The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on National and International Concerns presented its Report #6 on Resolution B002 (Response to Global Warming) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(B002)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention affirm that Global Warming threatens the future of God’s good creation; and be it further

Resolved, That the effects of Global Warming disproportionately hurt the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the United States and around the world; and be it further

Resolved, That it commend the following statement as a resource for Episcopalians to address Global Warming in their own lives and in their parishes and dioceses:

“Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” by the Evangelical Climate Initiative Human-induced climate change is real. The Consequences of climate change will be significant and will hit the poor the hardest. Christian moral convictions demand our response to the climate change problem. The need to act is urgent. Government, businesses, churches and individuals all have a roll to play in addressing climate change now.

And be it further

Resolved, That the Washington Office of The Episcopal Church support efforts that seek to reduce Global Warming, including legislation that increase the supply of clean energy and reduce consumption of fossil fuels; and be it further

Resolved, That the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Council work with the leadership of the Global Warming Shareholder Campaign, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), and the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) to invest The Episcopal Church’s endowments in companies that are working for a sustainable global environment and divest from those companies that are irresponsible contributors to Global Warming; and be it further

Resolved, That the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Council call upon the expertise of Episcopalians who are closely connected with the Global Warming Shareholder Campaign to assist with this reinvestment initiative; and be it further

Resolved, That the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Council report the results of the reinvestment initiative to Executive Council no later than their meeting of fall 2007.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention affirm that Global Warming threatens the future of God’s good creation; and be it further

Resolved, That and the effects of Global Warming disproportionately hurt the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the United States and around the world; and be it further

Resolved, That it commend the following statement as a resource for Episcopalians to address Global Warming in their own lives and in their parishes and dioceses:

“Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” by the Evangelical Climate Initiative Human-induced climate change is real. The Consequences of climate change will be significant and will hit the poor the hardest. Christian moral convictions demand our response to the climate change problem. The need to act is urgent. Government, businesses, churches and individuals all have a roll to play in addressing climate change now.

And be it further

Resolved, That the Washington Office ofThat Episcopalians and The Episcopal Church at every level support efforts that seeks to reduce Global Warming, including national and international legislation that increases the supply of clean energy and reduces consumption of fossil fuels; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention commend the Executive Council and particularly its Socially Responsible Investment Committee (SRI) for the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Councilwork they are now doing with the leadership ofthe Global Warming Shareholder Campaign (GWSC), Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR),and the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) and the leadership they exercise as a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)to invest The Episcopal Church’s endowments in companies that are working for a sustainable global environment and divest from those companies that are irresponsible contributors to Global Warming; and be it further

Resolved, That the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Council call upon the expertise of Episcopalians who are closely connected with the Global Warming Shareholder Campaign to assist with this reinvestment initiative; and be it further

Resolved, That the Social Responsibility in Investments Committee of the Executive Council report the results of the reinvestment initiative to Executive Council no later than their meeting of fall 2007.

Resolved, That the Convention urge the Executive Council and its SRI to:

(a) use resources of The Episcopal Church, including its investments, to promote a sustainable global environment;

(b) seek by shareholder resolutions to change current policies and behaviors of those companies that are significant contributors to Global Warming, and if necessary, divest from those companies;

(c) call upon the expertise of Episcopalians who are closely connected with the GWSC to assist in this initiative;

(d) report the results of this initiative to Executive Council no later than its fall meeting in 2007.

The Bishop Suffragan of Alabama moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the second resolve clause, add “the Washington Office of Government Relations.”

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution B002 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #155)