Proposed Resolutions

A Resolution to Contribute 0.7% to International Development in Support of the UN Millennium Development Goals

Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont endorse and embrace the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that pledge to:

1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. achieve universal primary education;
3. promote gender equality and empower women;
4. reduce child mortality;
5. improve maternal health;
6. combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
7. ensure environmental stability; and
8. develop a global partnership for development;
and be it further

Resolved, That this Diocese of Vermont, as a part of fulfilling its mission to "pray the prayer of Christ, learn the mind of Christ, and do the deeds of Christ," and in accordance with the challenge set forth by the 73rd and 74th General Conventions (2000 and 2003) and the 1998 Lambeth Conference:

1) will work toward giving 0.7% of the annual diocesan budgeted operating income to fund international development programs by 2008;
2) will challenge individuals and all communities of faith in the Diocese to give 0.7% of their budgeted income to international development programs;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Outreach and Social Justice Committee be charged with:

1) identifying current diocesan expenditures that go toward qualifying international development programs;
2) recommending to the Bishop and Diocesan Council, prior to the beginning of the creation of the 2007 budget, how 0.7% giving will be phased into the annual budget and how such funds will be procured;
3) making informed recommendations to the Bishop and Diocesan Council about the disbursement of the 0.7% funds;
4) serving as a resource for congregations about the types of expenses that would qualify as well as collecting information from congregations about their participation in 0.7% giving;
and be it further

Resolved, That all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Vermont are encouraged to contact their elected representatives, urging them to support the United States governmentÕs fulfillment of its commitment, made in 2000, to funding international development aid at 0.7% of the U.S. Gross National Product; and that the Secretary of Convention shall write the President of the United States and the members of the Vermont congressional delegation that the Diocese of Vermont, meeting in Convention, urges them to support the United States governmentÕs fulfillment of its commitment, made in 2000, to funding international development aid at 0.7% of the U.S. GNP.

Explanation
Nearly one half of the world's population lives on less than $2 per day, and one sixth lives on less than $1 per day. More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. 25,000 people a day die needlessly because food and basic health care are not available to them.

At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in Denver in 2000, bishops and deputies adopted a resolution encouraging dioceses, congregations and individuals to commit 0.7% of budgeted income to development programs that would benefit the poor of the world. Later that fall, all 191 members of the United Nations adopted a set of eight goals for cutting global poverty in half by 2015, with developed nations, including the United States, committing to dedicate 0.7% annually to achieve those goals. And in Minneapolis in 2003, the General Convention adopted Resolution D006, again embracing the 0.7% giving target as well as the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Approximately 44% of Episcopal dioceses have, as of mid-2005, made some sort of commitment to adopt 0.7% giving to international efforts to achieve the MDGs. In New England, the dioceses of Maine, Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts include 0.7% giving in their 2005 budgets. A Rhode Island resolution called for 0.7% in 2005 and asked congregations to give at the same level. Connecticut and New Hampshire have passed resolutions calling for 0.7% giving in their 2006 budgets. Vermont is the only diocese in New England that has not yet taken up the challenge of the MDGs.

Currently, the United States gives the greatest absolute amount of official development assistance but comes in last among the 20 richest industrialized nations in terms of aid as a percentage of national incomeÑless than 0.1%. We can join with other faith communities in setting an example by supporting the goal of giving 0.7% of our annual budget to international relief and development.

0.7% amounts to $7 of every $1000 of income, $70 per $10,000, or $700 per $100,000. Many of us as individuals, and many of our congregations, are already giving above that level with our donations to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), the United Thank Offering (which grants significant funds for overseas development projects), Cristosal, CHABHA and the many other organizations working to alleviate poverty and disease around the world. Adopting the 0.7% giving commitment to achieve the MDGs focuses our attention on those efforts and allows us to see them in a global context. It confronts us with a measurable standard for determining how we, as Christians and residents of the worldÕs richest nation, are living into the promises of our Baptismal Covenant.

[This resolution is modeled on Resolution D006 of the 74th General Convention and on a resolution passed at the 2003 Convention of the Diocese of Missouri.]

