| Resolution Number: | 2015-B009 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Develop a Digital Evangelism Initiative |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention directs the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to develop and conduct a digital evangelism initiative consisting of several campaigns, with equitable representation among the domestic provinces, with at least one campaign per year in a language other than English, for the benefit of the entire church, and for the purpose of meeting the demand online for the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of The Episcopal Church; to build and maintain a database of prospects; to cultivate those prospects via email, social media, blogs, and other means as shall prove effective; and to partner with dioceses to refer qualified prospects to local congregations, church plants, or other appropriate ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That the budget allocated for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society be assumed to include funding for creating this digital evangelism initiative of $3,000,000; and be it further
Resolved, That The Episcopal Church Development Office is directed to prioritize raising funds for this digital evangelism initiative, with the expectation that $1.5 million will be raised this triennium to support this initiative from dioceses that stand to benefit as well as other interested networks, persons, and entities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society report back to this Convention in three years' time with the results of this initiative, and with a recommendation for or against the creation of a permanent digital missionary presence online of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $3,000,000 for the implementation of this resolution.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), p. 331. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | The Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Evangelism and Communications |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Evangelism and Communications presented its Report #6 on Resolution B009 (Conducting an Online Digital Evangelism Test) and moved adoption with amendment.
Deputy Sparks of Minnesota moved to postpone consideration of the resolution until after the hearing of the House of Deputies Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance.
A vote was taken on the motion. A voice vote was inconclusive. The President called on the Voting Secretary to take an electronic vote.
Point of Order
Deputy Garner of Alabama inquired whether a motion to postpone consideration was in order within the first six minutes of debate on the resolution. The Parliamentarian affirmed that the motion was in order.
The Voting Secretary reported the results of the electronic vote.
Motion carried
Consideration postponed
The House of Deputies Committee on Evangelism and Communications presented its Report #6 on Resolution B009 (Conducting an Online Digital Evangelism Test) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(B009)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 78th General Convention directs the Office of Mission Communications of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to develop and conduct a digital evangelism test consisting of several campaigns, with equitable representation among the domestic provinces, with at least one campaign per year in a language other than English, for the benefit of the entire church, and for the purpose of meeting the demand online for the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of The Episcopal Church; to build and maintain a database of prospects; to cultivate those prospects via email, social media, blogs, and other means as shall prove effective; and to partner with dioceses to refer qualified prospects to local congregations, church plants, or other appropriate ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That the budget allocated for the Mission Communications Office of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society be assumed to include funding for creating this digital evangelism test of no more than $1,500,000, and be it further
Resolved, That The Episcopal Church Development Office is directed to prioritize raising funds for this digital evangelism test, with the expectation that $1.5 million will be raised this triennium to support this test from dioceses that stand to benefit as well as other interested networks, persons, and entities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Office of Mission Communications report back to this Convention in three years' time with the results of this test, and with a recommendation for or against the creation of a permanent digital missionary presence online of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $1,500,000 for the implementation of this resolution.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 78th General
Convention directs the Office of Mission Communications of the
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to develop and conduct a
digital evangelism testinitiative consisting of several
campaigns, with equitable representation among the domestic provinces, with at
least one campaign per year in a language other than English, for the benefit
of the entire church, and for the purpose of meeting the demand online for the
gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of The Episcopal Church; to build
and maintain a database of prospects; to cultivate those prospects via email,
social media, blogs, and other means as shall prove effective; and to partner
with dioceses to refer qualified prospects to local congregations, church
plants, or other appropriate ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That the budget allocated for the Mission
Communications Office of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society
be assumed to include funding for creating this digital evangelism
testinitiative of no more than
$1,500,000$3,000,000, and be it further
Resolved, That The Episcopal Church Development Office is directed to
prioritize raising funds for this digital evangelism
testinitiative, with the expectation that $1.5 million
will be raised this triennium to support this test from dioceses that stand to
benefit as well as other interested networks, persons, and entities; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Office of Mission
Communicationsthe Domestic and Foreign Missionary
Society report back to this Convention in three years' time with the
results of this testinitiative, and with a
recommendation for or against the creation of a permanent digital missionary
presence online of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and
Finance consider a budget allocation of
$1,500,000$3,000,000 for the implementation of this
resolution.
Deputy Van Brunt of Florida moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Amend the third Resolve to read:
Resolved, That The Episcopal Church Development Office is
directedrecommended to prioritize raising funds
for this digital evangelism testinitiative, with the
expectationhope that $1.5 million will be raised
this triennium to support this test from dioceses that stand to benefit as well
as other interested networks, persons, and entities; and be it further
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Deputy Wood of New York moved to end debate on the resolution.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the resolution.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #118)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Evangelism and Communications presented its Report #3 on HD Message #118 on Resolution B009 (Conducting an Online Digital Evangelism Test) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #184)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 1.
| Abstract: | The 78th General Convention directs the development and funding of an online evangelism initiative, which will include several campaigns and a report to General Convention on digital missionary presence. |
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