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C11-1
Amend Article 2 of Constitution (Campus Ministry Representation)
Resolved, that The Constitution of the Diocese of Atlanta, Article 2, section 2, paragraph (d), be amended to read as follows:
(d) Also, in addition to the foregoing, each of the campus ministries of the Diocese of Atlanta certified to the Secretary by the Commission on Ministry in Higher Education as having an organized and recognized ministry among students as receiving financial support from the Diocese shall be represented at Diocesan Council by one student Lay Delegate with seat, voice, and vote.
Explanation
We have a number of parish-based campus ministries thriving in the Diocese of Atlanta and hope to encourage more. Since they do not receive direct support from the diocesan budget, they have not been included with representation at Diocesan Council. This proposed amendment was adopted by the 2010 Annual Council on first reading. It must be adopted at this Annual Council on second reading to become effective.
Submitted by the Diocese of Atlanta Commission on Higher Education
R11-1
Suicide Prevention
Resolved, that the 105th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta adopt and reaffirm the resolution on Suicide Prevention adopted by the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church:
1. We affirm our belief that, as St. Paul teaches (Romans 8:39), "Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
2. We pledge ourselves to collaborate with other religious bodies and secular agencies in educating ourselves to recognize and minister more appropriately to those among us who are especially at risk of suicide as well as those who are impacted by the suicide of others; and
3. We urge that all levels of the Episcopal Church, parochial, diocesan, and national, accord high priority to the prevention of suicide in prayers and programming; and
4. We call on the Bishop of Atlanta to appoint a committee of the diocese to lead in accomplishing the collaboration called for above; and
5. We urge the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to make suicide prevention a health priority for the ensuing triennium.
Explanation
About 35,000 people die by suicide in the U.S. each year – an average of one person every 15 minutes. Approximately 800,000 people attempt suicide a year, which translates to a rate of one attempt every 39 seconds. For every completed suicide, at least six survivors of suicide loss (loved ones, friends, and family members) are affected. The number of people who attempt suicide, die by suicide and are affected by suicide is staggering. However, suicide can be one of the most preventable tragedies. Knowing that in many communities mental health services are overwhelmed or even nonexistent, the Church must be an active part of the safety net to bolster the circle of care around people in a suicidal crisis.
Submitted by the Rev. Robert G. Certain, Rector, Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Marietta
R11-2
State of Georgia HB 87 Concerning Immigrants’ Status
Whereas, the Governor of the State of Georgia has signed into law a bill, popularly known as HB 87, that requires police officers, business owners, other government officials, and involving local citizens, in questioning and detaining persons suspected of an undocumented immigration status; and
Whereas, Governor Nathan Deal has appointed an all-white male panel to The Immigration Enforcement Review Board, including a known member of a hate group and excluding women and citizens of Hispanic descent; and
Whereas, HB 87 is inspired by inaction on the part of the United States Congress to enact much-needed comprehensive immigration reforms and by the negative perceptions of persons that have entered our country undocumented; and
Whereas, certain provisions of HB 87 and other requirements of the law are of dubious legal merit and duplicate the role of the Federal Government in administering laws governing immigration status, to whom such laws properly accrue; and
Whereas, HB 87 in a more egregious manner violates the spirit of our nation’s heritage of welcoming people to our shores from all corners of the planet; and
Whereas, the only persons that could reasonably be questioned by police and others as undocumented are people of color and those who lack proficiency in the English language; and
Whereas, profiling by a police officer or ordinary citizen is legally and morally repugnant; and
Whereas, the overwhelming majority of new families seeking to live in the United States of America are providing essential services for our State’s agricultural industry and small business owners; and
Whereas, more importantly, they represent the intent and vision of recreating a nation, as was created for all Americans of foreign descent, of freedom, bravery and new beginnings; and
Whereas, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the moral core of the entirety of Sacred Scripture, are summarized in love of neighbor and welcoming the stranger; now therefore, be it
Resolved, that the 2011 Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, calls upon the United States Congress to act wisely, justly and with due speed to enact comprehensive immigration reforms; and be it further
Resolved, that the Governor remove any member of The Immigration Enforcement Review Board belonging to a hate group and appoint members better reflecting Georgia citizens; and be it further
Resolved, that the Churches of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta continue to welcome this newest generation of immigrants; a people, like ourselves, of diverse lands and that all churches provide them sanctuary and hospitality and encourage all people of good will to the same.
Submitted by the Rev. Christopher Starr, Rector, Church of the Atonement, Sandy Springs, and the Diocesan Commission on Hispanic Ministry
R11-3
Parental Leave
Resolved, in order to care for the well-being of families of our employees in a spirit of generosity for the well-being of our church staff, the Diocese of Atlanta, and parishes, institutions, and schools of the Diocese, are commended to adopt the essential elements of the policy outlined below, as part of their employment practice, and, where applicable, employee handbooks, Letters of Agreement, and policies:
Employees needing leave for the birth or adoption of a child will address this need by application of the employer’s Family and Medical Leave, Personal Leave, Short-Term Disability Leave and vacation policies.
