Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 2003-A026
Title: Direct Executive Council to Appoint a Task Force on Baptismal Parity
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention commit itself to using language and visual images that reflect the diversity of age, sex, ethnicity, disability, and race among the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention direct the Executive Council to appoint a task force to (1) explore ways to include all who are created in God's image in our use of biblical and theological language and our use of visual images; (2) create guidelines that assure inclusion of persons of both sexes, and all ages, ethnicities and races; and (3) encourage incorporation of these guidelines in the everyday worship, music, education, preaching, written materials, and visual art used at the congregational, diocesan, and national levels of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force include theologians, members of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the Committee on the Status of Women, the House of Bishops Theology Committee, representatives of the ethnic desks, and the Episcopal News Service; and be it further

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $35,500 ($34,000 for two meetings of the Task Force and $1,500 for communication of these guidelines) for implementation of this resolution.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 182.