Proposers: Diocese of Vermont 2003 General Convention Deputation
The Rev. Gordon Bardos
The Rev. Thomas Brown
The Rev. Lee Alison Crawford
The Rev. Diane Root
James Larkin
Thomas Little
Anne Brown
Peter Galbraith

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A Resolution to Support the Episcopal Coalition to Abolish Biblical Literalism (ECABL)

Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont support the creation of the Episcopal Coalition to Abolish Biblical Literalism (ECABL), provide funding for ECABL for a period of three years (2006-2008) at a minimum of $1.00 each year, and receive a report from ECABL regarding its activities while it is supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont; and be it further

Resolved, That we of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont support every effort to free our Episcopal and Anglican Church from the slavery of Biblical Literalism which might be used to separate us from our sisters and brothers made in the image of God and used to marginalize persons who may be different from us: persons of color, women, and gay and lesbian persons; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to support all international efforts to free the church from the slavery of Biblical Literalism, especially as it is used to marginalize persons different from us: persons of color, women, and gay and lesbian persons; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to support all international efforts to celebrate the United KingdomÕs Abolition of Slave Trade Act Bicentenary (1807-2007); and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont support efforts in the State of Vermont to celebrate the 230th anniversary (1777 to 2007) of Vermont being the first state to abolish slavery.

Proposer: The Rev. Cn. Thaddeus Bennett
Co-Sponsors: The Rev. Jean MacDonald
The Rev. Cn. Jeanette Tweedy
The Rev. Reid D. Farrell, Jr.
The Rev. John Morris
The Rev. Thomas Brown
The Rev. Cn. Diane Root
Mr. Dale L. Willard
The Rev. Cn. Tanya Wallace

Explanation
Historic Anglicanism has been based on the authority of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason, and the use of these authorities leads to wise, healthy, and holy Biblical Literacy (for example, in William Wilberforce's Evangelical understanding that human slavery is antithetical to God's Word as revealed in Scripture). It is also true that Biblical Literalism has been used to support unjust and immoral positions by the Episcopal Church (including within our diocese when our own first Bishop, John Henry Hopkins, used Holy Scripture to support the practice of slavery even after the Emancipation Proclamation).

We are a diocese that embraces its diversity and has been able to learn from past mistakes. The fact that we live peacefully and respectfully with Civil Unions and Holy Unions while not all agreeing is an "outward and visible sign" of God's work with us and our work on these issues together with God.

This resolution asks that we continue that work by looking through the "lens" of how Biblical Literalism can harm the Christian faith and be used to deny human rights to various classes of people who are different and how Biblical Literacy can help us clarify what God's Word is for today's Christians.

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A Resolution Establishing Minimum Clergy Compensation

Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Diocese of Vermont, approve the recommendation of Diocesan Council that the minimum full time stipend for clergy in the Diocese of Vermont be increased by (3.25%) for the year 2006 to $33,171, and that travel allowance be reimbursed at the current IRS standard.

Proposer: Diocesan Council

Explanation
Canon 6.7 requires that Diocesan Council reviews the minimum stipend for full-time equivalent clergy and the travel allowance and makes recommendations to the Convention. Such a minimum shall be binding on all parishes and missions upon ratification of the Convention. A 3.25% increase takes into account a COLA of more than three percent (3%) for 2004 and thus far for 2005.

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

In 2002 the Church Pension Fund report noted 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 $32,127 to $33,171, thus raising the minimum full-time compensation package to approximately $46,421 [$33,171 cash stipend, plus SECA of $3,299 (at 15.3%/2), plus housing & utilities of $9,951* (at 30% of cash plus SECA)] .

* This figure is based solely upon the Church Pension formula for calculating housing. It may in fact not reflect an accurate amount based on the actual expenses for housing and utilities in Vermont.

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A Resolution to Establish a Process for Determining Minimum Clergy Compensation

Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Diocese of Vermont recommend to the congregations of the diocese the adoption, within the next five years, of the following norms for determining minimum clergy compensation:

• that compensation be based upon credited years of service in church ministry as established by the Church Pension Fund;
• that the annual percentage increment be determined by the United State Consumer Price Index;
• that a housing equity allowance be provided for those clergy living in church furnished housing;
and be it further

Resolved, That comparative information on compensation and benefit levels and practices among the parishes be available to all and be provided annually to vestries.

Proposer: Diocesan Council

Explanation:
Canon 6.7 of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, requires that Diocesan ÒCouncil shall review the minimum stipend and travel allowance of the Clergy* of the Diocese and shall recommend the same to Convention with regard to proper support of the [ordained] ministry.
This resolution provides for justice and equity for ordained priests in a system within which one does not normally work to get an increase in pay.

The dollar increase proposed in this resolution, ($540) is based on 1% of the 2003 median stipend for clergy (compensated full time) in the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont ($54,530).
Clergy living in a rectory do not acquire equity in the property over time. An equity allowance of $2,400 per year would yield a sum that would offset, either partially or totally, the cost of a down payment for a house.

Regarding the publication of compensation information, the Clergy Compensation Committee (CCC) would be asked to consider all the issues and potential consequences of such an action. The CCC would then submit a report of their findings, plus recommendations, to Diocesan Council for action.

* References to "clergy" in this resolution and in the Canons refer primarily to ordained priests, since in the Diocese of Vermont, deacons do not generally receive stipends.