The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(B006)

Whereas, the Archbishop of Canterbury, during his 1981 visit to Iowa, and John Paul, the Bishop of Rome, during his 1980 visit to Iowa, called the attention of people the world over to Christian responsibility in relation to land use; and

Whereas, worldwide problems of hunger and malnutrition are shockingly evident at present and may increase in the future, causing social tension and warfare; and

Whereas, the world's farmland base is threatened by the conversion of prime cropland to non-agricultural uses; and

Whereas, soil erosion is increasing and topsoil is disappearing at unacceptable rates; and

Whereas, the land is God's gift to us for nourishment of all his children; and

Whereas, as God's stewards we are responsible and accountable for the use and care of the land; therefore be it

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 1982 General Convention directs the Executive Council to:

1. Give high priority to developing and promoting an educational process to assist congregations in understanding our Christian responsibilities and actions in our several Dioceses as we are confronted with the increasing problems of land use, soil erosion, and their relationship to world hunger and arms control.
2. Urge the President and the Congress to proceed, without delay, to draft and enact legislation to promote the judicious use of our land resources and to develop and declare a national Land Use Ethic.
   

Seconded by the Bishop Suffragan of Virginia.

Motion carried

(Communicated to House of Deputies in HB Message #146)