To Amend Bylaws to Eliminate Ability of Circuit Forum to Submit Overtures

WHEREAS, The principal business of the Synod and its districts in convention is conducted through the consideration of reports and overtures (Bylaw 3.1.6); and

WHEREAS, Overtures to the Synod in convention and the districts in convention may be submitted by, inter alia, member congregations of the Synod and a forum of a circuit (circuit forum) (Bylaw 3.1.6.2); and

WHEREAS, Visitation circuits are a network of congregations, established by a district according to geographical criteria (Bylaw section 5.l), for which the circuit forum is designed to keep “congregations, particularly the lay leaders, commissioned ministers, and pastors, supportive of one another in their common confession and mutually active in developing programs for the good of member congregations, in considering and recommending new work, and in suggesting improvements for services and programming at the national and district levels” (Bylaw 5.3.1); and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws provide that a circuit forum consists of one pastor and one layperson from each member congregation (Bylaw 5.3.2), is encouraged to meet at least twice a year (Bylaw 5.3.l), and must meet at least once triennial ly (Bylaw 5.3.3), but do not establish requirements for a quorum or the voting threshold for a circuit forum to take action; and

WHEREAS, A member congregation of the Synod can submit overtures, authorized and approved by a majority of the voting members of said member congregation at a meeting at which a quorum is present or by its governing board if so authorized by the governing documents of said member congregation, either of which carries legitimacy in the act; and

WHEREAS, Conversely, submission of an overture by a circuit forum gives the impression that it is supported by all congregations of the visitation circuit when, in reality, it may have been approved by a minimal number of representatives who attended the circuit forum; and

WHEREAS, Nothing is accomplished by allowing circuit forums to submit overtures that cannot be accomplished through member congregations of a visitation circuit submitting the same overture to the Synod in convention or a district in convention; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.6.2 be amended as follows: Overtures 3.1.6.2 Overtures to a convention of the Synod may be submitted only by a member congregation of the Synod, a convention or board of directors of a district, an official district conference of ordained and/or commissioned ministers, the faculty of an educational institution of the Synod, the Board of Directors of the Synod, aboard or commission of the Synod listed in Bylaws 3.2.2, 3.2.2.1, 3.2.3, and 3.2.3.1, or a committee established by a prior convention, or a forum of a circuit. …

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw section 5.3 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 5.3 Circuit Forums … 5.3.5 The circuit forum shall be qualified to submit overtures to national and district conventions.