The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Governance and Structure presented its Report #30 on Resolution D097 (Establish an Advisory Council on Disability and Deaf Access) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D097)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention reaffirm and renew its previous commitments to Resolutions 2003-D051 and 2015-D043, which require the Church to provide persons with disabilities and Deaf people with full independent accessibility to all official and ancillary events of the Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention authorize the establishment of an Advisory Council to guide the implementation of the Church’s commitment to accessibility for people with disabilities and Deaf people; and be it further

Resolved, That the work of the Advisory Council include: a triennial review of progress made toward full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other relevant statutes; consultation with Church staff to ensure that materials, policies, and procedures for accessibility and reasonable accommodations are developed and implemented for each General Convention and ancillary Church event; and developing a means of reconciliation with people who have been excluded from Church events due to lack of accessibility or failure to provide reasonable accommodations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Advisory Council shall consist of between five and nine members, to be appointed jointly by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop, and a majority of the members shall be persons who identify as Deaf and/or disabled.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention reaffirm and renew its previous commitments to Resolutions 2003-D051 and 2015-D043, which require the Church to provide persons with disabilities and Deaf people with full independent accessibility to all official and ancillary events of the Church, including worship; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention direct the Executive Council in consultation with persons with disabilities and the Deaf to review progress made toward full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other relevant statutes; consult with Church staff to ensure that materials, policies, and procedures for accessibility and reasonable accommodations are developed and implemented for each General Convention and ancillary Church events; and develop a means of reconciliation with people who have been excluded from Church events due to lack of accessibility or failure to provide reasonable accommodations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council include such progress in their report to the 80th General Convention on their work.

Deputy Allen of Kansas moved to amend the resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Amend the second and third resolve clauses with an additional fourth resolve clause to read:

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention direct the Executive Council in consultation with persons with disabilities and the Deaf establish a Task Forceto review progress made toward full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other relevant statutes; consult with Church staff to ensure that materials, policies, and procedures for accessibility and reasonable accommodations are developed and implemented for each General Convention and ancillary Church events; and develop a means of reconciliation with people who have been excluded from Church events due to lack of accessibility or failure to provide reasonable accommodations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force shall consist of between five and nine members, to be appointed jointly by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop, and a majority of the members shall be people with disabilities and deaf people; and be it further

Resolved, That theExecutive Council Task Forceinclude such progress in their report to the 80th General Convention on their work.; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $5,000 to allow for the work of this Task Force.

Debate ensued.

Deputy Garner of Alabama moved to end debate on the amendment.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania moved to end debate on the resolution.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on Resolution D097.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #291)