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Policy Priorities & Issue Advocacy in the Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church has an official office - The Office of Government Relations (OGR) - that "represents the policy priorities of The Episcopal Church to the U.S. government" and "helps to shape the discussion of political issues throughout the Church." OGR influences policy and legislation on critical issues, being a voice for Episcopalians nationally and Anglicans globally. OGR takes its direction for advocacy and representation from General Convention and Executive Council resolutions. Below you will find some information about how General Conventions, the Executive Council, the Presiding Bishop and/or our Bishop, and OGR have addressed selected issues in the coming election. If you have a topic of interest not yet addressed below, please contact us via the link provided. |
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REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
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Since 1967, General Convention has continued to reaffirm its "unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision." (1994-A054)
Read: Summary of General Convention Resolutions on Abortion and Women's Reproductive Health |
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IMMIGRATION
& REFUGEE POLICY 
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In 2024, General Convention continued its long-standing advocacy for humane immigration policies that provide appropriate asylum, safe haven, and resettlement of refugees and immigrants, specifically advocating for the expansion of TPS by creating pathways to citizenship, improving designation processes, and enhancing protections.
Since 1982, General Convention has continued its long-standing affirmation of the right to seek asylum and have urged the US government (and the UN) to expand the humanitarian efforts of refugee resettlement. Since 2022, General Convention and the Executive Council have advocated specifically for the US to actively accept vulnerable SOCIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities, Gender Express, and Sex Characteristics) refugees and asylees. Read: Episcopal Church Opposition to Circumvention of Legal Pathways Rule (2023) |
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LGBTQ EQUALITY
(incl. Transgender Rights) 
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Since 1976, the church has held a conviction that LGBTQ persons are "entitled to equal protection under the law" and opposed any federal, state, or local laws that discriminate against or harm LGBTQ persons. Moreover, in 2018, General Convention confirmed its "support for the enactment of laws...that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or the expression of one's gender identity," including opposition to restrictive laws (i.e. bathroom bills, participation in sports, the targeting of trans children, etc.) that "contribute to a pattern of violence against transgender" persons.
The Episcopal Church Canons list “sexual orientation, gender identity and expression” as specifically protected from discrimination and marriage equality is quickly becoming a reality throughout the entire Church. Read: Kentucky Church Affirms LGBTQ+ Inclusiveness (2023) "Casting Out Fear: Ending Transgender Discrimination" (2016) "Transgender Priest asks chruch to "live fully into" LGBTQ+ inclusion during Executive Council plenary session" (2022) |
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INDIGENOUS ISSUES
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The Episcopal Church has long been committed to advocating in support of Indian Nations and Tribes, including the efforts to protect and honor treaty rights and their right to self-determination. More recently, the Church affirmed our commitment at the 80th General Convention to advocate for national legislation and policy that would address inequities in healthcare, education, nutrition, and housing that are detrimental to the quality of life of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Read: Statement on Indigenous boarding schools by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings (2021) A New Covenant of Faith (1997) |
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REPARATIONS (for the descendants of the victims of slavery)
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Since 2006, General Convention has consistently upheld the call for legislation to study and dialogue about the history and legacy of slavery and of proposals for monetary and on-monetary reparations to the descendants of the victims of slavery.
The Episcopal Church has created reparations task forces and committees to develop plans for reparations. Read: TEC Executive Council Support for HR 40 - The Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-American Act (2022) Reparations and Beloved Community - a report from the Theology Commtittee (2024) |
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POLICE REFORM
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The Episcopal Church calls for action to address police violence and reform, and “condemns the improper and violent actions of authorities against people of color.” The Executive Council encourages the Church to work toward transforming the criminal justice system at the federal, state, regional, and local levels, including by enacting substantial police reforms.
Read: OGR's Actions on Police Reform (2024) Presiding Bishop Curry's Pastoral Message on the Death of Tyre Nichols (2023) |
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CAPTITAL PUNISHMENT
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Since the death penalty's 1976 restoration by the Supreme Court, The Episcopal Church has consistently reaffirmed the "longstanding principle... that the Death Penalty in the United States of America should be repealed." (2018-D077)
Read: Episcopal Church Statement on Federal Executions (2019) Pastoral Letter from the Episcopal Bishop and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta (1976) |
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