Resolution Number: 2000-C025
Title: Urge a Response to Issues of Sexual and Domestic Violence
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention call upon every congregation within the church to designate at least one Sunday each year during one of the following months:

a.April (National Sexual Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month) or
b.May (Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month) or
c.October (National Domestic Violence Awareness Month)

for special prayers for all whose lives have been affected by any form of sexual, domestic, or family violence, remembering in particular those who have been violated by sexual misconduct within the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call upon the National Church Center to make available to every congregation within the church educational opportunities for its members about practical, pastoral, spiritual, and/or theological issues related to the problems of sexual or domestic violence and call upon congregations to make an active and ongoing response to these problems in their local community.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 326f.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Social and Urban Affairs

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C025)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention call upon every congregation within the church to designate one Sunday each year during the Month of April which is National Sexual Abuse Prevention/National Sexual Assault Awareness month or during the month of October which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month for special prayers for those whose lives have been impacted by any form of sexual or domestic violence including in particular those whose lives have been impacted by sexual misconduct within the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call upon every congregation within the church to provide educational opportunities for its members about practical, pastoral, spiritual, and/or theological issues related to the problems of sexual or domestic violence each year during both April and October and a call to an active response to these problems in their local community.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention call upon every congregation within the church to designate one Sunday each year during the Month of April which is National Sexual Abuse Prevention/National Sexual Assault Awareness month or during the month of October which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month for special prayers for those whose lives have been impacted by any form of sexual or domestic violence including in particular those whose lives have been impacted by sexual misconduct within the church at least one Sunday each year during one of the following months:

a.April (National Sexual Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month) or
b.May (Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month) or
c.October (National Domestic Violence Awareness Month)

for special prayers for all whose lives have been affected by any form of sexual, domestic, or family violence, remembering in particular those who have been violated by sexual misconduct within the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call upon the National Church Center to make available to every congregation within the church to provide educational opportunities for its members about practical, pastoral, spiritual, and/or theological issues related to the problems of sexual or domestic violence and call upon congregations to make an active and ongoing each year during both April and October and a call to an active response to these problems in their local community.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #159)

House of Bishops

The Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #30 on HD Message #159 on Resolution C025 (Sexual and Domestic Violence Awareness) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #234)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 13.

Abstract:   The 73rd General Convention calls upon congregations to designate at least one Sunday each year for education, prayer, and local response to issues of sexual and domestic violence, and requests educational resources for congregations.