GS 1980 ARTICLE 25 – Proposal – Lincoln re: Acts
Committee Ill presents:
A. Material –
- Agenda VIII, K – Proposal of the Church at Lincoln.
B. Observations
- 1. The Church of Lincoln proposes “that from now on the Acts of Synods will include ALL PROPOSALS, LETTERS, APPEALS, REPORTS, etc.”
- 2. Lincoln uses as ground that “our church members may be able to study and evaluate synods’ decisions adequately, instead of being faced with decisions only.”
C. Considerations
- 1. Article 34 of the Church Order states that in all ecclesiastical assemblies a clerk shall keep a faithful record of all things worthy to be recorded.
- 2. It is in the discretion of the clerks of Synods to compose the Acts which are to be adopted by Synod.
- 3. The Church of Lincoln does not prove that “ALL PROPOSALS, APPEALS, REPORTS, etc.” presented to Synods are “worthy to be recorded.”
- 4. The Acts of Synods as presently submitted to the Churches do not only record decisions, but also observations and considerations in which the material presented to Synods is summarized.
- 5. Each Synod decides which material submitted to her shall be published as an appendix to the Acts.
D. Recommendation
Synod decide:
- not to accede to the proposal of the Church of Lincoln.