Sample of Past Diocesan Resolutions D-164 CONCERNING; Global Reconciliation and 0.7% giving for international development SUBMITTED BY: Metro II Convocation

1. RESOLVED, that the 164th convention of the Diocese of Missouri affirm and embrace the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that pledge to:
1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2) achieve universal primary education
3) promote gender equality and empower women
4) reduce child mortality
5) improve maternal health
6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7) ensure environmental stability, and
8) develop a global partnership for development; and be it further

2. RESOLVED, that this Diocese of Missouri, as a part of fulfilling its mission to "reconcile all people to God and each other in Christ," and in accordance with the challenge set forth by the 73rd and 74th General Convention (2000 and 2003) and the 1998 Lambeth Conference:
1) set a goal to begin in 2005 to give 0.7% of the annual diocesan budget to fund international development programs
2) beginning with 2005, encourages the Bishop of Missouri to dedicate 0.7% of the income from the Thompson Memorial Trust to fund international development programs
3) challenges all communities of faith in the Diocese of Missouri to give 0.7% of their budgets to international development programs, and be it further

3. RESOLVED, that the Bishop of Missouri appoint a diocesan Commission on Global Reconciliation, whose charge will include (but not be limited to)
1)  making informed recommendations to the Bishop and Diocesan Council about the disbursement of the 0.7% funds.
2)  in 2004 develop a plan for raising, through appeal to the faith communities and institutions of the Diocese of Missouri, an amount equal to the 0.7% of the diocesan budget to be used for international development, and to recommend to the Diocesan Council that the cost of this plan be included in the 2005 Program Budget.
3)  building an accessible database of and facilitating connections among all ministries in the diocese engaged in world mission and international development and to recommend to the Diocesan Council that the cost of this database be included in the 2005 Program Budget
4)  providing opportunities for education about and engagement with works of global reconciliation - including using our connection in the Anglican communion to build relationships with people and communities in the developing world, and be it further

4. RESOLVED, that all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Missouri are encouraged to contact their elected representatives urging them to support the United States' government's fulfillment of its commitment to funding international development aid at 0.7% of U.S. GNP; and that the Secretary of Convention shall write the President of the United States and each of the members of the U.S. Congress representing Missouri, that the Diocese of Missouri, meeting in Convention, urges them to support the United States' government's fulfillment of its commitment to funding international development aid at 0.7% of U.S. GNP.

RATIONALE
Every day 25,000 people worldwide die needlessly because food and basic health care is not available to them. In September, 1999, all 191 members of the United Nations pledged support to the Millennium Development Goals, a mutually agreed upon structure for the nations of the world to join together and practically address the eight biggest threats to human security in the world today. (For more information, see www.developmentgoals.com)

The U.S. government fails to meet a 30-year-old commitment of giving 0.7% of GNP to international development aid and is last in giving among the 20 richest nations (at less than 0.1% of GNP). The Episcopal Church can lead by example in contributing 0.7% of annual budgets to international relief and development, as directed by Lambeth 1998 and General Convention 2000 and 2003 - all of which challenged the church to fund international development at the 0.7% rate promised by all member nations of the United Nations in September, 1999.

Our diocesan budgets for 2001 and 2002 included funding for international development at this level. In 2003, funding at 0.7% was initially in the budget but was cut by Council in June in response to a decrease in projected revenue. The line item for international development in the 2004 budget being presented to this convention is $0.

It is especially appropriate at this time, when both our nation and our church are experiencing strained relationships with our sisters and brothers around the globe, that we commit in a tangible way to works of love, mercy and reconciliation on a global scale.

The existence of a Global Reconciliation Commission in our diocese will considerably further this work and deepen it beyond the important initial financial level. Many congregations and individuals are currently engaged in ministry in the developing world, yet communications among these ministries are sporadic. The GRC would be able to forge connections among ministries, provide easy plug-in for interested Episcopalians and highlight where that gaps are for people or communities who want to start something new. It would also allow us to interface with larger organizations in the church who are trying to database nationally (such as the Cambridge Consultation - see www.cambridgeconsultation.org)

The GRC would also prevent this from becoming a line item in our annual budget without which we had personal engagement.