The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Resolutions
R-7 Sudan Leadership and Support
As adopted by the 213 th Annual Council.
Whereas, in mid-February 2008, the Episcopal Church of the Sudan is scheduled to elect
a successor to the Most Reverend Joseph Marona, who retired as archbishop of
Sudan on December 31, 2007; and
Whereas, the Diocese of Virginia, together with a number of its parishes, clergy and
people, has worked closely with several dioceses in the Episcopal Church of
the Sudan since 1997; and
Whereas, the Diocese of Virginia has helped to fund the January 2008 Conference
on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation in Juba, Sudan, carried out under the
auspices of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan; now therefore be it
Resolved, by this 213 th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia:
1. We extend our best wishes to Archbishop Marona on his retirement and
for his good health, and give thanks for his courageous leadership of the
Episcopal Church of the Sudan.
2. We urge our churches, missions, clergy and people to pray regularly for
peace in the Sudan and for God’s wisdom and guidance for the Episcopal
Church in the Sudan as it elects a new Archbishop.
3. We pledge our continued cooperation and engagement with the vital
ministries of reconciliation and hope being carried out by the Episcopal
Church of the Sudan.
R-8a Sudan Divestment
As adopted by the 213 th Annual Council.
Whereas, the government of Sudan has engaged in genocide in the western area of that
nation known as Darfur since March 2003; and
Whereas, more than 400,000 civilians have died in this genocide, with another 2.5 million
civilians displaced from their homes, with the atrocities continuing; and
Whereas, since 2004, Congress, the then-Secretary of State and President Bush all have
labeled the atrocities in Darfur as “genocide”; and
Whereas, international diplomatic efforts thus far have failed to end the genocide in
Darfur; and
Whereas, numerous foreign corporations provide the funding that allows the
government of Sudan to continue the genocide through investments in its oil,
power and mineral industries, and
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia invests in many of these corporations,
particularly through the Virginia Retirement System funds; now therefore be it
Resolved, that this 213 th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia urge the General
Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to pass House Bill 556
(“Retirement System; investments related to Sudan”) as well as Senate Bill 87,
both of which would divest all Commonwealth funds from corporations that
support the genocide in Darfur; and be it further
Resolved, that this Council urges the Diocese of Virginia and the members of this
Diocese to examine our own investments and divest from any companies that
support the government of Sudan in its genocidal actions in Darfur.
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 129