The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #20 on Resolution D028 (Freedom of Speech and the Right to Boycott) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D028)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church urge the President and the Congress of the United States to reject legislation that would penalize companies and organizations for their participation in nonviolent boycotts on behalf of Palestinian human rights as such legislation, at both federal and state levels, would be an infringement on First Amendment rights, based on the Supreme Court's consistent definition of boycotts as protected speech; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention instruct the Office of Government Relations in Washington to inform legislators of our Church's opposition to the anti-boycott legislation pending in Congress as an infringement on the First Amendment right of free speech, and should such legislation become law, now or in the future, the Convention directs the Executive Council or the Presiding Bishop to file an amicus brief in support of court challenges to the law.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church urge the President and the Congress of the United Statesall elected officials to reject legislation that would penalize companies and organizations for their participation in nonviolent boycotts on behalf of Palestinian human rights as such legislation, at both federal and state levels, would be an infringement on First Amendment rights, based on the Supreme Court's consistent definition of boycotts as protected speech; and be it further

Resolved, That thisthe 79th General Convention instruct the Office of Government Relations in Washington, D.C. to inform legislators of our Church's opposition to the anti-boycott legislation pending in Congress as an infringement on the First Amendment right of free speech,; and be it further

Resolved, That should such legislation become law, now or in the future, and challenged in the Courts, the 79th General Convention encourage directs the Executive Council and or the Presiding Bishop to file in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer to consider filing an amicus brief in support of court challenges to the law.

Deputy Vance of Easton requested an electronic vote on Resolution D028.

An electronic vote was taken on Resolution D028, resulting in 363 yes votes and 448 no votes.

Motion defeated

Resolution rejected

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #303)