The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Education presented its Report #6 on Resolution A136 (Affirming the Compatibility of Science and the Christian Faith) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(A136)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention affirms that there is no inherent contradiction between holding and practicing the Christian faith and practicing or utilizing the outcomes of modern science and medicine; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention affirms that certain characteristics of faith, most explicitly the tenet that reason and tradition are essential to extending our understanding of God’s Creation, are mirrored in science; and be it further

Resolved, That in God’s physical universe, the proper practice of science cannot and does not automatically lead its practitioners or others to lose faith in God, or to be led into beliefs that contradict the existence of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the methods of modern science, when applied to a search for truth, contribute to our understanding of God’s Creation such that we should use scientific information, after diligence as to its acceptance among scientific peers in relevant disciplines, to inform and augment our understanding of God’s Creation, and to aid the Church in developing Christian programs and policies consistent with our faith and our understanding of God’s Creation and our stewardship of it; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention encourages the dioceses and the parishes of The Episcopal Church to establish Christian education programs pertinent to this complementary relationship between science and faith, using the Catechism of Creation compiled by the Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology and Faith.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention affirms that there is no inherent contradiction between holding and practicing the Christian faith and practicing or utilizing the outcomes of modern science and medicine; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention affirms that certain characteristics of faith, most explicitly the tenet that reason and tradition are essential to extending our understanding of God’s Creation, are mirrored in science; and be it further

Resolved, That in God’s physical universe, the proper practice of science cannot and does not automatically lead its practitioners or others to lose faith in God, or to be led into beliefs that contradict the existence of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the methods of modern science, when applied to a search for truth, contribute to our understanding of God’s Creation such that we should use scientific information, after diligence as to its acceptance among scientific peers in relevant disciplines, to inform and augment our understanding of God’s Creation, and to aid the Church in developing Christian programs and policies consistent with our faith and our understanding of God’s Creation and our stewardship of it; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention encourages the dioceses and the parishes of The Episcopal Church to establish Christian education programs pertinent to this complementary relationship between science and faith, using resources such as the Catechism of Creation compiled by the Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology and Faith.

Deputy Holt of Central Florida moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment

Delete “, using resources such as the Catechism of Creation compiled by the Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology and Faith”.

Communications from the President

The President announced that, as the House was nearing the time of recess, debate would be put on hold and continued at the afternoon legislative session.

House of Deputies

Announcement of the President

The President announced that, during the recess, lines 20-22 of Resolution A136 were ruled out of order according to Rule 12 of the Joint Rules of Order. The President ruled that lines 20-22 be stricken from the resolution. The President then opened the floor for debate on the original resolution.

Deputy Estes of West Missouri moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment

Add “using resources compiled by the Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology and Faith.”

Deputy Brown of Western Michigan moved to amend the amendment.

Proposed Amendment

Following “using resources” add “such as those compiled by the Executive Council Committee on Science, Technology and Faith.”

Deputy King of Western New York moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment to the amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania moved the previous question.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #54)