About UCC Resolutions

Resolutions are a type of Formal Motion submitted to the General Synod. They are classified either as a Resolution of Witness or a Prudential Resolution.

A Resolution of Witness is an expression of Christian conviction concerning a moral, ethical, or religious matter confronting the Church, the nation, or the world. It is adopted for the guidance of the United Church of Christ Board, Officers, or Covenanted Ministries; or for the consideration of other bodies related to the United Church of Christ, such as Local Churches, Associations, Conferences, and Associated or Affiliated Ministries or other bodies as defined in Article VI of the Bylaws of the United Church of Christ; and for a Christian witness to the world. Adoption of a Resolution of Witness requires a two-thirds majority vote of the General Synod.

A Prudential Resolution establishes policy, institutes or revises structure or procedures, authorizes programs, approves directions, or requests actions. Adoption of a Prudential Resolution requires a majority vote of the General Synod.

Other Formal Motions include actions other than Resolutions provided for above and include, but are not limited to, elections by the General Synod, matters of tribute or commendation, budget approval, and the like. Other Formal Motions generally require a majority vote of the General Synod. Other Formal Motions are not bound by the format provisions of these rules. Elections and other Formal Motions covered in the Bylaws are subject to any deadline and process provisions included therein.

A submitter is the body or group(s) that presents a Formal Motion for consideration by the General Synod.

The proponent is a resource person designated by the Submitter to advocate for a Formal Motion during General Synod.

All communication and submission regarding Resolutions takes place through the Office of the General Minister and President via electronic mail to resolutions@ucc.org.

All communication and submission regarding Other Formal Motions takes place through the Office of the General Synod Administrator via electronic mail to GeneralSynodAdministrator@ucc.org.

Resolutions are voted on by the General Synod, or the United Church of Christ Board acting as the General Synod ad interim.

In keeping with United Church of Christ polity, the only bodies a Resolution may direct or require action of are the General Synod, the United Church of Christ Board, Officers of the United Church of Christ, and the Covenanted Ministries. While a Resolution may request action of various other bodies of the Church, it cannot direct or require it; nor can a Resolution require the General Synod, the United Church of Christ Board, Officers of the United Church of Christ, or a Covenanted Ministry to work with any other body.

• Eleven or more General Synod Delegates or Delegates-elect from the bodies named in the United Church of Christ Bylaws 193-198. These Delegates must be members of Local Churches from a minimum of two Conferences;
• Six or more Local Churches;
• An Association;
• A Conference
• A Covenanted, Associated, or Affiliated Ministry or other body as defined in Article VI of the United Church of Christ Bylaws; and
• The United Church of Christ Board.

Multiple settings or a combination of the above categories may submit a Formal Motion providing each Submitter meets the submission requirements (e.g., an Association plus a Conference both submitting a single Resolution). Resolutions or Other Formal Motions submitted by more than one Submitter must be identical.

No more than three Resolutions may be submitted from any single Submitter or combination of Submitters.

Resolutions and Other Formal Motions may not receive endorsements from any organization other than the Submitter. Organizations may express their support of the Resolution or Other Formal Motion directly to the Submitter.

A Resolution or Other Formal Motion submitted by Local Churches, an Association, or a Conference must be voted on by the membership of each submitting body, such as an all-Conference or all-congregation meeting. A vote by the governing board(s), even acting ad interim, does not meet this requirement.

Each Submitter must provide a copy of the minutes of the meeting(s) during which the vote(s) was taken at the time it submits the Resolution or Other Formal Motion. The minutes must show that the Submitter both adopts the Resolution and submits it to the General Synod. A sample motion could be as follows: “[Name of Local Church/Association/Conference] adopts the resolution [Resolution Title] and submits it to the General Synod of the United Church of Christ.”

The text of a Resolution should be phrased so as not to bring into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree.

Title, which must briefly and accurately reflect the intent of the Resolution.

• Name of the Submitter(s).
• Summary that briefly and accurately reflects the content of the Resolution.
• Biblical, Theological, and Historical Grounding that describes how this action reflects the historic roots of the United Church of Christ and connects it to current identity and theology, noting the current engagement of various settings of the Church.
• Text of the Motion, including WHEREAS statements (which must be factual in nature and cited with endnotes) and BE IT RESOLVED statements. This section must conclude with the following text:
• “FUNDING: The funding for the implementation of the Resolution will be made in accordance with the overall mandates of the affected agencies and the funds available.” (There is no guarantee that financial resources will be available to support the Resolution.)
• “IMPLEMENTATION: The Officers of the Church, in consultation with appropriate ministries or other entities within the United Church of Christ, will determine the implementing body.” (The implementing body/bodies are responsible for developing the strategy and program designed to implement the Resolution if it is adopted. A Submitter does not determine or suggest who the implementing body/bodies shall be.)