The employer will provide to all eligible employees up to eight (8) weeks of paid Maternity/Paternity Leave due to the birth or adoption of the eligible employee’s child. Maternity/Paternity Leave will normally be taken concurrently with any available Family and Medical Leave and Short-Term Disability Leave.
All eligible employees will also be provided with up to four (4) additional weeks of unpaid leave beyond the eight (8) weeks of paid leave.
An otherwise eligible employee may add available Maternity/Paternity Leave to other paid leave in calculating the total amount of paid leave time that an employee may take in the event of an eligible maternity or paternity situation.
Explanation
The Diocese of Atlanta continues to encourage more young people into the ordained ministry and attract younger clergy to our parishes. It follows, therefore, that parental leave requests will become more prevalent. It is prudent, as fiduciaries of church resources, to plan accordingly. This policy informs that planning, and will further attract younger persons to our diocese.
Submitted by the Task Force on Parental Leave
R11-4
Impact of Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011
Resolved, that the Diocese of Atlanta express to the Governor of Georgia, via official letter, its deep concern over emerging impacts of House Bill 87, titled "The Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011. And be it further
Resolved, that this letter express its concern about and opposition to the unsubstantiated fear and growing hostility that increasing numbers of our fellow citizens of Georgia are inflicting upon other children of God who are living among us (both with and without proper legal permission), a fear and hostility which we believe to be enshrined in the law through our state government's passing of House Bill 87, And be it further
Resolved, that this letter explain that H.B. 87 has had an immediate deleterious effect on ministries supported by Episcopal Charities Foundation, And be it further
Resolved, that this letter state our belief, as Christians, that hospitality, compassion, and fair treatment to the stranger and the migrant is a greater moral compulsion and a greater societal good than is the desire to ensure documentation for every human being we encounter in our state. And be it further
Resolved, that we recognize the chilling effect H.B. 87 has had on both the sacramental and outreach ministries of many of our parishes, on attendance at 12 step-programs, on needy families seeking aid from charitable organizations and on the reporting of domestic abuse and other crimes, while at the same time allowing for the seizure of legitimate green cards and for irreparable harm to families. And be it further
Resolved, that the Diocese of Atlanta send this letter also to the Lieutenant Governor, Casey Cagle, the Speaker of the House, David Ralston, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, and be it further,
Resolved, that the Diocese of Atlanta invite all its parishes prayerfully to consider sending copies of the letter to the newspapers and/or other media outlets which serve their communities (making any such actions known to the Director of the Episcopal Charities Foundation) and that the Bishop of Atlanta appoint the Director and Board Chair of ECF, to handle, on behalf of this Council, all requested correspondence, making copies available on the ECF pages of the diocesan website.
Explanation
During each cycle of grant-making, Episcopal Charities Foundation (ECF) board members coming from all 10 convocations of the diocese) make personal visits to each ministry, charity or agency requesting funds from ECF. During the most recent cycle of visits, in August and early September 2011, board members repeatedly encountered evidence of negative impacts resulting from H.B. 87 (which was enacted by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Governor Nathan Deal in 2011, and went into effect over the summer, between the second and third ECF grant cycles for 2011). Comments from directors and staff members of these charities, as well as from beneficiaries or participants of several of such programs, made it clear that the law as enacted is creating circumstances the ECF Board deems contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These negative impacts include:
+ declining food stocks at food pantries/hunger ministries due to unharvested crops that remained rotting in the fields (which also resulted in):
+ the need for increased spending of cash by food pantries in order to procure sufficient food supplies, thus limiting cash available for other urgent needs
+ the increasing fear of ministry beneficiaries/clients, even those who have legal documentation, who are failing to come forward for any and all services because of the increasingly hostile environment in our state
+ the tearing apart of families who are caught up in attempted or actual deportation actions
The resolution calls attention to these and other deleterious effects of the new law and intends to make our opposition, as people of faith, known to the elected state officials serving our diocese.
Submitted by the Episcopal Charities Foundation Board of Directors
R11-5
The Denominational Health Plan Reporting
Resolved, that congregations and schools within the Diocese of Atlanta report their specific plans to implement the Denominational Health Plan (DHP) to the Canon to the Ordinary (or equivalent office) of the Diocese by June 30, 2012.
Explanation
The General Convention adopted the DHP in 2009. In 2010 the Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta established a policy to provide, at minimum, full single medical coverage to all employees, working 1500 hours or more per year. The DHP Implementation Committee was established as part of this action and is ready to assist congregations and schools in making the transition to this policy. The purpose of this resolution, submitted by the DHP Implementation Committee, is to ensure that all congregations and affected schools plan for their own transitions, and receive help where it is desired, in order that our Diocese is ready by January 1, 2013, at which time we must be in full compliance.
