Resolutions are a request for action. They are a means by which the Synod Assembly articulates its thinking on a particular matter and requests actions by synodical units, Synod Council, congregations, the office of the bishop and/or assembly voting members. They are the means for the assembly to request the synodical Bishop or Synod Council to address matters to the rest of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) through the ELCA office of the Presiding Bishop or Church Council. They are also the means by which synod units may directly address churchwide boards and commissions to which they relate. A general guideline is that resolutions should pertain to the life and ministry of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod; deal with matters of significance requiring consideration by the assembly; and call for action – at times a policy decision – that is concrete, specific and within the power of the assembly to implement in the synod. Note: there is no need for a group to get the Assembly’s permission to do what they are already called and empowered to do on behalf of synod congregations. Resolutions may also be submitted by a synod assembly through the Synod Council to the Church Council or the council’s Executive Committee for referral to a churchwide unit. A Memorial (see below) must be a separate action from a resolution, even on the same subject.

A Memorial is the means by which the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod Assembly requests action of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Memorials are worthy of debate by the whole church in assembly.

Resolutions may be submitted by any voting member of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Assembly, a Congregation Council, a congregation of the synod, a synodical unit or an agency or institution recognized by the synod. Conferences may not submit resolutions under the current policy. Resolutions should be submitted electronically (In Word 2003) to the co-chairs of Reference and Counsel: the Rev. Leah Schafer (revdrLKS @ aol.com) and the Rev. Darcy Tillman (DTillman @ nativitylutheran.org), with a hard copy mailed to the secretary the Synod, the Rev. Maggie Rourk; c/o Christ Lutheran Church, 3810 Meredith Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Please include the yellow personal information form with your resolution.

Please take note that a Resolution is different from a petition. A large number of supporters listed as submitters has become cumbersome for Reference and Counsel when it comes to verifying the voting member status; including all submitters in meetings/discussion and more. Please use the attached form (on yellow paper) with all resolutions to assist in preparation of the resolution for Assembly debate.
 

All “Wheras” statements should be related to at least one “Resolved” clause, and all requests for action in the “Resolved” clauses should be informed by positions set forth in the “Whereas” statements.

Some “protocol” issues: to communicate the contents of a resolution to a person/body outside of the ELCA (such as the United States Congress or the Mayor of the District of Columbia), the communicating is done by the Bishop. To take the same action within the ELCA (such as LSS or the ELCA seminary presidents), the communicating is done by the Secretary of the Synod.
 

The purpose of the Reference and Counsel Committee is to guarantee preparation of every resolution for the best possible hearing by the Assembly. The R&C Committee assists in scheduling adequate agenda time, edit the resolutions, and anticipate possible questions so that supportive information is available if requested. Additionally, the Committee on Reference and Counsel must be in dialogue with the submitter(s) of the resolution should there be questions about intent, format, accuracy, etc.
The Reference and Counsel Committee is not a “mini-Assembly.” Our job is to get your resolution to the floor of the Assembly ready for debate, regardless if we individually or as a committee agree or disagree with the action requested. WE can do this best with Resolutions that are clear in their intent, take seriously the guidelines outlined above, and say what the author(s) means.
 

The Reference and Counsel Committee will strive to schedule all Resolutions at a time in the Assembly agenda that relates to the resolution. For example, the enclosed sample Resolution from 2006 on Outdoor Ministries would be scheduled following the report of the Division for Congregational Life. We are unable to schedule a particular resolutions in a particular plenary session in order to accommodate a person who will be present for only that portion of the Assembly.
 

Resolutions received after May 11(30 days prior to the beginning of the Assembly) that are not germane to the Assembly business, or emergent issues occurring after the deadline, will be referred to the Synod Council. In addition, any Resolution submitted to the Assembly, but not heard will be referred to the Synod Council.

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Leah Schafer (703-860-1757) or Pastor Darcy Tillman (703-768-1112).