Commissioners' Resolution Procedures during a "Hybrid" Assembly

A Possible CR?

The possibilities for commissioners' resolutions are quite broad, but they are not unlimited. The Standing Rules specifically identify certain areas which cannot be considered as "new business" through the CR process. A CR may not:

• Propose an action that would require an amendment to the either The Book of Order  or The Book of Confessions, or request the assembly issue an authoritative interpretation of those constitutional documents (A.6.d)
• It cannot relate to areas already being addressed by items of business before the assembly, or request actions on those items that could be accomplished through the usual process of amendment and debate (A.6.e)
• They should not seek to bring back before the assembly issues that have already been considered in either of the two preceding assemblies (A.6.f)

The Standing Rules also provide some specific guidance regarding possible CRs that may otherwise be permitted:

• If the resolution relates to areas for which the General Assembly has previously adopted official policies, commissioners offering the CR should both familiarize themselves with those policies and reference them (as appropriate) in the CR (A.6.c)
• If the resolution would substantially change the PC(USA)'s approved social witness policy, then the Stated Clerk is directed to refer the CR to the next assembly (A.6.h)

So, if your idea for a CR falls within these parameters, you are ready to begin looking for others who would also support the CR.

Making Connections

The standing rules require that any commissioners' resolution must be jointly submitted by commissioners representing (at least) two presbyteries (A.6.a) and that they be submitted before assembly committees begin their official meetings (A.6.b). But if the majority of commissioners will not even be present in Louisville before the 3:00 pm (EDT) deadline on June 19 for the submission of commissioners' resolutions, how might a commissioner identify and collaborate with a commissioner from another presbytery who might share a particular interest?

Beginning on May 19, a resource section will be provided here in the Advocacy hub of GA225 Connections with several tools to assist commissioners with the process.  The "Commissioners' Resolution" resource includes an online "Forum" that can be used to facilitate making such connections between commissioners from different presbyteries. You will be able to announce your particular interest in developing a resolution as a post in the forum. Others will be able to express their shared interest by replying to your post, and you will automatically receive notices whenever anyone does. You can also review previous posts that have been created by others and "subscribe" to follow those issues that may also be of interest to you. Remember, however, that a commissioner cannot be a signatory on the submission of more than two (2) commissioners' resolutions in an assembly (A.6.a).

Requesting a Collaboration Form

Once you have identified one or more commissioners from different presbyteries who will collaborate with you on a commissioners' resolution, you can request a workspace here in GA225 Connections to draft and edit it for submission. To make the request, click on the "Request Online Collaboration Form" tile and then the "CR Collaboration Workspace Request Form" link.

Even if you already know another commissioner and you have together fully developed the CR you wish to submit, it will still be necessary to request the online collaboration workspace because it serves as the submission and signing tool for all commissioners' resolutions.

There are full instructions regarding the use of the online workspace provided in the "Commissioners' Resolution" resource area.

Finalizing and Submitting the CR

You and your collaborators will be notified by the staff when your workspace is ready. You will then click on the "Resolution Workspaces" tile to open the list of commissioners' resolutions that are currently assigned to you as a collaborator. 

Only the persons listed in the request form will be able to access the workspace for a CR. The commissioners working on the CR can each make edits and updates to both the "Resolution" and the "Rationale." Detailed guidance on the use of the collaborative editing tool is provided in the "Commissioners' Resolution" resource here in GA225 Connections. Once they have agreed on the language for both those sections, they will be ready to sign and submit the CR.

Review and Assignment of CRs

Once the commissioners' resolution form is completed, the signers will need to contact the support staff to let them know that the CR has been "submitted" and is ready for review and consideration for referral. If there are any issues with the submission, the staff will follow up with the commissioners to try to resolve them ahead of the submission deadline of 3:00 pm EDT on June 19, 2022.

As detailed in Standing Rule A.6.g, if the Stated Clerk determines the proposed resolution does deal with "new business" within the limits set by the rules, the CR will be transmitted to the Assembly Committee on Bills and Overtures with a recommendation for its referral to the appropriate committee assembly. Alternatively, for reasons stated in the Standing Rules, the Stated Clerk or the Bills and Overtures Committee may refer the resolution to the next assembly, decline consideration of the resolution, or "take no action" regarding it (and so stop it from receiving a committee recommendation that would be acted upon by the plenary assembly). Standing Rule A.6.h provides an appeals process for decisions not to refer CRs to an assembly committee.