Excerpted from the brochure "Policy for Action 2000," a compilation
of policies "as adopted at General Convention 1991, 1994, 1997 & 2000
and Executive Council 1991-2000 and prior selected resolutions." Health and Human Needs: Human Sexuality - Recognize that there are couples in the Church living in marriage and other life-long relationships and that such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection, respect, and careful and honest communication. (GC '00)
- Denounce promiscuity, exploitation and abusiveness in relationships of Church members. (GC '00)
- Reaffirm that those on various sides of controversial issues have a place in the Church. (GC '00)
- Reaffirm imperative to promote conversation between those of differing experiences and perspectives. (GC '00)
- Acknowledge the Church's teaching on the sanctity of marriage. (GC '00)
- Urge dioceses and congregations to provide safe places for youth and young adults to discuss human sexuality. (GC '00)
- Urge parishes to teach and support youth sexual abstinence. (GC '97)
- Encourage study of House of Bishops' pastoral study document on human sexuality. (GC '94)
- Direct Youth Ministries Office to prepare education materials to help youth understand their sexuality. (GC '94)
- Affirm human sexuality as a gift of God. (GC '91)
- Affirm physical sexual expression appropriate only within lifelong monogamous relationships set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. (GC '91)
- Propose all provinces of the Anglican Communion and those sharing ecumenical dialogue initiate pan-Anglican/ecumenical dialogue on human sexuality. (GC '91)
- Accept Standing Commission on Human Affairs report as evidence of no strong consensus on human sexuality. (GC '91)
Health and Human Needs: HIV/AIDS - Call for continuation of efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS among teens and young adults. (GC '00)
- Support initiatives to make HIV/AIDS-related medications available at affordable prices throughout the world. (GC '00)
- Reaffirm commitment to Christian response to HIV/AIDS pandemic. (GC '97)
- Affirm accessible drug treatment, needle access, safe sex programs, and the affirmation of monogamy in all sexual relationships regarding the spread of HIV/AIDS. (GC '94)
- Support the concept of worldwide religious leaders meeting in 1995, and request a compassionate and nonjudgmental universal religious statement on HIV/AIDS. (GC '94)
- Support federal HIV/AIDS initiative and press for comprehensive HIV/AIDS care in any health care reform package. (GC '94)
- Develop and fund nonjudgmental educational and care giving programs on HIV/AIDS. (GC '91)
- Affirm ministry to persons affected by AIDS. (GC '91)
- Encourage Total Ministry Task Force and Office of Evangelism to Publicize HIV/AIDS epidemic. (GC '91)
- Develop diocesan and congregation based programs to reflect on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. (GC '91)
- Encourage Churches, ecumenical and international bodies to address HIV/AIDS epidemic and Church's response to it. (GC '91)
- Commend persons caring for AIDS victims. (GC '88)
- Observe second Sunday in October as National Day of Prayer for People with AIDS. (GC '88)
- Recognize National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC). (GC '88)
- Call for AIDS education on the parish level. (GC '88)
- Endorse Surgeon General's Report on AIDS. (GC '88)
Racism and Discrimination: General - Urge Congress to include sexual orientation, gender and disability to the categories currently protected by federal hate crime laws and to expand the number of settings in which the law can be applied. (GC '00)
- Support hate crimes legislation at local, state, and national levels that includes categories of political or religious creed, color, ethnic or national origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. (GC '00)
- Condemn all acts motivated by hate. (GC '00)
- Continue and increase, through congregational resources, the "Stop the Hate" campaign. (GC '00)
- Commend U.S. Senate for passage of Hate Crimes Prevention Act. (GC '00)
- Urge U.S. Congress to pass legislation adding gender, sexual orientation and disability to areas covered by federal definition of hate crimes and to expand the number of settings in which the hate crimes law can be applied. (EC 11/98)
Racism and Discrimination: Gays and Lesbians - Encourage the Boy Scouts to allow membership irrespective of sexual orientation. (GC '00)
- Strongly encourage Parishes that host Boy Scout troops to open a dialogue with the Boy Scouts regarding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (GC '00)
- Affirm and endorse the Cambridge Accord regarding the protection of homosexual people from violence and the loss of civil rights. (GC '00)
- Establish formal process for congregations to identify themselves as "safe spaces" for gays and lesbians. (GC '00)
- Extend health coverage to domestic partners. (GC '97)
- Reaffirm civil rights of homosexual persons, and direct Episcopal Government Relations Office to work on behalf of legislation which assures such protection. (GC '94)
- Call upon municipal, state, and federal officials to approve gay and lesbian protections for work, health, and home. (GC '94)
- Appoint gay and lesbian representatives to Standing Committee on Human Affairs. (GC '91)
- Support ministry to homosexual persons. (GC '85)
Racism and Discrimination: HIV/AIDS - Encourage the Church at every level to combat oppression that contributes to spread of HIV/AIDS and hinders prevention, education, treatment and access to services. (GC '00)
- Advocate for the prohibition of discrimination on basis of AIDS, ARC, HIV infection. (GC '91)
- Adopt "Ten Principles for the Workplace" as the standard for working with people with HIV/AIDS. (GC '91)
- Urge baptized to speak publicly in opposition to discrimination of those who are HIV positive. (GC '91)
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