13 Jul GS 1995 art 110
GS 1995 ARTICLE 110 – Guidelines for General Synod
Committee IV presents:
Agenda item VIII. E. 12
I. MATERIAL
Overture from the church at Langley re: Guidelines for General Synod.
II. OBSERVATIONS
- A. The church at Langley requests Synod to change the Guidelines for General Synod with regard to material, committees and committee reports.
- 1. With regard to “material” Langley proposes to change Guideline I.D. so that it reads “All material for Synod should be received by the convening church no later than six weeks prior to the convocation date of General Synod. Material received after this date shall ordinarily not be added to the agenda unless Synod is satisfied that the reasons given for later arrival are reasonable.”
- Langley bases their suggestion on two points
- a. the churches and its members are notified well in advance when a Synod is to be convened;
- b. the delegates should receive ample opportunity to study the material in advance and to prepare themselves properly.
- 2. With regard to “Committees” Langley suggests Synod add the following guide- line: “When considering a report by any of its committees containing far-reaching or major recommendations, Synod shall insure that no decisions is made without a Committee member being present and receiving the opportunity to clarify and defend the work of the Committee.”
- The grounds for this proposal are
- a. it is a matter of common courtesy;
- b. the Committee can defend its own work and address new points;
- c. to avoid imbalance (some committees may have members at Synod while others may not).
- 3. With regard to Committee Reports the church at Langley suggests “All committees appointed by Synod shall see to it that they send as many copies of their report to the local churches as each has office-bearers.” Langley suggests this will streamline the present practice and will make it possible for the churches to deal with the material sooner and at less expense to them.
III. CONSIDERATIONS
- A. The church at Langley is correct that more time is required to distribute the material to the delegates for their perusal and evaluation. However in their proposal Langley has dropped the reference to the number of copies required.
- B. In order to evaluate a report adequately it should convey matters in such a way that all pertinent points can be weighed carefully. If Synod considers it necessary to receive more input on far-reaching or major recommendations it has the freedom to seek such advice (Guidelines III A 9).
- C. To enhance the discussion and evaluation of reports it is desirable that churches receive as many copies of committee reports as there are office-bearers.
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS
Synod decide
- A. To change Guideline 1.D. as follows: “All material for Synod should be received by the convening church (in twenty-two copies) no later than six weeks prior to the convocation date of General Synod. Material received after this date shall ordinarily not be added to the agenda unless Synod is satisfied that the reasons given for later arrival are reasonable.”
- B. Not to accept Langley’s second proposal regarding the presence of Committee members at Synod.
- C. To adopt Langley’s proposal regarding Committee Reports.