Full Legislative History
Resolution Number: 2015-A183
Title: Encourage Study of the Issue of Mass Incarceration
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church encourage all dioceses, congregations, schools, and other faith communities of The Episcopal Church over the next triennium to commit to studying one of the most pressing social justice issues of our time, “mass incarceration;” and be it further

Resolved, That dioceses, congregations, schools, and other faith communities consider using the New York Times bestseller, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness” by Michelle Alexander as a common text that invites the people of The Episcopal Church into engagement; and be it further

Resolved, That Convention acknowledge that each Diocese in the U.S. and in the other 16 countries of The Episcopal Church may have different circumstances and disparities in the imprisonment of its racial and ethnic minorities when compared to its dominant population and therefore should adapt this triennial study to its unique circumstances by identifying and developing additional resources to address same; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church instruct the DFMS Justice and Advocacy Ministry Team and the DFMS Diversity Ministry Team to work together to compile and distribute to Dioceses and make easily accessible on The Episcopal Church website a tool kit of relevant study and discussion guides; print, and video, and Internet resource materials; and other information.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 439-440.