Read other IRD articles covering the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church here.
The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church began on Wednesday, July 8 in Anaheim, California. Much of the controversy (indeed, a large plurality of the resolution introduced at General Convention) addresses the human sexuality debate currently raging within the 2.1 million-member denomination. However, there are many other social witness issues being addressed at General Convention 2009. Below is a summary of some of the controversial resolutions that Anglican Action will be tracking in the coming week:
B006 Title: Immigration: Economic Justice Implications
Proposed by the Rt. Rev. Sanford Z.K. Hampton, Assisting Bishop of Oregon
B006 calls for a moratorium on roadside checkpoints and raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It calls for “a pathway to legalization and to full social and economic integration in to the United States” for undocumented workers (read: amnesty for illegal immigrants.) B006 also calls for termination of any program which allows or funds local enforcement agencies to enforce immigration law.
In the “Explanation” section below the resolution, Bishop Hampton criticizes treaties like NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Agreement) and sites scriptural examples of Jacob’s family as economic refugees due to a famine in the land, and Mary and Joseph as political refugees who sought sanctuary.
D048 Title: Adoption of a “Single Payer” Universal Health Care Program
Proposed by the Rev. Gary Commins, Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, California
D048 urges passage of federal legislation establishing a “single payer” universal health care program which would provide taxpayer-covered health care coverage for all of the people of the United States.
In the “Explanation” section below the resolution, Rev. Commins states that almost one-third (31 percent) of the money spent on health care in the United States goes to administrative costs. He states that single-payer financing is “the best way to recapture this wasted money.” Commins is apparently a great optimist, believing that placing healthcare in the hands of the federal government is the best way to increase efficiency. Perhaps he is not familiar with the U.S. Postal Service and AMTRAK.
“A single-payer system would be financed by eliminating private insurers and recapturing their administrative waste,” Commins explains. “Modest new taxes would replace premiums and out-of-pocket payments currently paid by individuals and business. Costs would be controlled through negotiated fees, global budgeting and bulk purchasing.”
C048 Title: Support for Employment Non-discrimination Act
Proposed by: Diocese of Michigan
C048 supports the passage of ENDA by Congress and its signing into law by the President. The resolution resolves that sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression be included as special classes protected by ENDA.
In the “Explanation” section below the resolution, the Diocese of Michigan states that in most states, transgender, bisexual, lesbian, and gay employees are not protected by state statute from discrimination in employment.
D031 Title: Support for climate change action
Proposed by: Mr. Simon B. “Pete” Ross
D031 urges President Obama and Congressional leaders to commit the United States to rapidly lower atmospheric carbon (CO2) to no more than 350 parts per million (ppm).
D039 Title: Fix Our Broken Labor Laws
Proposed by the Rev. William E. Exner
D039 urges Congress to pass labor law reform legislation concerning collective bargaining, to “simplify and streamline the procedures by which employees may choose to organize, and to assist employers and employees in reaching agreement.” The resolution specifically calls for legislative language to “provide workers the choice of seeking union recognition either through an election, or through a majority sign-up on cards which are then verified by the National Labor Relations Board.”
In the “Explanation” section below the resolution, Exner says that the Employee Free Choice Act would reform the nation’s basic labor laws by requiring employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing union representation. This practice, commonly known as “card check”, would effectively end the secret ballot in union organizing elections.
D060 Title: Reject Nuclear Options
Proposed by the Rev. William E. Exner
D060 calls for the dismantling of existing nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants in the United States, while urging other nations to do likewise.
In the “Explanation” section below the resolution, Exner mentions that “more and more nations threaten to develop and add to the global nuclear arsenal.” One would think that Iran and North Korea would be quickly mentioned – they are not. Instead, the United States is criticized for possessing the largest nuclear stockpile, “the deadly presence of which encourages other nations and clandestine organizations to acquire or produce their own arsenals.” Translation: the U.S. is at fault for rogue states pursuing nuclear weaponry.
“Neither nuclear weaponry, nor the mining of uranium, nor the use of nuclear power are reflective of our faith and role as life-affirming partners with God,” Exner says.
A034 Title: Advocacy for Cuba
Proposed by the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns
Urges continued advocacy for an end to the United States embargo against Cuba, particularly provisions that hamper the mission of the Church in Cuba, including the ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba, stringent limits on financial remittances from the U.S. to Cubans and severe restrictions on the ability of Cuban citizens to visit the United States.
A039 Title: Wall Around Palestine
Proposed by the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns
One of several anti-Israel resolutions, A039 urges the Presiding Bishop and the leadership of the Episcopal Church to actively lobby “to influence and change the policies and behavior of the Israeli, Palestinian and United States governments so as to end the oppression and the ghetto-ization and to bring the Wall down.”
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