A129 Resolution for a Forensic Audit of the Funds of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That this 80th General convention directs the Executive Council and the Presiding Officers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society conduct a forensic audit of the financial assets of the church that are directly tied to historical and current racial injustices and to report the results to the Executive Council prior to the 81st General Convention, and be it further
Resolved, That this 80th General Convention urges the Church Pension Group to conduct a forensic audit of its financial assets, and to report the results to its constituents, and be it further
Resolved, That this 80th General Convention urges each diocese to conduct its own forensic audit of their financial assets, and be it further
Resolved, That this 80th General Convention directs the Executive Council to make financial resources available to aid dioceses who may be financially unable to conduct such forensic audits of their finances.
Explanation
This resolution is part of our reckoning with our church’s participation in and complicity with historical and current racial injustices. Forensic audits of other institutions have revealed the depth and breadth of this direct involvement and complicity. This kind of audit will produce data that will make a measure of healing old hurts and righting old wrongs possible.
The General Convention does not have the authority to require dioceses and other Episcopal institutions to follow suit with their own forensic audits. However, if passed, this resolution will carry moral authority in commending a piece of reckoning to the dioceses and other institutions who have not yet done such an audit. If passed, the Executive Council will be obligated to provide some financial assistance to dioceses that need it in order to comply with the intent of the resolution.