[Episcopal News Service – Linthicum Heights, Maryland] During its Oct. 18-21 meeting here the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council adopted multiple resolutions that are summarized below.

Executive Council
Accept Audit Committee’s recommendation and approve appointment of Grant Thornton, LLP, to audit the consolidated financial statements of council and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (the name under which the Episcopal Church in incorporated) for years ending Dec. 31, 2017-2019 (EC003).

Advocacy and Networking for Mission
Amend previously passed Resolution AN029 to have third resolve read: “Executive Council calls for an end to the discrimination of individuals with opioid addiction and recognizes that prior discrimination of people with drug addiction has had profound impacts on incarceration, particularly of persons of color.” (AN29a).

Authorize a senior secured line of credit to St. Augustine’s University of $1 million, secured by a deed of trust of certain parcels with a combined appraised value of at least $2.5 million (AN30).

Extend additional $50,000 grant in 2017 to Voorhees College for emergency repair of the college library roof (AN031).

Approve grants recommended by the Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation (AN032).

Affirm the need for voters to be represented fairly and equitably, and commit to representation for all Americans in the legislative bodies of the United States; affirm that “one-person-one-vote” means that the votes of people of all races and ethnicities are fairly represented, counted, and accounted for; commit to advocating to ensure fair districting and representation; commit to opposing any form of partisan gerrymandering that has the same effect of racial gerrymandering; commit to advocating against any form of political district mapping that has the effect of diluting the votes of people of color at the statewide and national level (AN033).

Finances for Mission
Establish Trust Fund 1160, Anglican Church of Mexico, as investment account for Anglican Church of Mexico, San Angel, Mexico City, Mexico (FFM083).

Establish Trust Fund 1161, Holy Trinity School of Haiti, as investment account for the Diocese of Haiti, Petion-Ville, Haiti (FFM084).

Set 2018 dividend rate for the DFMS trust fund portfolios available to support the operating budget of DFMS at $1.06 per share based on 5.0% the average year-end market values of the portfolio for the five years ending 2016; set 2018 dividend rate for 2018 for trust funds in the DFMS endowment portfolio that are not available to support the operating budget of DFMS be set at $1.06 per share based on 5.0% the average year-end market values of the portfolio for the five years ending 2016 (FFM085).

Use up to $349,170 of income distributed from Trust Fund 809 during 2017 for educational and theological programs (including continuing education and individual scholarships) as recommended by the Commission on Theological Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CETALC) at its meeting in Mexico City, Mexico, July 31-Aug. 5, 2017 (FFM086).

Grant $50,000 in increments to be agreed commencing in 2018 to Li-Tim Oi Chinese Ministries in the Diocese of Los Angeles (FFM087).

Adopt revised official travel guidelines for the DFMS (FFM088).

Designate 2018 housing allowances clergy employees of the DFMS (FMM089).

Establish Trust Fund 1162 as investment account for Anamchara Fellowship in Newark, Delaware (FFM091).

Approve the revised 2018 budget for the Episcopal Church (FFM092).

Authorize $119,035 be distributed from Trust Funds of Class 26 be distributed to the Episcopal Church of Liberia for Cuttington University in Suacoco (FFM093).

Beginning with annual appeal by the Office of Development in 2018, receipts from annual appeals are applied to projects already allocated within the DFMS operating budget (FFM094).

Governance and Administration for Mission
Amend Articles VII and VIII of council by-laws to provide for attendance and reporting by the chief legal officer (GAM012).

DFMS to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid family leave (PFL) once fully implemented;  provide employees with a general description of their PFL rights, and in the event of any conflict between this policy and applicable law, employees will be afforded all rights required by law; policy not be construed to confer any express or implied contractual relationship or rights to any employee not expressly provided for by PFL (GAM013).

Governance and Administration for Mission and Finances for Mission
Adopt Leasing Policy and Procedure 2017 to maximize the contribution of its primary real estate asset to the mission and function of DFMS; no plans under consideration for the sale and removal of DFMS from Church Center and because DFMS is unlikely to occupy the entire New York building (GAM_FFM02).

Agree to terms to conclude all outstanding principal ($6,175,000) and accrued interest on all loans extended by the DFMS to the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin from 2008 through Dec. 31, 2016; terms include expressing profound appreciation for the steadfastness and perseverance of the people, clergy and loyal congregations of Diocese of San Joaquin through over a decade of legal turmoil, disruption and dispossession from their church homes, and uncertainty, now largely resolved; diocese shall pay $1 million to DFMS by Dec. 31, 2017; diocese shall bear all future costs of litigation, future support of the episcopate, and all costs of repair, lease termination and maintenance of recovered properties, including surplus properties being prepared for sale, as well as all future costs associated with any such sales; diocese shall pay its full assessment to the Episcopal Church beginning in calendar year 2019 (GAM_FFM003).

Local Mission and Ministry
Approves grants recommended by the D005 Advisory Group on Church Planting (LMM012).

World Mission
Ratify the election and re-election of board members for Episcopal Relief and Development (WM027).

Approve 2018 United Thank Offering Grant Focus and Criteria (WM028).