The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Social Justice and United States Policy presented its Report #29 on Resolution A286 (Keeping Faith With U.S. Military Recruits) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A286)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That The Episcopal Church express its condemnation of the U.S. Department of Defense's sudden policy shift to discharge legal immigrants from their voluntary service in The United States Armed Forces, and be it further

Resolved, That the Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church advocate on behalf of the 10,000 legal immigrants currently serving in the U.S. armed forces with the promise of a pathway to citizenship as well as advocate for soldiers with legal residency recently discharged with no stated reason other than being a non- U.S. citizens, and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church take every opportunity to give prayerful thanks for U.S. military service members born in other countries who have dedicated their lives to defending the values of the freedom and justice for all people, a tradition dating back to the immigrants to North America who fought, sacrificed and gave their lives for the founding of The United States of America.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That The Episcopal Church express its condemnation of the U.S. Department of Defense's suddenpolicy shift to discharge legalnon-citizen immigrants from their voluntary service in The United States Armed Forces, and be it further

Resolved, That the Office of Government Relations urge the US Government to honor its commitments to immigrants currently serving in the US armed forces who are promised a pathway to citizenshipof The Episcopal Church advocate on behalf of the 10,000 legal immigrants currently serving in the U.S. armed forces with the promise of a pathway to citizenship as well as advocate for soldiers with legal residency recently discharged with no stated reason other than being a non- U.S. citizens,; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church take every opportunity to give prayerful thanks for U.S. military service members born in other countries who have dedicated their lives to defending the values of the freedom and justice for all people, a tradition dating back to the immigrants to North America who fought, sacrificed and gave their lives for the founding of The United States of America.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #252)