The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(B018)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the Episcopal Communicators, the network of professional and volunteer communication professionals at every level of the Church, meeting in Durango, Colorado, May 14-18, 1997, strongly urges the General Convention to state that it is the policy of the Episcopal Church that there be parity between clerical and lay employees serving in equivalent positions in regards to salary, pension, insurance, and other benefits, including medical coverage and professional development, according to fair labor practices as defined and enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission of the U.S. Labor Department; and be it further

Resolved, That the compensation level for lay persons serving the Church as independent contractors should be sufficient to allow the contract employee to pay for benefits equal to that provided to salaried employees, the aim being that contract labor should not be used to avoid paying benefits.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the Episcopal Church recognizes in its employment policy the parity between clergy and lay employees serving in equivalent positions with regard to salary, pension, insurance and benefits, including medical and professional development as described by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission of the United States Department of Labor; and be it further

Resolved, That all dioceses, churches and institutions of the Episcopal Church be urged to make and implement this policy for all such employees; and be it further

Resolved, That compensation and benefits for non-professional contract and temporary employees accord with United States fair labor policies.

Bishop Theuner (New Hampshire) moved an amendment to the committee substitute.

Proposed

Amendment:

In the substitute, lines 1-2, delete "recognizes in its employment policy the" and add "recommends".

In the substitute, second Resolved clause, line 2, delete "policy" and add "recommendation".

Bishop Vest (Southern Virginia) moved to call the question on the amendment.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment to the substitute for Resolution B018.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Bishop Vest moved to call question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the substitute as amended for Resolution B018.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #204)