| Resolution Number: | 1997-A138 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Affirm the Tithe As the Minimum Standard of Giving |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred As Substituted and Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That this 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the tithe as the minimum standard of individual giving for Episcopalians; and be it further
Resolved, That we the Deputies and Bishops of this Convention do hereby affirm through our signatures that we are tithing, or that we have adopted, or will adopt, a plan to tithe within the next three years; and be it further
Resolved, That we call each diocese, congregation and individual of this Church to join us in accepting and teaching the tithe as the minimum standard of individual Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That each diocese and congregation engage in a process to adopt its own stewardship statement affirming the tithe as the minimum standard of individual Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development report to the 73rd General Convention the results of the processes in the Dioceses and Congregations so that the models may be shared Church wide; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention be directed to distribute signatory pages for Bishops and Deputies of each diocese signifying their commitment to the tithe as the minimum standard of individual Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to collect the signatures with this resolution and publish the list of signatures in the Journal.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997 (New York: General Convention, 1998), p. 163. |
|---|
Legislative History
| Author: | The Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Committee on Stewardship and Development |
House of Deputies
Original Text of Resolution:
(A138)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the tithe as the minimum standard of giving for Episcopalians; and be it further
Resolved, That we the Deputies and Bishops of this Convention do hereby affirm through our signatures that we are tithing, or that we have adopted, or will adopt, a plan to tithe within the next three years; and be it further
Resolved, That we call all members of this Church to join us in accepting the tithe as the minimum standard of Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention be directed to distribute signatory pages for Bishops and Deputies of each diocese signifying their commitment to the tithe as the minimum standard of giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to collect the signatures with this resolution and publish the list of signatures in the Journal.
Proposed Committee Substitute:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the tithe as the minimum standard of individual giving for Episcopalians; and be it further
Resolved, That we the Deputies and Bishops of this Convention do hereby affirm through our signatures that we are tithing, or that we have adopted, or will adopt, a plan to tithe within the next three years; and be it further
Resolved, That we call each diocese, congregation and individual of this Church to join us in accepting and teaching the tithe as the minimum standard of individual Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That each diocese and congregation engage in a process to adopt its own stewardship statement affirming the tithe as the minimum standard of individual Christian giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development report to the 73rd General Convention the results of the processes in the dioceses and congregations so that the models may be shared church wide; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Convention be directed to distribute signatory pages for Bishops and Deputies of each diocese signifying their commitment to the tithe as the minimum standard of giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to collect the signatures with this resolution and publish the list of signatures in the Journal.
Debate followed on the substitute.
The question was called on the substitute.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on substitute for Resolution A138.
Motion carried
Substitute resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #39)
House of Bishops
The Committee on Stewardship and Development presented its Report # 11 on HD Message #39 on Resolution A138s (Stewardship Petition - the Tithe), moved the resolution, and recommended concurrence.
Bishop Hampton (Assistant, Olympia) moved an amendment.
Proposed Amendment:
In line 2, delete "minimum".
The question was called to terminate debate on the amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the amendment on Resolution A138s.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
The question was called to terminate debate on Resolution A138s.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on concurrence with Resolution A138s.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #146)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 22.
| Report Reference: | Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development, Reports to the 72nd General Convention, 1997, pp. 436-444. |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The 72nd General Convention affirms the tithe as the minimum standard of giving and calls dioceses, congregations and individuals to accept, adopt and teach this model of stewardship. |
| Notes: | The following text was printed in the Journal: "In compliance with the final Resolved clause of resolution 1997-A138, the Secretary collected the signatures of 148 bishops, some illegible. The signatures were placed on file with the General Convention Office. For the list of signatures, see the Supplement to the Journal (pp. 67-81)." |