The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C027)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America urge the Security Council of the United Nations and the President and Congress of the United States to take immediate action to lift economic sanctions which are causing the deaths of an estimated five to six thousand Iraqi civilians, the majority of them children, each month; specifically, lifting all restrictions on the import of food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, medical texts and journals, and equipment and materials needed to rebuild Iraqis infrastructure to provide sewage treatment, safe drinking water, and electric power; without restriction on the sale of Iraqi oil needed to pay for such imports, or prohibition on the import of equipment for the rebuilding and operation of Iraq's petroleum industry; and be it further

Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of American express our loving concern for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Christians, Muslims, Jews and people of other faiths, and that we ask our congregations to keep them in their prayers along with those in the United Nations and our own government who must make difficult decisions regarding world peace and security, to the end that they may act with love and compassion for the innocent victims of power struggles between political forces; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the members of the United Nations Security Council, the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs, and United Senators and Representatives.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America urge the Security Council of the United Nations and the President and Congress of the United States to take immediate action to lift economic sanctions which are causing the deaths of an estimated five to six thousand Iraqi civilians, the majority of them children, each month; specifically, lifting all restrictions on the import of food, medicine, medical supplies and equipment, medical texts and journals and equipment and materials needed to rebuild Iraqis infrastructure to provide sewage treatment, safe drinking water and electric power; without restriction on the sale of Iraqi oil needed to pay for such imports, or prohibition on the import of equipment for the rebuilding and operation of Iraq's petroleum industry restrictions on normal trade in civilian goods with Iraq while retaining appropriate political sanctions and a strict embargo on military-related items; and be it further

Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of American express our loving concern for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Iraq, Christians, Muslims, Jews and people of other faiths, and that we ask our congregations to keep them in their prayers along with those in the United Nations and our own government who must make difficult decisions regarding world peace and security, to the end that they may act with love and compassion for the innocent victims of power struggles between political forces; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the members of the United Nations Security Council, the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs, and United States Senators and Representatives.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #79)