D077 (Celebrating and Continuing the Work and Witness of the Church of the Advocate, Site of the Ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven)

House of Deputies Message #206

The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 26, 2024 it considered resolution D077 (Celebrating and Continuing the Work and Witness of the Church of the Advocate, Site of the Ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven). The house acted to:

Adopt with Amendment


Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention celebrate with joy the fiftieth anniversary of the Ordination of The Philadelphia Eleven, which occurred in July of 1974 in the Church of the Advocate in the City of Philadelphia; and be it further,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention, lamenting the sins of racial and social bigotry and gender discrimination, commend the past and present clergy and lay leadership of the Church of the Advocate for their steadfast commitment to faithful service to the people of North Philadelphia, particularly its ministry of racial justice under the Reverend Paul Washington (1962-1987) and celebrate his role in offering the Church of the Advocate for the Ordination of The Philadelphia Eleven, which occurred in July of 1974 in the City of Philadelphia; and be it further,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention, recognizing recognize the continued significance of the Church of the Advocate in The Episcopal Church’s efforts to overcome reckon with the sins of racial bigotry and gender discrimination;, hereby adopt the Church of the Advocate as a Center for Reconciliation and Justice within the Episcopal Church, and be it further,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention exhort the Bishops, Clergy, and People of The Episcopal Church to support the continued work and witness of the Church of the Advocate and commend and develop it as a pilgrimage site for the whole church. through all channels; and be it further,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention direct The Episcopal Church Office of Development to liaise with the leadership of the Church of the Advocate and the Diocese of Pennsylvania to develop a long term plan towards the restoration of the Advocate’s physical facilities, and be it further,

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church Office of Development make a progress report on the status of the Church of the Advocate building to the 82nd General Convention, and be it further,

Resolved, The General Convention request the Executive Council to allocate $25,000 for the Church of the Advocate to enable it to access up to $200,000 in matching grants from Partners for Sacred Spaces.