Resolutions 2003

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Diocesan Convention 2003
Resolutions Approved

Environmental Ministry and the Development of a Green Church
Resolved, That the 171st Convention of the Diocese of Vermont encourage each parish to develop an environmental policy and action plan through a process of study and reflection and; be it further

Resolved, That the environmental action plan encourage parishes to commit to reduce, reuse and recycle; conserve energy; seek renewable sources of energy; buy products made from recycled materials; and “seek to understand and uproot the political, social and economic causes of environmental abuse.”

Proposers: Libby Hillhouse
Ellen Maloney
Environmental Ministry Team

Explanation
The Mission of the Environmental Ministry Team is to understand and live out our Baptismal Covenant by being faithful to our sacred relationship with God’s creation. The Province One Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on the Environment recognizes that, as people of faith, we share “an urgent concern for the health and stewardship of the world.” The Bishops of Province One “encourage all members of the Episcopal Church in New England to see in the promises of the Baptismal Covenant a call to serve Christ in all creation.” We are urged to “act together to honor the goodness and sacredness of God’s creation.” We are further asked to consider “the urgency of the planetary crisis in which we now find ourselves,” to pray and take action to restore a right relationship between humankind and creation. We are called to “lift up prayers in personal and public worship for environmental justice, human rights and sustainable development.”
[All quotes are taken from the Pastoral Letter on the Environment written by the Episcopal Bishops of New England, 2003.]

Clergy Compensation
Resolved, That the 171st Convention of the Diocese of Vermont increase the minimum stipend for clergy in the Diocese of Vermont by 3% for the year 2004, and that the travel allowance be reimbursed at the current IRS standard.

Proposer: Diocesan Council

Explanation
Canon 6.7 requires that Diocesan Council review the minimum stipend for full-time equivalent clergy and the travel allowance and make recommendations to the Convention. Such a minimum shall be binding on all parishes and missions upon ratification of the Convention. A 3% increase takes into account a COLA of 2% and provides an additional increase of 1%.

According to the Church Pension Fund (The 2001 Clergy Compensation Report, 2003), the national median compensation for Episcopal clergy is $54,786. This figure includes cash stipend, fair-market value of housing, utilities, and payment of one half of the Social Security/Medicare (SECA) tax.

The Pension Fund reports that the median compensation for full-time clergy in Vermont is $53,095. The absolute minimum full-time compensation package in Vermont, factoring in the most modest housing allowance, is $42,102 ($30,210 cash stipend, $8,900 housing & utilities, $2,992 SECA).

The Church Pension Fund report notes that the median income for professional and managerial employees in Vermont who have at least a graduate degree is $56,343, approximately $3,000 higher than the clergy median and significantly higher than the current minimum.

Approval of this resolution will change the Beginning Level, Type II minimum cash stipend from $30,210 to $31,116, thus raising the minimum full-time compensation package to approximately $43,077 ($31,116 cash stipend, $8,900 housing & utilities, $3,061 SECA).

Formal Study of Clergy Compensation and BenefitsPolicy
Resolved, That the 171st Convention of the Diocese of Vermont request the Clergy Compensation Committee (appointed by the Bishop and Diocesan Council) to conduct a thorough study of the Clergy Compensation and Benefits Policy for the Diocese of Vermont.

Proposer: Diocesan Council

Explanation:
Since Canon 6.7 requires that Diocesan Council review the minimum stipend for full-time equivalent clergy and the travel allowance, and make recommendation to the Convention, and since such a minimum shall be binding on all parishes and missions upon ratification of the Convention, it seems appropriate that the whole structure of the Clergy Compensation and Benefits Policy be reviewed.

Given the wide range of compensation packages for full-time and part-time positions, fair market costs and values of housing and utilities in the various communities, and the diversity of clergy experience, we recommend establishing equitable standards of compensation which could be binding, overseen, and/or advocated.

Approval of this resolution would allow for a sufficient period of time for the Clergy Compensation Committee to research and determine if we need to make changes to the Clergy Compensation and Benefits Policy for the Diocese of Vermont. The committee will report back to Diocesan Council and ultimately to the 172nd Convention of the Diocese of Vermont with recommendations for emendations/changes where needed.

A Resolution Against Domestic Abuse
Resolved, That the 171st Convention of the Diocese of Vermont urge the congregations of this Diocese individually and collaboratively to acknowledge and work to prevent domestic abuse by praying for victims/survivors of domestic abuse and their families and by pursuing ways to support victims/survivors in all our communities, through empowerment, respect, and resources; and be it further
Resolved, That in keeping with the commitment to acknowledge and prevent domestic abuse, this Convention publicly acclaim its support of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 3 and 5 stating (respectively):
• Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person;
• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment;
and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention urge congregations to seek out and make better known the resources for domestic abuse prevention and intervention in their local communities; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention formally recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness month in our Diocese, and encourage congregations to set aside some of this time to acknowledge the presence of abuse in our midst and to support those who suffer its consequences; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention, recognizing that no one is beyond the saving and changing love of Christ, also urge congregations of the diocese to pray for perpetrators of domestic abuse, that they would repent of this sin and be reconciled to Christ and Christ’s church.

Proposers: The Northeast Regional Deanery (#7)
The Vestry and Vicar of Christ Church, Island Pond

Explanation
We recognize that domestic abuse is a pattern of behavior used by one intimate partner to control the other's actions or feelings and may include physical violence, economic abuse, intimidation, emotional abuse, use or abuse of children, threats, stalking, coercion, abuse of pets, and isolation.

Having reviewed 12 homicide cases in Vermont to date, the Governor's Council on Domestic Violence has found that 7 were the result of domestic violence. 1 in 3 members of a given congregation is a survivor of domestic abuse or sexual assault and yet statistics show that the church is one of the last places they turn to for help. Many victim/survivors experience the church as less than helpful, the Bible used as a tool for further oppression, and church communities as judgmental of the victim's choices, denying the abuse or unwilling to name it. Since domestic abuse looms so large in Vermont, more knowledge, recognition, and commitment to its prevention are needed to plant the seeds of change. It is time for our Diocese to break the silence.

Whereas our culture, economy, and world events are moving us all toward increasing violence, this is the moment to call upon each other to name the violence that happens in the homes of our brothers and sisters, to aid and respect the choices of the abused, and to hold accountable those who abuse others.

Whereas as disciples of Jesus Christ, we abhor violence, and our faith requires us to work for justice, we herein recognize that we in the faith community are all the more called to acknowledge the violence in our very midst and to affirm the strength and courage of all victims and survivors of domestic abuse.