A Resolution may require a written report to be made to no more than the first two General Synods immediately following the General Synod to which the Resolution is submitted.

Each Resolution is reviewed by the Resolution Review Team prior to final submission to the General Synod. The Resolution Review Team is appointed by the Business Committee, which may include non-Board members and staff with special expertise.

• Review each proposed Resolution for matters of polity and compliance with the United Church of Christ Constitution and Bylaws and the General Synod Standing Rules;
• Determine whether the subject of the proposed Resolution was addressed by one of the two preceding meetings of the General Synod;
• Determine whether an Implementation Conversation will be required;
  Provide assistance in drafting; and
• Request or require edits to Resolutions prior to final submission.

The Resolution Review Team is not a gatekeeper for the subject matter of the Resolution except to the extent that matters of polity or previous General Synod action are implicated. The Resolution Review Team may recommend to the Subcommittee on Disposition that any Resolution inconsistent with polity and/or the United Church of Christ Constitution or Bylaws be rejected.

Completed Resolutions shall be submitted to the Resolution Review Team on or before October 31 of the year prior to the General Synod. Resolutions need not be in final form by this date, but should be as complete as possible, and at a minimum must have the entire text of the motion complete. Submitters are encouraged to provide Resolutions in draft form to the Resolution Review Team as early as possible (but no later than the deadline below) to reduce the risk of needing to bring their Resolutions into compliance after it has already been approved by Submitters in accordance with the Rules.

Unless prohibited by a Submitter’s governing documents, governing bodies of Submitters have the authority to edit Resolutions as requested by the Resolution Review Team. If the changes are substantial, the Resolution Review Team may meet again to discuss and potentially require further changes prior to submission. Once a Resolution or Other Formal Motion has been submitted to the General Synod Subcommittee on Disposition, Submitters may not make changes to the Resolution unless the proposed changes could not have been anticipated by the submission deadline. The burden of proof is on Submitters to explain why

Final submission of a Resolution shall take place on or before December 31 of the year prior to General Synod. Submitters may not make any edits to their Resolution after final submission unless requested by the Subcommittee on Disposition and the proposed changes could not have been anticipated by the submission deadline.

A Resolution or Other Formal Motion that could not have been anticipated or submitted in conformance to these deadlines must be submitted on or before May 31, the year of General Synod. The Resolution must be written and complete by this time. The burden of proof is on the Submitter to explain why the Resolution could not have been anticipated by the prior deadlines. Resolutions submitted in this timeframe are subject to the review and disposition process outlined herein.

A Resolution or Other Formal Motion that could not have been anticipated or submitted before May 31, the year of General Synod, is introduced at the Opening Plenary of the General Synod and submitted to the Office of the General Minister and President via electronic mail to resolutions@ucc.org. The Resolution must be written and complete by this time. The burden of proof is on the Submitter to explain why the Resolution could not have been anticipated by the above deadlines. The Resolution is introduced at the Opening Plenary of the General Synod by a voting Delegate, accompanied by two other voting Delegates, at least one of whom is from a different Conference. The Resolution is introduced by title only during a designated point in the agenda when new business may be introduced. Resolutions submitted at this time are subject to the disposition process outlined herein.

After final submission, the United Church of Christ Board acting as the Business Committee classifies each Resolution as either a Prudential Resolution or a Resolution of Witness and proposes a disposition of each Resolution. These recommendations are reported to the General Synod during the report of the Committee on Disposition.

• Committee: A Resolution that is complicated or controversial that requires background discussion and study, merits a hearing process, or has a potential system-wide impact will be assigned to a Committee. If this disposition is recommended, the Submitter provides a Proponent to the Committee.
• Direct to Plenary: Resolutions that are expected to be routine, non-controversial, or dealt with in a special hearing are assigned directly to a Plenary session.
• Direct to Plenary, Consent Agenda: The Business Committee may place some Resolutions sent directly to Plenary in a Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda is approved by Delegates in the opening plenary of the General Synod. The Proponent of a Resolution placed on the Consent Agenda has two minutes to speak to their Resolution before the Consent Agenda is moved. Items are removed from the Consent Agenda by a majority vote of the General Synod. If a Resolution is removed from the Consent Agenda, it is assigned to a Committee or considered in a Plenary session of the General Synod at the discretion of the Agenda Committee.
• The United Church of Christ Board: A Resolution that is deemed by the Subcommittee on Disposition to have system-wide impact beyond the scope of the General Synod or requiring additional study by the United Church of Christ Board or staff is referred directly to the United Church of Christ Board. A Resolution submitted by the United Church of Christ Board shall not be referred directly to the Board. The standards for adoption by the Board shall be the same as those required for adoption by the General Synod.
• Direct to Implementing Bodies: A Resolution that reiterates or reaffirms previous General Synod action is normally referred by the General Synod to the body or bodies implementing such action. A Resolution on an issue voted on by either of the two preceding General Synods shall be referred to implementing bodies. A referral for implementation is, in itself, a statement that the General Synod is already on record with the intent of the Resolution and that the policy base for implementation is already in existence.
• Rejection: Any Resolution that is submitted after the deadlines herein or is inconsistent or conflicts directly with the United Church of Christ Constitution or Bylaws will be rejected.

