A097 (Developing a Common Framework for Anti-Racism Training)

House of Deputies Message #85

The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 23, 2024 it considered resolution A097 (Developing a Common Framework for Anti-Racism Training). The house acted to:

Take No Further Action


Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st  General Convention, recognize that widely different criteria have been used across the Church to determine if the completion of anti-racism training defined by Canon Article III.6.5.g Training and General Convention Resolution has been satisfied; and that this work has been inspired by the collaborative efforts with the Executive Committee on Anti-Racism (ECCAR); and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church (TEC) recognize that in order to maintain a common theological framework and pastorally congruent response regarding our commitment to dismantle the sin of racism, specific components must be included in any Anti-racism or Racial Reconciliation training designed to fulfill the canonical requirement for all persons seeking ordination and all persons specified in General Convention Resolution 2000-B049; and be it further

Resolved, That the specific components that must be included in any Anti-racism or Racial Reconciliation training to be interactive, offer opportunity for reflection and include as follows:

1) A Historical Component - to include Canonical Requirements, Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s Historical Commitment found in General Convention resolutions, “The Church’s Contemporary Response to Racism”, and “Becoming Beloved Community”,

2) An Information OR Didactic Component - to include learning about the Baptismal Covenant, the Hebrew & New Testament Prophetic traditions, and the History of White Supremacy. Systemic Power, Classism, Sexism and other Intersectional Oppressions, The Doctrine of Discovery, Racism, Internalized Racial Superiority & Microaggressions and Internalized Racial Oppression must be interrogated and challenged. A guide for analyzing and dismantling unintentional institutional racism is an important component if we are to fulfill the intentions of the racial reconciliation resolutions. The hope will be that participants become co-conspirators and agents of Racial Reconciliation and healing in the Episcopal Church and beyond.

3) Activities will include Prayer, Respectful Communication Guidelines, Power Analysis and other activities as indicated to accomplish learning objectives for historical and informational components.

4) The training will reflect common learning objectives and appropriate adult pedagogy including a process/method for reinforcing the training so that it is not a standalone “one and done” course such as the creation and nurturing of an antiracist identity for individuals and institutions;

And be it further

Resolved, That Executive Council’s Committee on Anti-Racism (ECCAR) create an Anti-racism Certification Framework include a master tracking database/mechanism to ensure consistency even as clergy and lay leaders transition across dioceses and TEC-level ministries and to more completely define the above components; and be it further

Resolved, That TEC staff be directed to work with the Executive Committee on Anti-Racism (ECCAR) to implement a certification process that would allow for on-line testing of clergy, laity, and trainers to ensure the consistent fulfillment of the spirit of the requirement for anti-racism training across the Church according to the Anti-racism Certification Framework defined by the Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism; and be it further

Resolved, That TEC staff provide an annual report to ECCAR on the status of use and effectiveness of the certification process; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation (excluding meeting expense) of $55,000 for the curriculum planning, scope of the effort, and development of the RFP for the tracking module of this resolution.