A080 Create a Task Force on Countering the Colonial Mindset
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That the 81st General Convention reckon with the history and present reality of colonialism in The Episcopal Church and its dual identity as a former colony and a colonizing power; and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention recognize the following working definition of the colonial mindset as: “the living legacy of colonialism in the 21st century exemplified by the supremacy of Western/European mindsets, modes of thinking, cultural and economic systems, and bodies in former colonial states and their partners”; and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention create a Task Force on Countering the Colonial Mindset, whose mandate include, but be not limited to, researching and highlighting historic and present realities of the colonial mindset in our common life, and establishing educational materials for dioceses, churches, and mission partners to use in their work and ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force begin its work no later than January 1, 2025 and conclude its work at the conclusion of the 82nd General Convention with the submission of a report with recommendations to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the membership of this task force be appointed by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies and include up to two Bishops appointed by the Presiding Bishop; up to four Clergy and up to ten Lay Persons appointed by the President of the House of Deputies, with special consideration given to inclusion of faculty from accredited Episcopal seminaries or Episcopal/Anglican formation centers within university systems and partners with specialties in Colonialism and Missiology; and be it further
Resolved, The General Convention request a budget allocation $150,000 to create such a task force and publish educational materials for countering the colonial mindset for use by dioceses, churches, and mission partners.
Explanation
At the 80th General Convention, the Standing Commission on World Mission was tasked with preparing a report on the impact of colonialism on the Episcopal Church. The need for such a report was clear from the outset, yet what has emerged as a primary focus is the continuing impact of the colonial mindset on the Church today. Our missional institutions are replete with organizations, actors and systems that offer a preference for white, European and male voices in the allocation of funds, people and attention. The Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church, and its missional organs have often been the voice of empire and may still function that way through lack of awareness.
From the beginning, the missionary work of the Episcopal Church was wrapped up in the broader effort at colonization. In fact, the first missionary efforts undertaken in the Church were under the auspices of the Colonization Society. Looking back, Episcopal missionary efforts, while always undertaken with the goal of propagating the Gospel all over the world, also suffered from the unmistakable connection to colonialism.
Therefore, the Standing Commission on World Mission urges the General Convention to (a) create a Task Force on Countering the Colonial Mindset and (b) allocate adequate funds for its creation and work which includes researching and highlighting historic and present realities of the colonial mindset in our common life, and establishing educational materials for dioceses, churches, and mission partners to use in their work and ministry. This task force would report back to the 82d General Convention.