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Resolutions
& Memorials |
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Deadline
As this is a regular meeting of the Synod Assembly, the
introduction of new business is not only permitted but
expected. Those interested in bringing new business to the
assembly should note CR7.02: CR 7.02. Memorials and Resolutions not germane to assembly business shall be submitted to the Committee on Reference and Counsel twenty (20) days prior to the assembly. Unless the Synod Assembly, in session, amends or rescinds
CR7.02 so as to permit introduction of nongermane business
while the assembly is in session, 11 May 2025 will
continue to serve as the deadline for submission of
memorials and resolutions.* N.B., while 11 May 2025 is the deadline, earlier
submission is preferred and welcomed by Reference &
Counsel. A crush of last minute submissions may overwhelm
Reference & Counsel. It is the prerogative of
Reference & Counsel to recommend declination of any
resolutions or memorials which it finds it cannot
adequately review. Germaneness
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Example
of a germane motion Reid: (concluding his report as chair of Global Mission) ...And, so, the drought has put 40,000 at the edge of starvation, and our companion synods are particularly hard hit. I will entertain questions. Chair: Thank you, Pr. Reid. Are there any questions? Felici: Mme. Chair! Chair: Pr. Felici is recognized. Felici: I move that this Synod Assembly take up a special collection during the next recess for the relief of our companion synods. Chair: It is moved that this Synod Assembly take up a special collection during the next recess for the relief of our companion synods. Chair: Is there a second? Erzkus: I second. Chair: It is moved and seconded that this Synod Assembly take up a special collection during the next recess for the relief of our companion synods. The motion is before the assembly for debate. Pr. Felici, the floor is yours. Example of a nongermane motion Reid: (concluding his report as chair of Global Mission) ...And, so, the drought has put 40,000 at the edge of starvation, and our companion synods are particularly hard hit. I will entertain quesitons. Chair: Thank you, Pr. Reid. Are there any questions? Erzkus: Mr. Chairman! Chair: Pr. Erzkus is recognized. Erzkus: I move that this Synod Assembly take up a special collection for the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. Chair: Pr. Erzkus, the motion is out of order as it is not germane to the report of the Global Mission Committee. |
A motion is germane if it relates to the pending business
(or matter) before the assembly. Motions germane to the
pending business of the assembly do not require prior
submission to Reference & Counsel and are not subject
to the deadline. An example of such a germane motion would
be to call for a special appeal for Madagascar drought
relief at the time of the report of the Global Mission
Committee (preferably right after the report if given or
during questions and answers on the report).
The difference between a resolution and a memorial
is a question of standing: i.e., does the one
submitting the proposed item have the authority (and what
sort of authority), under our rules, to do so?
To complicate things, if the item before the Synod
Assembly is a proposal to memorialize the Churchwide
Assembly, whether it is itself a resolution or a memorial
depends upon the source not the destination. If it comes
from a voting member of the Synod Assembly, it is a resolution
to memorialize the Churchwide Assembly. If it comes
from a congregation or a conference, it is a memorial
to memorialize the Churchwide Assembly. Regardless
of whether it is a memorial or a resolution with respect
to the Synod Assembly, if adopted, it will be a memorial
to the Churchwide Assembly.
Those with standing to submit a resolution or a memorial should do so with the required "signatures" (electronic confirmation shall be sufficient), emailing the item to the bishop (Bishop@WV-WMD.org) and copies (cc) to the secretary (Secretary@WV-WMD.org), parliamentarian (Parliamentarian@WV-WMD.org), and chair of Reference & Counsel (Reference@WV-WMD.org).
You may submit in PDF, MS-Word, Word Perfect, RTF, or TXT
formats.
Resolutions and memorials are to be formatted according
to the standards found in RONR §10. N.B.,
the proper format of a resolution or a memorial does not
include graphics, charts, or other images. It also does
not include bold, strikethrough, italic, or other font
features except as required by RONR §10.
If you would like a consultation with the bishop
(Bishop@WV-WMD.org), parliamentarian
(Parliamentarian@WV-WMD.org), or chair of Reference &
Counsel (Reference@WV-WMD.org) prior to submission, please
email.
As with all email communication, if you do not receive
confirmation of receipt by the Synod Office within three
days, call or text 304-363-4030.
Resolutions submitted by voting members must comply with
CR7.03, unless the assembly rescinds or amends this rule.*
CR7.03. Resolutions submitted to Reference & Counsel shall be sponsored by at least two voting members of the Synod Assembly, a voting member being limited to sponsoring a maximum of five resolutions. For the purposes of this rule, when submission is in anticipation of the annual meeting of the Synod Assembly, verified registration as a voting member shall delineate standing.
A resolution requires a minimum of two sponsoring voting
members, but more may sponsor if they wish. Furthermore,
no voting member may sponsor more than five resolutions.
A congregation submitting a memorial must have taken formal action in either Congregation Meeting or in Congregation Council to do so. The Congregation Secretary must submit the memorial with an accompanying attestation that the memorial was properly authorized by the congregation.
