D090 The Church’s Teaching on Racism
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church reaffirms previous General Convention resolutions on racism and that these shall be considered part of the Church’s teaching on racism; and be it further
Resolved, that the General Convention invites the House of Bishops to develop and promulgate apostolic teaching on racism to form part of the Church’s teaching on racism; and be it further
Resolved, that the Church’s Christian principles to guide responses to human migration (2018-D009) and all previous General Convention resolutions concerning migrants and migration shall be part of the Church’s teaching on racism; and be it further
Resolved, that racism, racially-biased behavior, and teaching contrary to the Church’s teaching on racism is an anathema to the Church.
Explanation
This resolution aims to identify existing Church teaching that can form the body of the Church’s teaching on racism and invite the House of Bishops as a body to add teaching and apostolic witness to the Church’s teaching on racism.
Canon III.8.5.h.4, training for priests, lists “the Church’s teaching on racism.”
Canon III.6.5.g.4, training for deacons, lists “the Church’s teaching on racism.”
Canon III.10.1.c.4, evidence of training for the reception of clergy from other Churches, lists “the Church’s teaching on racism.”
Canon III.12.5.viii.4, training for a Bishop, lists “the Church’s teaching on racism.”
The 71st General Convention rejected racism toward immigrants and requested the Church respond (1994-D132).
The 72nd General Convention reaffirmed previous General Convention resolutions on racism (1997-A039).
The 73rd General Convention resolved to require anti-racism training (2000-B049).
The 79th General Convention resolved that the “the essential components of anti-racism or racial reconciliation training to include liturgy, history, a didactic component, and engagement; and supports the development of resources and best practices for dismantling racism” (2018-A044).
Previous General Conventions have recommitted to anti-racism work (2000-A047, 2003-A010, 2003-D025, 2012-A125 & 2012-A127) and directed the Church to enter into dialogue about systemic racial injustice (2015-A182).