A003 is the culmination of 3 years of hard work by the Task Force to Develop Paid Family Leave. We commend to you their report found in the Blue Book for a full explanation of the resolution. Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides benefit payments to people who need to take time off work to:
- Care for a seriously ill family member.
- Bond with a new child.
- Participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.
The model policy they’ve provided is intricate, thorough, and generous. But the missing piece to implementing paid family leave across the church rests in things beyond our control, namely in governmental and insurance hang-ups. This resolution might not feel like ‘enough’ to many who have yearned for a more just and robust leave policy across the church, but it lays the groundwork for us to implement such measures as soon as we are able. It also helps dioceses and churches implement model programs right now should they have the resources and ability.
Overall, A003 is a well researched and thorough resolution aimed at setting us up for the best possible outcomes as soon as resources and pathways become available to us.
The Episcopal Herald 