Writing the Resolutions

All the information the congregation needs for voting.

You have done a lot of work. Your final draft is complete. Both the Congregation Council and the synod's constitution review committee have reviewed the draft. It is time to make the resolutions that will be submitted to the congregation for vote. How do you do that?

Note: The meeting notification should include a copy of the resolutions exactly as they will be presented at the meeting.

First, remember that different types of changes require different kinds of votes. If you propose all changes en bloc, the highest requirement for passage (majority vs. two-thirds vote; one vote vs. two votes) will apply to the entire motion. En bloc without discussion is the primary method used at Churchwide Assemblies, having first pulled out only those resolutions requested by voting members for discussion and separate vote.

Alternatively, you may group motions by topic (see previous paragraph note on voting). This option is recommended if you are making interdependent changes. Because lower provisions are easier to implement, keeping them with the higher provisions guarantees that one doesn't go into effect without the other.

Example: A new constitutional provision related to the newly formed congregation preschool is being created. Bylaws and continuing resolutions related to the preschool are being added under this provision. The constitutional provision requires multiple votes before it will be effective. If the bylaws go into effect immediately, they will exist under a constitutional provision that won't doesn't technically exist until fully ratified.

Finally, you may group the motions by type (constitutional provisions in one motion, bylaws in another). This approach keeps voting requirements clear.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Each Approach

	En Bloc	By Topic	By Provision Type
Benefits	One vote	Related provisions pass together Topic on the floor is clear	Lower provisions (bylaws and continuing resolutions) are effective immediately
Drawbacks	Everything is discussed at once One issue may keep the whole resolution from passing (but may be considered separately)	More resolutions may be necessary	Lower provisions may become effective before related constitutional provisions
When to use	When there are few amendments being proposed, and none of them are likely to be controversial When all amendments are simply conforming to the Model Constitution	Whenever necessary Whenever an amendment is likely to be controversial	When amendments to one type of provision aren't dependent upon the passage of other provisions
Voting Requirements	Highest requirement of any provision in the resolution	Highest requirement of any provision in the resolution	Normal requirement for that provision

Note: A combination of the above approaches might work as well. If the resolutions are organized by topic (most of the time - but not always - that will simply mean by chapter), then the topics that need separate discussion can be pulled from the resolution and everything else approved en bloc.

Voting Requirements for Each Type of Amendment

Amendment Type	Voting Requirement
Conforming to the Model Constitution	Majority vote of those voting members present and voting
Constitutional Provisions	Approved by a majority vote of those voting members present and voting Ratified without change at the next regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting members present and voting
Bylaws	Two-thirds vote of those voting members present and voting
Continuing Resolutions	Majority vote of a meeting of this congregation OR Two-thirds vote of all voting members of the Congregation Council

Note: The phrase "of those voting members present and voting" is included here to mean that, even if the congregation permits absentee or proxy voting in other circumstances, it is not permitted in these instances.

Creating the Resolution

The following example outlines all the basic parts of a resolution. It is based upon past resolutions from Churchwide Assembly.

Title of Resolution

Recommended for Adoption by the Congregation Council

Vote Requirements

To adopt, en bloc, with the exception of such amendments as may be considered separately, the following amendments to the Official Title of Constitution including the Name of Congregation.

Additions are highlighted and underlined.
Deletions are ~~highlighted and struck through~~ in the text.

C#.##.: This is athe constitutional provision. ~~This text is being removed.~~ There’s more here. This text is being added. Isn't that nice?
C#.##.: This whole provision is new.
~~C#.##.~~: ~~This whole provision is going away.~~
C#.0304.: This one is just having it’s number changed.

Warning: Resolutions may come through the channels other than the Congregation Council (*C16.01. and *C17.03.). Even if the Congregation Council does not recommend a resolution submitted to it, it must be presented to the congregation for formal consideration. Simply change the wording in the resolution to "Not Recommended for Adoption by the Congregation Council".

Samples

The following files can be used as the basis for creating resolutions.

Example

Original Wording:

C13.09.: A Fix Our Mistakes Committee of three voting members must be elected by this congregation. Terms of office must be eighteen years, with one member elected every six years. Members must not be re-elected.

Proposed Wording:

C13.06.A19.: A Make Everything Better Committee of six members must be elected by the Congregation Council. Terms of office must be six years, with two members elected every two years. Members may be re-elected.

Resolution as Presented to the Congregation:

C13.0906.A19.: A ~~Fix Our Mistakes~~Make Everything Better Committee of ~~three~~six ~~voting~~ members must be elected by ~~this congregation~~the Congregation Council. Terms of office must be ~~eighteen~~six years, with ~~one~~two members elected every ~~six~~two years. Members ~~must not~~may be re-elected.