The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D130)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church declare its commitment to the right of all religious believers to the practice of their faith without interference or restriction; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention extend to its Anglican brothers and sisters, and to all Christian believers in the Middle East and in the Islamic world its commitment to them and to prayer and action on their behalf; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention urge those Episcopalians and members of the Anglican Communion engaged in inter-religious dialogue, either as official representatives or unofficially, to raise questions and concerns when appropriate about abuses of religious liberty and restraints on Christians in the Middle East and the Islamic world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Washington Office of the Episcopal Church present known religious liberty problems in the Middle East to the U.S. Department of State, and to members of Congress, and otherwise encourage the U.S. government to stress the importance of religious liberty and human rights in the development and execution of U.S. foreign policy; and be it further

Resolved, That education programs and materials developed within the Episcopal Church on the Middle East give attention to the religious minorities in the region.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

[In the fourth Resolved] delete the first "and" and after the word "Congress," add "and to persons doing business in these lands."

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #250)