The Resolutions Committee offered the first four resolutions below for consideration by the 2012 Diocesan Convention. Convention voted to consider a fifth resolution (#5 below), as it was submitted after the deadline for review by the Committee. For each resolution there is a link to download or view a pdf file. All were adopted as proposed. The resolution adopting the budget for 2013 also passed. Find it here.
In addition to the resolutions, the Convention voted to adopt Rules of Order. Download a pdf file of the proposed Rules of Order for the 2012 Convention.
1. A Resolution Establishing Minimum Clergy Compensation
RESOLVED, That the 180th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont approve the recommendation of the Diocesan Council that the minimum full time stipend for priests receiving compensation in the Diocese of Vermont be increased by 2.6% for the year 2013 to $38,517 and be applied to the diocesan schedule of mandatory minimum cash salaries, and that travel allowance be reimbursed at the current IRS standard; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Convention reaffirms the following norms for determining minimum clergy compensation as put forth in the 2006 Clergy Compensation Resolution:
• that cash compensation be based upon credited years of service in church ministry as established by the Church Pension Fund employing the Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries (see below), which includes an increase of 1.6% for each year of credited service plus the 2013 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.6%
• that the Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries be adjusted annually to reflect the COLA based on an average of Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Northeast Urban Size B/C Cities Index and the United States Size D Cities Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• that in addition to the cash salary, an annual housing equity allowance of at least seven percent (7%) of the Year 1/Level 1 from the Schedule of Mandatory Minimum Cash Salaries be provided for those clergy living in church furnished housing.
PROPOSER: Diocesan Council
Download a pdf file of this resolution, which includes the explanation and the accompanying schedule of mandatory minimum cash salaries.
2. Resolution Amending Canon 26, Part B, Section 3(10)
RESOLVED, That Canon 26, Part B, Section 3(10) be amended to read as follows:
26.3(10) Church Attorney. The Bishop in consultation with the Chancellor and President of the Board shall appoint one or more Church Attorneys. Each person so selected must be a Member of the Church and a duly licensed attorney, but need not reside within the Diocese or be a Member of the Church. The Bishop may, with the advice and consent of the Chancellor and President of the Board, remove a Church Attorney from that position at any time for cause, which shall include but not be limited to matters of importance to the good order and well being well-being of the Diocese. Each Church Attorney will execute a written retainer agreement setting forth the compensation and other terms of engagement of the Church Attorney, which agreement will specifically require the Church Attorney to render periodic reports and submit reasonably detailed budgets for each matter pending from time to time and assigned to the Church Attorney.
PROPOSER: Diocesan Committee on Canons
If adopted by concurrent two-thirds votes in each Order (see Canon 37.2), this amendment would go into effect January 1, 2013.
Download a pdf file of this resolution, which includes the explanation for the changes proposed by the Committee on Canons.
3. Stirrings of the Spirit: Responding to the Changing Opportunities for Ministry
RESOLVED, That the 180th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont direct the Diocesan Council to fully implement Stirrings of the Spirit in 2013 using any of the funding options identified in the proposal.
PROPOSER: Diocesan Council
The Stirrings of the Spirit proposal is a three year funding strategy that addresses the proposition, “To be faithful to our calling in a rapidly changing world, we must strengthen our spiritual lives, and at the same time, open ourselves to new understandings and expressions of what it means to be spiritual beings.”
Download a pdf file of this resolution, which includes the full Stirrings of the Spirit proposal with funding suggestions and how the funds will be used over the course of three years.
4. A Resolution on Immigrant Justice
RESOLVED, that this 180th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont recognizes that General Convention 2012 passed Resolution D059 calling for a halt to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “Secure Communities” program requiring that local police cooperate in identifying persons for deportation, that some in our communities are not “secure” because of their immigration status, and also that some members of our parishes are law enforcement and ICE officers tasked with enforcing these policies; and be it further
RESOLVED, that therefore this convention requests the appointment of a diocesan task force to study this issue as it affects members of this diocese and residents of Vermont in need of our ministry, to develop a set of study materials for use by our parishes so that they can make prayerful judgment on the issue, and to report to Convention 2013 on the results of their work, with recommendations for future action.
PROPOSERS: The Rev. Linda Maloney, The Rev. Reid Farrell, The Rev. Earl Cooperkamp and The Rev. Thora L. Chadwick
Download a pdf file of this resolution, which includes the explanation as well as General Convention Resolution D059. (The link is to a corrected version posted October 31, 2012. Corrections are reflected above.)
5. A Resolution Focusing on Those Living in Poverty
RESOLVED, that this 180th Convention of the Diocese of Vermont encourage its members to cultivate mindfulness about poverty in our communities, as well as the poverty into which Christ calls us, by including in our prayer and in every parish or diocesan meeting – as an agenda item or as a query for brief reflection – this question: “How will what we are doing here affect or involve those living in poverty?”
PROPOSERS: The Rev. Stannard Baker, The Ven. Catherine Cooke, The Rev. Lucy Peligrini, The Diocesan Deacons’ Council
Download a pdf file of this resolution, which includes the explanation.