When submitting a memorial or resolution, complete and
include in your submission email the following (or include
at the bottom of your attached submission). It is best to
CC all co-sponsors in the submission email. The contact
information will only be used for administrative purposes
by synod staff and Reference & Counsel. While the name
of sponsors (resolutions) and congregations (memorials)
will be published in the report of Reference &
Counsel, the contact information will not.
Resolution Topic of Resolution: _____________ Date submitted: ________________ Sponsors:
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Memorial Topic of Memorial: _____________ Date submitted: _________________ Congregation memorializing:
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After a resolution or memorial is submitted, it is
reviewed by the Committee on Reference & Counsel.
Reference & Counsel reports its recommendations on
each resolution and memorial to the Synod Assembly.
Resolutions and memorials will be published in the Pre-Assembly
Bulletin of Reports and accompanied by the Report of
Reference & Counsel.
The scope of the assembly's action upon the Report of
Reference & Counsel is defined by CR7.04, barring
recision or amendment by the assembly.*
CR7.04. For both resolutions and memorials reviewed by Reference & Counsel under B7.16 or CR7.02,
(a) When the Reference & Counsel has recommended the adoption of the resolution/memorial, the committee’s recommendation and text of the resolution/memorial shall be the main motion before the assembly;
(b) When Reference & Counsel has recommended the adoption of a substitute for the resolution/memorial, the committee’s recommendation, including the committee's text, shall be the main motion before the assembly;
(c) When Reference & Counsel has recommended referral of the resolution/memorial, the committee’s recommendation shall be the main motion before the assembly;
(d) When Reference & Counsel has recommended that the assembly decline to consider a proposed resolution, the voting member’s resolution, if then moved by that voting member and seconded, shall be the main motion and the committee’s recommendation shall be received as information;
(e) When Reference & Counsel has recommended that the assembly decline to consider a proposed memorial, the memorial, if then moved by a voting member who is also a voting member of the memorializing body and seconded, shall be the main motion and the committee’s recommendation shall be received as information.
Example
of a motion to refer/commit to Resolutions
Committee Reid: (concluding his report as chair of Global Mission) ...And, so, the drought has put 40,000 at the edge of starvation, and our companion synods are particularly hard hit. I will entertain quesitons. Chair: Thank you, Pr. Reid. Are there any questions? Felici: Mme. Chair! Chair: Pr. Felici is recognized. Felici: I move to refer the report of the Global Missions Committee to the Resolutions Committee for response with an eye to authorizing a special appeal for the relief of our companion synods. Chair: It is moved to refer the report of the Global Missions Committee to the Resolutions Committee for response with an eye to authorizing a special appeal for the relief of our companion synods. Chair: Is there a second? Erzkus: I second. Chair: It is moved and seconded to refer the report of the Global Missions Committee to the Resolutions Committee for response with an eye to authorizing a special appeal for the relief of our companion synods. The motion is before the assembly for debate. Pr. Felici, the floor is yours. |
The Committee on Resolutions has been underutilized for
decades. Most think of it as the committee that presents
the courtesy resolution at the end of the assembly and
nothing more. Those familiar with RONR §59 will
wonder why there are two committees (one being Reference
& Counsel and the other the Committee on Resolutions).
Our practice is to divide the labor between two
committees.
Six authorities govern the modus operandi of the
Synod Assembly:
Under our polity, some of these (i.e., our bylaws,
our continuing resolutions, and the convention standing
rules) may be changed by any given Synod Assembly while it
is in session, without notice, and with immediate effect.
The continuing resolutions mentioned supra may be amended through the procedure outlined in †S18.31.
†S18.31. This synod may adopt continuing resolutions not in conflict with this constitution or its bylaws or the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the churchwide organization. Such continuing resolutions may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the Synod Assembly or by a two-thirds vote of Synod Council. Newly adopted continuing resolutions and amendments to existing continuing resolutions shall be reported to the secretary of this church.
In addition to the continuing resolutions mentioned supra,
the following bylaws related directly to resolutions and
memorials.
B7.05. Every congregation shall have the right to memorialize the assembly of this synod on subjects affecting its own welfare and legitimate interests.
B7.10. All motions, resolutions, amendments, and nominations shall be submitted in writing and on proper forms available from the secretary of synod or the assembly pages. This provision may be waived by the secretary.
B7.16. A resolution of a general character which is not germane to the pending question or report shall be given by the proposer to a Committee of Reference and Counsel, which shall report thereon to the assembly with its recommendations. Other duties of the committee shall be (a) to recommend special orders for the hearing of representatives, (b) to grant or deny permission to distribute printed matter not issuing from the office of the secretary and (c) to give such assistance to the bishop as may be desired in the course of the assembly.
These may be amended by the assembly, following the procedure outlined in †S18.21
†S18.21. This synod may adopt bylaws not in conflict with this constitution or with the constitution and bylaws of the churchwide organization. This synod may amend its bylaws at any meeting of the Synod Assembly by a two-thirds vote of voting members of the assembly present and voting. Newly adopted bylaws and amendments to existing bylaws shall be reported to the secretary of this church.
If you would like assistance navigating this process, contact the parliamentarian (parliamentarian@wv-wmd.org).