Questions or comments
about this site?
E-mail .

 

   

 

Synod Assembly

Resolution Guidelines

Deadline for submitting resolutions to be included in the 2002 Pre-Assembly Report – Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002.

Send resolutions to:

Rev. Audree Catalano
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
1001 14th Street NW, Suite 300 
Rochester, MN 55901-2551

Guidelines for Writing a Resolution

It’s important that resolutions be clear and directed to the appropriate church body. Before you begin writing your resolution, please read and follow these three steps:

1.  Determine Appropriate Direction

Make an attempt to determine if the issue or idea you are concerned about is most appropriately handled by:

  • Synod Committee
  • The Synod Council
  • The Synod Staff
  • The Executive Committee
  • Synod Assembly

Direct your concern to the appropriate unit. If the Synod Assembly is the most appropriate, continue with the steps below.

2.  Validate the Idea With Other People

Channel your idea through other individuals or groups to get their response on how convincing your idea actually is. If you have a difficult time convincing others that your idea is valid, you may find it even harder to convince the Synod Assembly.

3. Write the Resolution

  1. Write your resolution clearly and concisely.

  2. The WHEREAS clause(s) describes the concern, problem, or reason for the resolution. Each reason should be a separate WHEREAS.
  3. The RESOLVED section must answer the following questions: What should be done? Who should act? What entity should bear the cost, if any, and what cost is anticipated? When should the action be done? To whom should the results be reported?
  4. Separate each of these items in the resolution so that the assembly, in acting upon the resolution, may deal with each item separately and decide, if members so choose, to modify the separate elements.
  5. If the resolution requires a change in the Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the synod, the proposed changes must be included in the resolution.
  6. Avoid inflammatory words and generalized statements in your resolution. Keep adjectives and adverbs to a minimum. Use straightforward nouns and verbs.
  7. Test the resolution by asking: Is the information complete and accurate? Is this a matter that pertains to the life and work of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod and the ELCA? Is this a matter of such significance that it requires consideration by the Synod Assembly? Is the action requested one that this synod can appropriately undertake and reasonably fulfill?
  8. Additional background information can be submitted on a separate sheet and may be placed with the resolution as it comes before the Synod Assembly. Make sure all information regarding the resolution is complete, accurate, and fair – persons submitting resolutions are responsible for providing the correct supportive data!

Remember - Direct Your Concern to the Appropriate Body!

The Churchwide Assembly has been swamped by memorials. Many of these concerns could be better addressed by sending resolutions to the ELCA Church Council. Please keep in mind that memorials may not be the only route for a synod to express concern.

Resolutions may be passed that are addressed to a specific Churchwide unit or to units that relate to a given concern. In the final "resolved" of such an assembly action, should be this provision:

For example: RESOLVED, that the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly direct the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Council to forward this resolution to the Church Council for consideration and possible action.

Resolutions follow a more direct route than memorials, which must go to the Churchwide Assembly, and await the assembly’s response. Memorials should be reserved, insofar as possible, for broader policy issues that belong in the Churchwide Assembly. By contrast, resolutions may receive more immediate attention.

We are encouraged to route our resolutions through our Synod Council either to the Church Council or to the Church Council's Executive Committee. Our National Church policy affirms that:

  • Synod Assemblies address the Churchwide Assembly;
  • Synod Councils address the ELCA Church Council; and
  • Synod Councils address Churchwide units through the ELCA Church Council's Executive Committee, including forwarding actions of the Synod Assembly.

Now you are ready to proceed to the Resolution Worksheet!