Submitted by the Rev. Michael R. Sullivan, Rector, Holy Innocents’, Atlanta
R11-6
Call for a Halt to the Death Penalty in Georgia
Resolved, that this 105th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta reaffirm its call for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in the state of Georgia, doing so particularly in light of the recent execution of Troy Anthony Davis, which occurred in spite of significant doubt about his guilt, and be it further,
Resolved, that this Council remind itself of the similar call for a moratorium by our General Convention, as well as its repeated statements of opposition to all capital punishment, and to make special note of its call to dioceses, parishes and individual Church members to:
• study the death penalty and reasons for Christian opposition to it, and
• work actively for the abolishment of its use in every instance,
and be it further,
Resolved, that this Resolution be communicated to Governor Nathan Deal, to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House as an expression of the Council’s desire that such legislation be (re)introduced, considered, and enacted at the 2012 Regular Session of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia.
Explanation
This Annual Council in its 99th meeting (2005) called for a moratorium on the death penalty in our state, at that time, doing so particularly in light of the American Bar Association report outlining egregious inequities in the application of capital punishment in the state of Georgia. Those inequities have only grown wider in the interim and an additional 13 people have been put to death in our state.
Now, in light of the execution of Troy Anthony Davis on Sept. 21, 2011, we renew this call for a death penalty moratorium in Georgia. Many in the Diocese of Atlanta continue to be deeply grieved by Mr. Davis’ death. Large numbers of our members, including both our bishops, members of the Executive Board of this Council, and many other clergy and lay leaders worked hard to prevent his death, given his strong case of innocence. Opposition to his execution, and support for his plea for clemency, were given by persons across the political spectrum, including many who generally support the death penalty. For these reasons, Mr. Davis’ execution was especially egregious and gives us pause, as citizens of the state in whose name this execution happened.
Mr. Davis’ death, and the travesty of justice that his execution very likely constitutes, also provides an important incentive to remind ourselves of this Church’s repeated opposition to the death penalty (GC ‘58, ’66, ’79,’ ’00) on theological grounds, since:
• “ the life of an individual is of infinite worth in the sight of Almighty God”
• “the taking of such a human life falls within the providence of Almighty God and not within the right” of fallible human beings
• “the institutionalized taking of human life prevents the fulfillment of Christian commitment to seek the redemption and reconciliation of the offender””
And on practical grounds, since
• there are incarceration alternatives available for those who should not be allowed to return to society.
Submitted by the Rev. Debra Metzgar Shew (Canon for Community Ministries), the Rev. Kimberly Jackson and the Rev. Joseph Shippen, in consultation with other clergy colleagues and lay leaders from across the diocese whose names are available at the death penalty display table
R11-7
Contributions of Pelagius
Whereas the historical record of Pelagius’s contribution to our theological tradition is shrouded in the political ambition of his theological antagonists who sought to discredit what they felt was a threat to the empire, and their ecclesiastical dominance, and whereas an understanding of his life and writings might bring more to bear on his good standing in our tradition, and whereas his restitution as a viable theological voice within our tradition might encourage a deeper understanding of sin, grace, free will, and the goodness of God’s creation, and whereas in as much as the history of Pelagius represents to some the struggle for theological exploration that is our birthright as Anglicans, Be it resolved, that this 105th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta appoint a committee of discernment overseen by our Bishop, to consider these matters as a means to honor the contributions of Pelagius and reclaim his voice in our tradition And be it further resolved that this committee will report their conclusions at the next Annual Council.
Submitted by the Rev. Benno D. Pattison, Rector, the Church of the Epiphany
R11-8
Opposition to Human Trafficking
Resolved, that the 104th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta declare its intention to oppose and prevent human trafficking in all its forms in the state of Georgia; and be it further
Resolved, that the current Task Force on Sex Trafficking become a Commission of the Diocese; and be it further
Resolved, that the commission be named the Commission on Human Trafficking.
Explanation
The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) occurs daily in the state of Georgia. Local governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based organizations work diligently to raise awareness of CSEC, shape policy that directly impacts both its victims and perpetrators, and provide rehabilitative and restorative services to its victims.
Throughout its tenure, the Task Force on Sex Trafficking of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta has become acutely aware of the prevalence of human trafficking in its myriad forms and particularly CSEC. In response, the task force has held educational forums for ordained and lay leaders, developed a list of educational resources for parishes to utilize, and has encouraged volunteerism among Episcopalians related to CSEC.
During its work, this Task Force has recognized the depth and breadth of human trafficking. The Task Force seeks the ability to become a commission of the diocese so that the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta will have a permanent workgroup dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking in its various forms. The Commission will garner the name The Commission on Human Trafficking to illustrate its intent to recognize and reduce all instances of human trafficking within the geographical area encompassed by the diocese.
Submitted by the Task Force on Human Sex Trafficking, the Rev. Maggie Harney, Chair
updated 10/19/2011
posted to website Oct. 11, 2011
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