Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred.  Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>

That the 81st General Convention amend Title III, Canon 9.8 to raise the mandatory retirement age for Priests from 72 to 75 years of age.

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text:>

Title III Canon 9 Sec. 8 Resignation

On reaching the age of seventy-five years, a Priest shall resign from all positions in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. Thereafter, the Priest may accept any position in this Church, including, with the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority, the position or positions from which resignation pursuant to this Section has occurred;

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Title III Canon 9 Sec. 8 Resignation

On reaching the age of seventy-two seventy-five, a Priest shall resign from all positions in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. Thereafter, the Priest may accept any position in this Church, including, with the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority, the position or positions from which resignation pursuant to this Section has occurred;

And be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Title III Canon 7.7 to raise the mandatory retirement age for Deacons from 72 to 75 years of age.

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text:>

Title III Canon 7 Sec. 7. On reaching the age of seventy-five years, a Deacon shall resign from all positions of active service in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. The Bishop may, with the consent of the Deacon, assign a resigned Deacon to any congregation, other community of faith or ministry in another setting, for a term not to exceed twelve months, and this term may be renewed.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Title III Canon 7 Sec. 7. On reaching the age of seventy-two seventy-five years, a Deacon shall resign from all positions of active service in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. The Bishop may, with the consent of the Deacon, assign a resigned Deacon to any congregation, other community of faith or ministry in another setting, for a term not to exceed twelve months, and this term may be renewed.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact change being made:>

That the 81st General Convention directs Executive Council to study clergy mandatory resignations upon reaching age 72, including, but not limited to: 

1. Identifying methods to assess the capacity of clergy to continue in ordained ministry regardless of age, recognizing that advances in health, well-being, and longevity mean that age may no longer be the overriding criterion for evaluating clergy effectiveness. 
2. Recommending whether the mandatory resignation age for our current and anticipated clergy population should be increased. 
3. Investigating and reporting on the range of financial vehicles available to clergy following mandatory resignation. 
4. Investigating the impacts on Church Pension Group (CPG) if the mandatory resignation age changes beyond 72. 
5. Investigating the impacts on CPG if pension contributions for clergy were to continue beyond 72. 
6. Resolving ambiguities in language around mandatory retirements and resignations between the canons and CPG’s publications and policies. 
7. Investigating the impact on congregational vitailty with aging clergy who are reluctant to let go of ministry beyond seasons of fruitfulness.

That the 81st General Convention amend Title III, Canon 9.8 to raise the mandatory retirement age for Priests from 72 to 75 years of age.

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text:>

Title III Canon 9 Sec. 8 Resignation

On reaching the age of seventy-five years, a Priest shall resign from all positions in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. Thereafter, the Priest may accept any position in this Church, including, with the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority, the position or positions from which resignation pursuant to this Section has occurred;

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Title III Canon 9 Sec. 8 Resignation

On reaching the age of seventy-two seventy-five, a Priest shall resign from all positions in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. Thereafter, the Priest may accept any position in this Church, including, with the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority, the position or positions from which resignation pursuant to this Section has occurred;

And be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention amend Title III Canon 7.7 to raise the mandatory retirement age for Deacons from 72 to 75 years of age.

<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text:>

Title III Canon 7 Sec. 7. On reaching the age of seventy-five years, a Deacon shall resign from all positions of active service in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. The Bishop may, with the consent of the Deacon, assign a resigned Deacon to any congregation, other community of faith or ministry in another setting, for a term not to exceed twelve months, and this term may be renewed.

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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>

Title III Canon 7 Sec. 7. On reaching the age of seventy-two seventy-five years, a Deacon shall resign from all positions of active service in this Church, and the resignation shall be accepted. The Bishop may, with the consent of the Deacon, assign a resigned Deacon to any congregation, other community of faith or ministry in another setting, for a term not to exceed twelve months, and this term may be renewed.

That the 81st General Convention directs Executive Council to study clergy mandatory resignations upon reaching age 72, including, but not limited to: 

1. Identifying methods to assess the capacity of clergy to continue in ordained ministry regardless of age, recognizing that advances in health, well-being, and longevity mean that age may no longer be the overriding criterion for evaluating clergy effectiveness. 
2. Recommending whether the mandatory resignation age for our current and anticipated clergy population should be increased. 
3. Investigating and reporting on the range of financial vehicles available to clergy following mandatory resignation. 
4. Investigating the impacts on Church Pension Group (CPG) if the mandatory resignation age changes beyond 72. 
5. Investigating the impacts on CPG if pension contributions for clergy were to continue beyond 72. 
6. Resolving ambiguities in language around mandatory retirements and resignations between the canons and CPG’s publications and policies. 
7. Investigating the impact on congregational vitailty with aging clergy who are reluctant to let go of ministry beyond seasons of fruitfulness.