Resolution Number: 2003-A014
Title: Support Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, believing that a wider availability of embryonic stem cells for medical research holds the potential for discovery of effective treatment of a wide variety of diseases and other medical conditions;

(A)Support the choice of those who wish to donate their early embryos, remaining after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures have ended; and
(B)

Urge that the United States Congress pass legislation that would authorize federal funding for derivation of and medical research on human embryonic stem cells that were generated for IVF and remain after fertilization procedures have been concluded, provided that:

  1. these early embryos are no longer required for procreation by those donating them and would simply be discarded;
  2. those donating early embryos have given their prior informed consent to their use in stem cell research;
  3. the embryos were not deliberately created for research purposes;
  4. the embryos were not obtained by sale or purchase; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention of The Episcopal Church urge the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an interdisciplinary oversight body for all research in both the public and private sectors that involves stem cells from human embryos, parthenotes, sperm cells, or egg cells, and have this body in place within six months of passing such legislation; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention of The Episcopal Church direct the Secretary of General Convention to communicate this resolution to appropriate members and committees of the United States Congress and direct the Office of Government Relations to identify and advocate the legislation called for by this resolution.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 613f.

Legislative History

Author: The Executive Council: Ethics and the New Genetics Task Force
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Social and Urban Affairs

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #5 on Resolution A014 (Approve Research on Human Stem Cells) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A014)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 74th General Convention support the choice of those who wish to donate their early embryos, remaining after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures have ended, for embryonic stem cell research, and urge the United States Congress to pass legislation that would authorize federally funded research for the derivation and use of human stem cells from early embryos that have been donated for such research by those who have completed IVF procedures, provided that:

  • these early embryos are no longer required for procreation by those donating them;
  • those donating early embryos have given their prior informed consent to their use in stem cell research;
  • directors of fertility clinics from which early embryos are obtained certify that they were not deliberately created for research; and
  • directors of fertility clinics and stem cell investigators certify that such early embryos have not been obtained through sale or purchase; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention urge the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an interdisciplinary oversight body for all research in both the public and private sectors that involves stem cells from human embryos, parthenotes, sperm cells, or egg cells and have this body in place within six months of passing such legislation.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 74th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, believing that a wider availability of embryonic stem cells for medical research holds the potential for discovery of effective treatment of a wide variety of diseases and other medical conditions;

(A)Urge that adult stem cell research continue;
(B)Support the choice of those who wish to donate their early embryos, remaining after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures have ended; and
(C)Urge that the United States Congress pass legislation that would authorize federal funding for derivation of and medical research on human embryonic stem cells that were generated for IVF and remain after fertilization procedures have been concluded, provided that:
  1. These early embryos are no longer required for procreation by those donating them and would simply be discarded;
  2. Those donating early embryos have given their prior informed consent to their use in stem cell research;
  3. The embryos were not deliberately created for research purposes;
  4. The embryos were not obtained by sale or purchase; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church urge the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an interdisciplinary oversight body for all research in both the public and private sectors that involves stem cells from human embryos, parthenotes, sperm cells, or egg cells, and have this body in place within six months of passing such legislation; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church direct the Secretary of General Convention to communicate this resolution to appropriate members and committees of the United States Congress and direct the Office of Government Relations to identify and advocate the legislation called for by this resolution.

Deputy Rehill of Newark moved to amend the substitute resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the word "adult" in the sentence: "Urge that adult stem cell research continue."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Simons of Pittsburgh moved to terminate debate.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on substitute Resolution A014 as amended.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #41)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #3 on HD Message #41 on Resolution A014 (Approve Research on Human Stem Cells) and moved concurrence.

The Bishop of Pittsburgh moved to refer the resolution to the House of Bishops Committee on Theology.

Motion failed

The Bishop Suffragan of New York moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete section A and renumber sections B and C.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on Resolution A014 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #108)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #17 on HB Message #108 on Resolution A014 (Approve Research on Human Stem Cells) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #223)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, August 7.

Report Reference:   Executive Council: Ethics and the New Genetics Task Force, Reports to the 74th General Convention, 2003, pp. 63-69.
Abstract:   The 74th General Convention supports research on remaining embryonic stem cells generated by IVF, and urges Congress to pass legislation to fund this research.