The Committee on Disposition promptly informs Submitters as to the disposition of their Resolution.

The General Synod shall vote on the report of the Committee on Disposition specifying the disposition of each Resolution, at which time it may vote to amend the report to change the disposition of any Resolution.

The General Synod, or a Committee thereof, may strike “Whereas” clauses in a Resolution but may not edit them.

The General Synod, or a Committee thereof, may edit the “Resolved” clauses.

A Submitter whose Resolution is assigned to a Committee provides a Proponent to the Committee.

Committees may combine multiple resolutions assigned to them.

• Adoption: To approve the Resolution as submitted.
• Adoption as amended: To approve the Resolution as amended by the Committee.
• Defeat: To not adopt the Resolution.
• Refer to the United Church of Christ Board. The standards for adoption by the Board shall be the same as those required for adoption by the General Synod.
• No action (which requires a further motion to postpone indefinitely or table): The text of the Resolution is not voted on.

A Committee cannot radically alter the basic intent or direction of the Resolution as originally presented to it, as determined by a consultation between the Moderator, Vice Moderator, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Disposition, who may consult others in making their decision.

Only the Title and Text of the Motion (“Whereas” and “Resolved” clauses) are reported out of Committee and voted on by the General Synod.

A Committee wishing to radically alter the basic intent or direction of the Resolution must still move the original Resolution and recommend one of the above options, and may also submit a Substitute Resolution.

If the Committee recommends a Substitute Resolution, it is regarded as a substitute motion, requiring a majority vote of the General Synod to be considered.

If the General Synod votes to consider the Substitute Resolution, the original Resolution is withdrawn. If the General Synod votes to not consider the Substitute Resolution, it considers the original Resolution.

A Substitute Resolution must contain all the elements named above.

A Substitute Resolution must be reviewed by the Resolution Review Team as noted above.

There is not a provision to offer a Substitute Resolution to the General Synod that does not come from a Committee. The only opportunity for new business is in the opening plenary for business that could not have been anticipated by the May 31 deadline.

When a matter has been referred to a Committee or group for review prior to its presentation to a plenary session for debate and action, the recommendation made to a plenary session by such Committee or group shall be considered an original main motion fully open to amendment by the General Synod.

The General Synod, or a Committee thereof, cannot radically alter the basic intent or direction of the Resolution as originally presented to it, as determined by a consultation between the Moderator, Vice Moderator, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Disposition, who may consult others in making their decision.

Copies of each Resolution or Other Formal Motion and the Committee recommendation pertaining to it are distributed to Delegates at least 12 hours before the General Synod may consider it, unless only minor edits were made.

Any Resolutions not considered by the General Synod due to time constraints are referred to the United Church of Christ Board, acting as the General Synod ad interim. The standards for adoption by the Board shall be the same as those required for adoption by the General Synod.

The Implementation Conversation is a presentation, discussion, and forum for all those interested in the topic addressed by a Resolution to network and discuss ways that Local Church members, Local Churches, Associations, and Conferences could best address that topic in their own setting.

Implementation Conversations shall not be focused on how the General Synod and/or the National Setting will address the topic of a Resolution. Further, Implementation Conversations are not used to advocate for any outcome of a Resolution and are not limited to discussing the actionable items outlined in a Resolution.

Implementation Conversations are required for all Resolutions of Witness that call upon Local Churches, Conferences, Associations, and/or individual members of the United Church of Christ to take particular action. Implementation Conversations are not required for Prudential Resolutions or for Resolutions of Witness that call upon only the National Setting and/or the United Church of Christ Board for action.

Implementation Conversations that meet the above requirements are led by the Submitters of the Resolution.

Submitters must be in conversation with the Resolution Review Team about their proposed Resolution

Deadline to submit completed Resolutions to the Resolution Review Team. Resolutions need not be in final form by this date, but must be as complete as possible, and at a minimum shall have the entire text of the motion complete.

Deadline to submit final Resolutions. Submitters may not make any edits to their Resolutions after this date unless the proposed changes could not have been anticipated by the submission deadline. The burden of proof is on Submitters to explain why.

The Office of the General Minister and President shall make copies of all Resolutions and Other Formal Motions available to Delegates.

Deadline to submit a Resolution or Other Formal Motion that could not have been anticipated or submitted in conformance with the above deadlines.

Deadline to submit a Resolution or Other Formal Motion that could not have been anticipated or submitted before May 31. The Resolution must be written and complete by this time. The Resolution is introduced at the Opening Plenary of General Synod by title only during a designated point in the agenda when new business may be introduced.