Resolutions being submitted to Diocesan Convention

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NOTE: Please do not use the "Whereas" format. You will be asked to re-write your resolution if you do.

FORMAT:

[Title of Resolution]

Submitted by [sponsor(s), one of whom must be a member of the Convention, and the name of the name of the congregation or other entity that entitles that person to be a member of Convention.]

RESOLVED, that the [One Hundred Fourteenth] Convention of the Diocese of Washington [do whatever it is that you want done]; and be it further

RRESOLVED, that [whatever else it is that you want done].

Explanation: [write a brief explanation or justification as to why the Diocesan Convention is an appropriate forum for consideration of this resolution and give a clear rationale. The rationale should consist of background material that is concise and presents factual information necessary to decision, not provide a forum for sermonizing. Proper references in the body of an explanation provide guidance to both those legislating and to those who must interpret the action in the future. It should give specific references. Also, if there is any budgetary impact, address where the monies will come from. The Finance Committee will add a budgetary impact statement.]

PROCESS:

All resolutions for the Regional Assemblies must be submitted by the published deadline (3-4 weeks prior to that Region’s Assembly). It will then be forwarded to members of the Regional Assembly. Any late resolutions must be added to the agenda by a 2/3 majority of the voting members. If the resolution passes, the Governance Office will forward it from here.

All convention resolutions must be received by the Secretary of the Convention, c/o Church House, no later than 60 days prior to the Convention. Resolutions will be forwarded to the appropriate body for review. The Resolutions Committee, who may consult with other bodies, will review all other resolutions. The Committee may propose revisions or amendments and shall recommend to the Convention such action as it deems appropriate.

The report of the Resolutions Committee will be sent to all members of the Convention no later than 30 days prior to the Convention.

Anyone wishing to submit a resolution past the deadline should contact the Convention Office to go over the procedures involved, which include that the sponsor must explain to the Convention why it was not submitted by the deadline, provide approximately 500 copies of the resolution, and ask the Convention to consider adding it to the agenda (requires a two-thirds majority).

For specific canons governing this process, see Canon 21 and Rules of Order 23 and 24, shown below.

If you are considering submitting a resolution to the Diocesan Convention, please do the following when preparing it:

1. Call on the Convention Office 202/537-6548, atalty@edow.org or the Chair of the Resolutions Committee for any assistance you need.

2. Follow the approved resolution format, copy available from the Convention Office 202/537-6548.

3. Review past positions taken by the Diocesan Convention on the topic you are considering to determine whether further action is actually needed. The Governance Office can assist you in locating prior actions (202)537-6548.

4. To keep the resolutions focused, ask the following questions:

Does it direct that action be taken, specifying what and by whom?
Does the Convention have authority over the subject matter of the resolution, or should the subject be handled in a way other than by resolution?
Does it help the Diocese to move forward to accomplish its goals and vision?
Does it involve program or budget changes, for whom, how much, and where is the money coming from?
Does it state a new internal position, or a public policy?
Does it amend an existing position?
Does it require changes in the canons or constitution?
Does it call for reporting actions, stating who should communicate with whom?

The Resolutions Committee will work to combine similar resolutions. We therefore urge you to exercise restraint, to coordinate your efforts and seek support of others concerned about the same issue. Proposals refined through such discussion and cooperation will foster informed debate and thoughtful decision-making.

RESOLUTIONS:

Canon 10, Sec. 6:

SEC. 6. Procedure for Proposing Resolutions: The Steering Committee, or a resolutions subcommittee appointed by it, shall place on the agenda of the Regional Assembly's meetings resolutions submitted to it by delegates to the Assembly. The Steering Committee shall fix a time and place for the submission of these resolutions, and the time and place shall be published in the diocesan newspaper and may be otherwise announced. The text of each resolution shall be mailed by the Diocesan staff to each delegate to the Assembly in advance of the meeting of the Assembly. Additional resolutions may be placed before any meeting of the Assembly by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly. Resolutions adopted by the Regional Assembly for consideration by the next Diocesan Convention shall be submitted by the Convener of the Steering Committee to the Diocesan Committee on Resolutions. (1979)

If it is to go on to the Convention, it must be sponsored by a member of the Convention (wardens are not members). Please bear in mind the canon and rule of order governing resolutions (see Canon 21 and Rules of Order 23 and 24, shown below):

CANON 21
OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS
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SEC. 1. The President of the Convention, at each annual meeting of the Diocesan Convention, shall appoint a Committee on Resolutions, to consist of not less than two members of the clergy, two lay communicants of this Church in good standing, and the Secretary of the Convention, ex officio. The Committee members shall serve from the adjournment of the Convention at which it is appointed until the adjournment of the next annual meeting of the Diocesan Convention, or until their successors are appointed.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Convention shall receive and refer to the Committee on Resolutions all miscellaneous proposed resolutions, petitions, and memorials for consideration at the next Convention that do not fall within the canonically-prescribed purview of any other Committee, Commission, or Board of the Convention. Every proposed resolution, petition or memorial shall be accompanied by an explanation or justification, an indication of its financial implications, and a statement as to why the Diocesan Convention is an appropriate forum for its consideration. Each resolution shall be signed by the sponsor or sponsors and, if not a member or members of the Convention, cosigned by a member in whose name it shall be presented to the Convention.

SEC. 3. The Committee shall consider and evaluate proposed resolutions, petitions, and memorials referred to it, may consult other bodies of the Convention, may propose revisions or amendments, and shall recommend to the Convention such action thereon as it deems appropriate and shall state the reasons for its recommendation.

SEC. 4. Procedures and deadlines for the submission of proposed resolutions, petitions, and memorials shall be prescribed in the Rules of Order of the Convention.

RULE OF ORDER 23
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23. (a) Any member of the Convention desiring to submit any resolution for consideration by the Convention is directed to submit the same in writing to the Secretary for the Convention not less than two months before the time of meeting of the session of the Convention at which consideration of such resolution is desired; and the Secretary of the Convention shall thereupon forward a copy of such resolution to the Committee on the Constitution, Canons and Other Business, or to such other committee as may be appropriate, which committee may then, in its discretion, direct the Secretary of the Convention to forward a copy to all Ministers in active duty in the Diocese of Washington and to each Lay Delegate evidence of whose election shall have been certified to the Secretary. (1969,1976)

(b) Any resolution except one of courtesy not submitted in advance may be considered by the Convention only after the writer or writers show cause why they could not have submitted the resolution two months before. The Convention must then agree to its consideration by a two-thirds majority. All resolutions submitted within two months prior to the Convention shall be with sufficient copies to distribute to the delegates attending the Convention. The Committee on Resolutions will circulate to each Regional Assembly and to each Convention delegate a copy of all resolutions, accompanied by its report thereon, at least 30 days prior to the Convention. (1970, 1980)

(c) The Resolutions Committee shall submit to the Finance Committee for its review all resolutions proposed to the Convention which have a potential impact upon the Diocesan budget. The Finance Committee shall promptly report back to the Committee on Resolutions its findings on these resolutions. In the case of a resolution which has a potential impact upon the Diocesan budget and which is accepted by Convention under Rule 23(b), the resolution shall be forwarded to the Finance Committee by the Secretary of the Convention and the Finance Committee shall report its findings to the Committee on Resolutions prior to consideration of the resolution by the Convention.

RULE OF ORDER 24
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24. Any resolution, submitted pursuant to Rule 23, or motion which requires funding not specifically provided for in the budget submitted to the Convention for consideration, must contain a recommendation for a corresponding decrease in the funding of another item which is included in the budget so that the impact of the resolution or motion is cost-neutral.