The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Resolutions
R-1a Action for Environmental Protection and Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change
As adopted by the 213 th Annual Council.
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council join with those calling for a national interfaith
conference to launch a multi-faith campaign on climate change, to be known
as the “Genesis Covenant”; and be it further
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council respectfully requests that within 30 days of
the passage of this resolution the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
write to the Presiding Bishop to express our support for the “Genesis
Covenant”; and be it further
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council also supports the establishment of an
annual prize, to be known as the “Lee-Atkinson Energy Savers Award,”
to be awarded to that parish or diocesan organization that has made the
most significant energy savings during a one-year period, and that the
standards for the award be recommended by the Diocesan Committee on
the Stewardship of Creation to the Executive Board by March 31, 2008, for
approval and adoption; and be it further
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council encourages and calls upon each of the parishes
of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to conduct an in-house environmental
audit of its energy use, consumption patterns and plant use management; and
be it further
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council recommends that the Episcopal Diocese
of Virginia and its individual parishes and organizations work with
the Diocesan Committee on the Stewardship of Creation and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for Congregations program to
identify ways to save energy and reduce energy costs.
R-3s Inclusiveness in Ordained Ministry
Referred to the Windsor Dialogue Commission of the Diocese of Virginia.
Resolved, that it is the mind of this 213 th Annual Council that in light of the emerging
experience of our Church, we commit to a process of discernment and
reflection on the ordination and service of deacons and priests living in
same-gender relationships and recommend that the Bishop charge the
Windsor Dialogue Commission to expand its process of educational resource
development, town hall meetings and reporting to include this topic.
R-4 Hispanic/Latino Ministry
As adopted by the 213 th Annual Council.
Whereas, the Hispanic/Latino community in the Diocese of Virginia is already a
growing percentage of the population in the regions of the Diocese; and
Whereas, the Diocese of Virginia, having been involved in Hispanic/Latino ministries since
the 1970s, has learned that the Episcopal Church has much to give, teach, receive
and learn in Christian fellowship with the Hispanic/Latino community; and
Whereas, the Diocese of Virginia and some the churches of the Diocese have already
created and planted Hispanic/Latino worship groups and congregations in
several regions within the Diocese; and
Whereas, a large percentage of the Hispanic/Latino community remains unchurched; and
Whereas, a special Joint Task Force of the Commission on Congregational Missions and
the Commission on Church Planting is developing a plan for expansion of this
work in the Diocese of Virginia; now therefore be it
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 127