D078 (Combating Anti-Muslim Bias)
House of Deputies Message #341
The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 28, 2024 it considered resolution D078 (Combating Anti-Muslim Bias). The house acted to:
Concur
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That this General Convention confess anti-Muslim bias is a pernicious sin besetting Christians and non-Christians alike; and be it further
That this General Convention commit to addressing anti-Muslim bias in The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention repent of the ways our Church historically as well as contemporaneously, has created or been complicit in furthering anti-Muslim bias in teaching and practice; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention identify anti-Muslim bias as fear or suspicion of Muslims or those perceived as Muslim, often reducing the global and historical faith tradition of Islam to harmful stereotypes and narratives of othering, including hateful rhetoric, that all too often lead to violence against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim; and be it further
Resolved, That our Church commit itself to resisting anti-Muslim bias as part of our baptismal covenant to love our neighbor as ourselves, strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention charge the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations to pursue the work of combating anti-Muslim bias over this next triennium, with a report back to the 82nd General Convention including but not limited to the following aspects of that work:
Distribute and offer trainings on its document “Christian-Muslim Relations: Theological and Practical Guidance for The Episcopal Church" for clergy, seminarians, and lay leaders, consulting with the Standing Commission on Formation and Ministry Development as well as with the EDEIO network, andAdvance its ongoing dialogues with Muslim partners, recognizing the broad variety of Muslim voices and traditions, to inform The Episcopal Church in words and actions.
1. Continue raising awareness of anti-Muslim bias within The Episcopal Church;
2. Advance its ongoing dialogues with Muslim partners, recognizing the broad variety of Muslim voices and traditions, to inform The Episcopal Church in words and actions;
3. Distribute and offer trainings on “Christian-Muslim Relations: Theological and Practical Guidance for The Episcopal Church" for clergy, seminarians, and lay leaders, consulting with the Standing Commission on Formation and Ministry Development;
4. Continue working alongside partners in existing coalitions including the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: Standing with American Muslims, Advancing American Ideals, of which The Episcopal Church is a founding member, to offer relevant resources and trainings on understanding, countering, and preventing anti-Muslim bias and bigotry.