Maimie Thomas of the Diocese of South Dakota, one of two official youth members attending the 81st General Convention, spoke to some 2,000 attendees during the June 22, 2024, pre-convention revival held at the KFC Yum! Center. Photo: Randall A. Gornowich
[Episcopal News Service – Louisville, Kentucky] The 81st General Convention is underway in Louisville, as the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops legislative sessions are set to begin today, the official start of the June 23-28 meeting.
A lot can happen on any given day at General Convention, and despite the hard work of the Episcopal News Service team, we cannot write full stories on every development, action or event. Shorter news items will filed instead to these daily digests.
Committees take action on two environmental stewardship and creation care-related resolutions
The Environmental Stewardship & Care of Creation committees met on June 23 for one last time before the House of Bishops and House of Deputies were to convene legislative sessions on the first official day of the 81st General Convention. Bishops and deputies serve on distinct but parallel committees that typically meet together to deliberate and vote on resolutions in advance of legislative sessions.
The committees acted on the following resolutions:
B002, “Build Eco-Region Creation Networks for Crucial Impact.” The resolution calls on General Convention to encourage and equip bishops and dioceses to work together to form strategic “eco-region creation networks” based on shared ecosystems or watersheds. The networks would participate in projects dedicated to slowing climate change through preserving and restoring local plants, as well as agricultural and food systems. If implemented, creation fellows or consultants would navigate the networks and collect data about participating members, projects and properties, and track their progress. The resolution passed as amended.
D050, “Resolution to Complete the Journey to net Carbon Neutrality by 2030,” calls on General Convention to direct all Episcopal institutions to identity and adopt processes to achieve The Episcopal Church’s net carbon neutrality goal by 2030. If implemented, all plans would be reported to the church’s Creation Care Ministry, which would support the development and implementation of the plans through an educational resource hub. The requested budget to implement D050 is $225,000. The resolution was adopted as a substitute resolution.
The committees also discussed A020, “Establish a Standing Commission on Care of Creation and Environmental Racism,” which, despite having elements relevant to Environmental Stewardship & Care of Creation, was discussed in the Governance & Structure committees instead. The resolution was sent to Executive Council.
— Shireen Korkzan