2023 Convention Resolutions

These resolutions were submitted and passed at the 202nd Convention as written below.

Resolution to Name St. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander,
Deaconess, the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Georgia

Whereas, Deaconess Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (1865-1947) has been recognized as a saint by the Diocese of Georgia since 1998 and by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church since 2018, her feast day celebrated on September 24; having served the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia despite the persecution and hardships she faced during the Jim Crow era; having founded Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Pennick in 1894 and Good Shepherd Episcopal School in Pennick in 1902; having been set aside by Bishop C. K. Nelson as the first and only Black Deaconess in the history of The Episcopal Church in 1907; and having tirelessly and devotedly taught, led services, cared for the poor and elderly, and inspired young people with hope for six decades; and

Whereas, In 2019, the Diocese of Georgia established Deaconess Alexander as the patron saint of the new Chapel in its Diocesan Offices; and

Whereas, In 2019, Bishop Scott A. Benhase and the Diocese of Georgia established the St. Anna Alexander Center for Racial Reconciliation & Healing, based in Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Schoolhouse; and

Whereas, The faithful life and witness of St. Anna Alexander continues to inspire the work of diocesan ministries like Racial Justice Georgia today; and

Whereas, The Book of Common Prayer establishes, “The feast of the Dedication of a Church, and the feast of its patron or title, may be observed on, or be transferred to, a Sunday, except in the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter” (p. 16); therefore, be it

Resolved, That this 202nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia recognizes St. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, Deaconess and Teacher, as the patron saint of this Diocese; and be it further

Resolved, That this gives every congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia the express permission to observe the Feast of St. Anna Alexander, with its assigned Collect and Scripture readings as set forth by the most recent Episcopal calendar of saints (i.e., Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022) every year on the Sunday closest to September 24; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese will promote and encourage all parishes and/or convocations to celebrate the Feast of St. Anna Alexander every year; and be it further

Resolved, That the Diocese urges all congregations, especially endowed parishes, to take up a special collection and/or commit to an annual contribution to support the ministry of the St. Anna Alexander Center for Reconciliation & Healing and the preservation of the historic Good Shepherd Episcopal Schoolhouse every year on the Sunday closest to September 24.

Presented to the Convention by the members of Racial Justice Georgia. To download the pdf version, click here.

 

Resolution to continue the Companion Diocese relationship
with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic

Whereas, the Diocese of Georgia and the Diocese of the Dominican Republic have mutually benefitted from a Companion Diocese relationship; and​

Whereas a Task Group of Diocesan Council undertook a study of companion diocese relationships and the challenges and opportunities in continuing with this relationship or starting a new one and did recommend a renewed commitment to a companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic; and​

Whereas the Diocesan Council meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church in Cochran on September 30 of this year did unanimously endorse renewing our commitment to being in a Companion Diocese relationship with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic;​

Therefore, be it resolved that the 202nd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia meeting at Episcopal Day School in Augusta, Georgia, does recommend that the Bishop Diocesan sign an agreement with the Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Dominican Republic entering into a five-year agreement for the years 2024-2028, with provision for periodic review of the agreement and the possibility of its subsequent renewal.​

Submitted by the Diocesan Council Companion Diocese Task Group. To download a pdf version, click here.

 

Resolution submitted to 81st General Convention adjusting
Diocesan assessments to the Wider Church

Whereas, in our post-COVID and ever-changing world, more and more congregations’ budgets are feeling the strains of ministry – from building maintenance, to appropriate ministry staff, to rising healthcare costs; ​​

And Whereas, now more than ever, it is crucial to keep more resources within localities, so that ministry can thrive on the congregational and diocesan level; ​

Be it resolved, that the 202nd meeting of the Convention of the Diocese of Georgia submit the following resolution to the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church: ​

Be it resolved that the 81st General Convention approve an assessment formula (Canon I.4.6(b)) for the of period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027 based on a single assessment of each diocese. In each year, 2025-2027, the diocesan total adjusted operating income, as reported in the annual diocesan financial report (Canon I.4.6(j) and Canon I.6.4) for the year two years prior to the year to which the assessment is applied [e.g., 2025 assessments are to be based on 2023-2024 actual income figures], shall be reduced by a $200,000 exemption. A single assessment shall be applied to the remaining amount (balance) at a flat rate of 13.5% ; ​​

Be it further resolved that the 2025-2027 Episcopal Church budget shall be adjusted and managed as set forth in the Canons, Rules of Order, and Executive Council policies and procedures; ​

Be it further resolved that beyond 2027, the formula for the diocesan assessment will maintain a reduction exemption;​

Be it further resolved, the Diocese of Georgia recommends the Episcopal church provides data on the percentage of the administrative costs vs. mission and ministry costs of the Episcopal Church budget; ​​

And be it further resolved, that the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church ask Executive Council ​to set a plan for lowering the diocesan assessment to 10% by 2033.”​

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Submitted by the Rev. David Rose. To download a pdf version, click here.