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Model Resolution
Resolution Calling for a Super Majority to Change Ministry Policies
The Lutheran CORE Steering Committee commends this model resolution for use in 2009. It is designed to be used by congregations at their annual meetings or their conference meetings. The intent is to get it adopted by synod assemblies. The resolution below may be reproduced and distributed locally. There are two forms of the resolution. Use the form that you judge would work best in your synod.
You may also view resolutions commended for use in past years.
WHEREAS, the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will consider recommendations from the Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality that ask the ELCA to change its teaching and policy to affirm the possibility of committed same-sex relationships for pastors and other rostered leaders in the ELCA; and
WHEREAS, the Legal and Constitutional Review Committee of the ELCA Church Council recommended in November that any motion to come before this Churchwide Assembly regarding changes in this church's current policy and practice for the rostering of ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and deaconesses shall require a two-thirds vote by the assembly for adoption; and
WHEREAS, the ELCA Church Council voted 19-10 to delete this provision and is recommending rules of procedure for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly which would require only a simple majority vote to change ELCA standards to allow pastors and other rostered leaders to be in same-sex sexual relationships; and
WHEREAS, 15 Synod Councils asked the ELCA Church Council to change its simple majority proposal to a two-thirds majority vote (3 Synod Councils supported the simple majority recommendation); and
WHEREAS, a two-thirds majority of ELCA bishops recommended that a two-thirds majority vote be required on the ministry policies resolutions (March Conference of Bishops vote); and
WHEREAS, a two-thirds majority vote is usually required for major decisions including the adoption of an ELCA social statement and for amendments to the ELCA constitution and bylaws, so that such decisions will be accepted by the entire church as legitimate; and
WHEREAS, a decision to change church teaching and policy to allow pastors and other rostered leaders to be in same-sex sexual relationships holds the potential to be very divisive in many ELCA synods and congregations and to cause both membership and financial losses for synods and congregations; and
WHEREAS, a super majority vote – such as a two-thirds majority – would require an overwhelming majority of Churchwide Assembly voting members to make such a significant change to church teaching and practice;
WHEREAS, the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will adopt its rules for the assembly and could set a two-thirds majority for adoption of any changes to standards for pastors and other rostered leaders; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the _______ Synod Assembly endorse the following provision as an addition to the rules of procedure for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly: “Any motion to come before this Churchwide Assembly regarding changes in this church’s current policy and practice for the rostering of ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and deaconesses shall require a two-thirds vote by the assembly for adoption;” and be it further
RESOLVED, that this synod assembly urge that the voting members from the _______ Synod present the above addition to the rules of procedure at the time the 2009 Churchwide Assembly considers the rules of procedure for the assembly.
Alternate Resolution Calling for a Super Majority to Change Ministry Policies
WHEREAS, the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will consider recommendations from the Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality that affirm the possibility of publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships for pastors and other rostered leaders in the ELCA; and
WHEREAS, the Legal and Constitutional Review Committee of the ELCA Church Council recommended in November that any motion to come before this Churchwide Assembly regarding changes in this church's current policy and practice for the rostering of ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and deaconesses shall require a two-thirds vote by the assembly for adoption; and
WHEREAS, the ELCA Church Council voted 19-10 to delete this provision and is recommending rules of procedure for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly which would require only a simple majority vote to change ELCA standards to allow pastors and other rostered leaders to be in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships; and
WHEREAS, a two-thirds majority vote is usually required for major decisions including the adoption of an ELCA social statement and for amendments to the ELCA constitution and bylaws, so that such decisions will be accepted by the entire church as legitimate; and
WHEREAS, a decision to change church teaching and policy to allow pastors and other rostered leaders to be in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships holds the potential to be very divisive in many ELCA synods and congregations and to cause both membership and financial losses for synods and congregations; and
WHEREAS, the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will adopt its rules for the assembly and could set a two-thirds majority for adoption of any changes to standards for pastors and other rostered leaders; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the _______ Synod Assembly endorse the following provision as an addition to the rules of procedure for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly: “Any motion to come before this Churchwide Assembly regarding changes in this church’s current policy and practice for the rostering of ordained ministers, diaconal ministers, associates in ministry, and deaconesses shall require a two-thirds vote by the assembly for adoption;” and be it further
RESOLVED, that this synod assembly urge that the voting members from the _______ Synod present the above addition to the rules of procedure at the time the 2009 Churchwide Assembly considers the rules of procedure for the assembly.
[Download a text file of these resolutions.]