Resolutions Process Summary for Searchable Database of GS Resolutions

Resolutions Process Summary for Searchable Database of GS Resolutions
Some of the business that comes before General Synod is in the form of resolutions. How resolutions are submitted and considered is addressed by the General Synod Standing Rules.

There are two types of resolutions: Prudential Resolutions and Resolutions of Witness.

Prudential Resolutions: A Prudential Resolution establishes policy, institutes or revises structure or procedures, authorizes programs, approves directions or requests actions by majority vote.

Resolution of Witness: A Resolution of Witness is an expression of the General Synod concerning a moral, ethical or religious matter confronting the Church, the nation, or the world, adopted for the guidance of the Officers, Covenanted, Associated or Affiliated Ministries, or other bodies as defined in Article VI of the Bylaws of the United Church of Christ; the consideration of Local Churches, Associations, Conferences and other bodies related to the United Church of Christ; and for a Christian witness to the world. It represents agreement by at least two-thirds of the delegates voting that the view expressed is based on Christian conviction and is a part of their witness to Jesus Christ. The text of the proposed Resolution The text of the proposed Resolution should be so phrased as not to bring into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree.

The Standing Rules state who may submit a resolution. Resolutions may be submitted by

• A Conference
• An Association
• A General Synod delegate or delegate-elect, with the written concurrence of at least ten other delegates or delegates-elect from at least two different Conferences;
• A local church, with the written concurrence of at least five other Local Churches;
• The UCC Board of Directors, or
• A Covenanted, Associated, or Affiliated Ministry, as defined in Article 6 of the UCC Bylaws.

Some other aspects of Resolutions:

• In the UCC’s polity, the General Synod speaks for itself, not for other settings of the UCC. It speaks “to, but not for” the wider United Church of Christ. Therefore, a resolution saying “The United Church of Christ declares…” would instead need to read “The 34th General Synod of the United Church of Christ declares…”
• Resolutions may call upon, urge, affirm, support, invite, recommend, request, ask, and encourage various settings of the Church, but may not direct them. The only bodies a General Synod resolution may direct are the UCC Board of Directors and the Covenanted Ministries of the National Setting.
• Resolutions should contain footnotes for any quotes and statistics cited in a resolution.

Recent Standing Rules require that a resolution include:

1. A brief title
2. A brief summary
3. A statement of biblical, theological, and historic grounding
4. The text of the resolution (“whereas…” and “therefor be it resolved” clauses), and
5. Some required boilerplate language at the end.

While a resolution submitted for General Synod to consider must contain each of the above areas, the only portions of a resolution that are adopted by General Synod are the “Whereas” and “Resolved” sections.

Abbreviations:

AGS – Adjourned General Synod

EC – Executive Council

GS – General Synod

Pronouncement – A statement of Christian conviction on a matter of moral or social principle that has been adopted by two-thirds vote of a General Synod. It is based on biblical, theological and ethical grounds. Until adopted, the statement presented for consideration by a General Synod is a Proposed Pronouncement.

Proposal for Action – A recommendation for specific directional statements and goals implementing a Pronouncement. A Proposal for Action requires a 2/3 affirmative vote for adoption.