Resolutions Approved by Convention
Resolution 1
Contribute 0.7% to International Development
in Support of the UN Millennium Development Goals (Approved
unanimously)
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 government's fulfillment of its commitment, made in 2000, to funding international development aid at 0.7% of the U.S. Gross National Income; 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 government's 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 income—less 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 world's 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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Substitute Resolution 2A
Support Biblical Literacy/Stand Against Ways of Interpreting
the Bible Which Oppress
(Substituted for prefiled Resolution 2: Support the Episcopal
Coalition to Abolish Biblical Literalism (ECABL))
RESOLVED, that this 173rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont declare its support for activities and programs that will further our knowledge of, and love for, Holy Scripture and at the same time counter ways of interpreting the Bible which oppress/marginalize certain groups: such as persons of color, persons from different faith traditions, women, and (at this time especially) gay and lesbian persons; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we reinforce the significance of these endeavors by linking them with three 2007 commemorations—
1. the United Kingdom's Abolition of Slave Trade Bicentenary (1807-2007);
2. our own 230th anniversary (1777-2007) of Vermont's (first in the nation) abolition of slavery;
3. our own 175th anniversary of the election of the Diocese of Vermont’s first Bishop, John Henry Hopkins, who wrote about the biblical basis for supporting slavery—
since slavery was another such failure to, in the words of our Baptismal Covenant, “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being,” and it was likewise defended by some on the basis of narrow, literalistic readings of Scripture; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call upon the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to receive a copy of this complete resolution and support all efforts to foster biblical literacy while countering literalistic approaches that have oppressed/marginalized certain groups: such as persons of color, persons from different faith traditions, women, and (at this time especially) gay and lesbian persons; and to support celebrations of the United Kingdom's Abolition of Slave Trade Bicentenary and Vermont's 230th anniversary of this state's abolition of slavery.
Signed: The Rev. Cn. Thaddeus Bennett, Wilmington
Co-Sponsors (as of press time Nov. 2nd): the Rev. Thomas Brown, Brattleboro;
the Rev. Elizabeth M. Stedman, Burlington; the Rev. John Morris, Fairlee;
Ms. Anne Brown, Killington; the Rev. Reid D. Farrell, Jr., Swanton;
the Rev. Lee Crawford, Northfield; the Rev. Tanya Wallace, Burlington.
Explanation:
Anglicanism's threefold authority of Scripture, tradition, and reason
has fostered a wise, healthy, and holy biblical literacy (issuing,
for example, in William Wilberforce's Evangelical understanding of
human slavery as antithetical to God's Word as revealed in Scripture).
It has also been the case within the Anglican Communion that a narrow,
literalistic approach to the Bible has been used at times to support
unjust and immoral positions (including the pro-slavery stance of our
own first Bishop, John Henry Hopkins).
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 furthering the kind of biblical literacy that can help clarify what God's Spirit is saying to today's Church, even on the most contentious and divisive of issues.
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Resolution 3
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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Resolution 4
Establish a Process for Determining Minimum
Clergy Compensation
Referred to Diocesan Council for further clarification.
