presiding Bishop, and whose mandate includes, but is not limited to, (1) conducting a study of issues impairing relationships of communion between The Episcopal Church and other Provinces of the Anglican Communion, and the development of proposals for engaging constructively across differences; (2) proposing systematic ways for the Episcopal Church to respond to theological statements issued by the instruments of the Communion; (3) proposing a means of establishing clear guidance for representatives of The Episcopal Church to the triennial meetings of the Anglican Consultative Council; and (4) supporting the work of the Offices of Ministry Beyond the Episcopal Church as it relates to relationships with our Anglican Communion partners; and (5) encouraging The Episcopal Church's participation in the life, councils, and budget of the Anglican Communion, its Office, and its programs; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force begin its work no later than January 1, 2025, with the task force concluding its work at the conclusion of the 82nd General Convention, unless its mandate is extended by the 82nd Convention; and be it further 

Resolved, That the task force report annually to the Executive Council’s Joint Standing Committee on Ministry Beyond the Episcopal Church and a report with recommendations to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the membership of this task force be appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and include up to three Bishops appointed by the Presiding Bishop; up to three Clergy and up to three Lay Persons appointed by the President of the House of Deputies; up to two members of the Standing Commission on World Mission (SCWM) appointed by the SCWM; up to two members of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (SCEIR), appointed by the SCEIR; and up to four representatives with expertise in the history and polity of the Anglican Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop appoint a member of staff from the Presiding Bishop’s Office to serve as consultant to the task force; and be it further

Resolved, That funds be budgeted for the implementation of this resolution.

 

2024-A080 Create a Task Force on Countering the Colonial Mindset

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention reckon with the history and present reality of colonialism in The Episcopal Church and its dual identity as a former colony and a colonizing power; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention recognize the following working definition of the colonial mindset as: “the living legacy of colonialism in the 21st century exemplified by the supremacy of Western/European mindsets, modes of thinking, cultural and economic systems, and bodies in former colonial states and their partners”; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention create a Task Force on Countering the Colonial Mindset, whose mandate include, but be not limited to, researching and highlighting historic and present realities of the colonial mindset in our common life, and establishing educational materials for dioceses, churches, and mission partners to use in their work and ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force begin its work no later than January 1, 2025 and conclude its work at the conclusion of the 82nd General Convention with the submission of a report with recommendations to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the membership of this task force be appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and include up to two Bishops appointed by the Presiding Bishop; up to four Clergy and up to ten Lay Persons appointed by the President of the House of Deputies, with special consideration given to inclusion of persons from non-domestic diocese, Indigenous persons, youth and young adults, mission agencies, and faculty from accredited Episcopal seminaries or Episcopal/Anglican formation centers within university systems and partners with specialties in Colonialism and Missiology; and be it further

Resolved, The General Convention request the Executive Council to allocate funding to create such a task force and publish educational materials for countering the colonial mindset for use by dioceses, churches, and mission partners.