24 Jul GS 2013 art 176
GS 2013 Article 176 –Synod Guidelines: Changes to
Committee 4 presented its proposal with this result:
Sections I.A, I.D and III.B.1 (See Acts of Synod Burlington 2010, Appendix 11, p.340)
The old rules are as follows:
I.A. The convening Church shall set the date on which Synod shall meet (cf. Article 49 CO).The convening church shall publish the date along with the rule:
- All material for Synod should be received by the convening Church (in thirty 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.
I.D. All material for Synod should be received by the convening Church (in thirty 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.
III.B.1 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.
Proposal to change Section I.A (re: the convening church) as follows:
The convening Church shall set the date on which Synod shall meet (cf. Article 49 CO). The convening church shall publish the date along with the rule:
- All material for Synod should be received by the convening Church (in digital format and five paper 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.
Proposal to add a new Section I.B (re: the convening church) as follows:
Correspondence from the convening church, including the notice of convocation, agendas, reports and proposals may be sent to the churches and/or delegates as digital files. However, in order to maintain the confidentiality of potentially sensitive material, personal appeals as well as other documents which contain personal information (e.g., letters of appointment) must be sent from the convening church as password-protected digital files.
Proposal to change Section I.D (re: the convening church) [to be changed to I.E] as follows:
All material for Synod should be received by the convening Church (in digital format and five paper 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.
Proposal to change Section III.B.1 (re: synodical committees) as follows:
All committees appointed by Synod shall see to it that they send a copy of their report in digital format to each of the local churches.