RESOLUTION 2004.6

Title of Resolution         Adherence to Estalished Policy Procedures

Name of Mover            Tim Magyar

Name of Seconder        Will Stoecker

WHEREAS   the Church Council is scheduled to prepare resolution(s) for the 2005 Churchwide Assembly regarding blessing of same-gender relationships and/or rostering of approved candidates who are in commited same-gender relationships; and

WHEREAS   the 1997 Churchwide Assembly affirmed the adoption by the Church Council of "Policies & Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns", and

WHEREAS   according to "Procedures for Social Policy Resolutions" specified in "Sphere3: Development & Enactment of Social Policy" of the "Policies & Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns", 

"1. Social policy resolutions refer to actions, other than social statement, of  the Churchwide Assembly or Church Council on matters of social concern.

2. Normally, social policy resolutions shall rely upon or be consistent with the teachings and policy of social statements.

3. The board of the Division for Church in Society, the Church Council, synods, and voting members of the Churchwide Assembly may propose social policy resolutions.

4. Social policy resolutions shall be managed according to the established rules and procedures of the board of the Division for Church in Society, the Church Council, synods, and the Churchwide Assembly.

5. In those exceptional cases where proposed social policy resolutions revise established teaching and policy, the board of the Division for Church in Society, the Church Council, or the Churchwide Assembly shall assign responsibility to develop supporting foundational theological material and descriptive documents to accompany the proposed resolution.

6. All social policy resolutions must be approved by the Churchwide Assembly, or in the interim, by the Church Council. Where revisions to established teaching and policy are proposed, a two-thirds vote of the voting members of the assembly or council shall be required to adopt the social policy resolution."; and

WHEREAS   any resolution that changes the established teaching and policy regarding blessing of same-gender

                     relationships and/or rostering of approved candidates who are in commited same-gender relationships is a social policy resolution of exceptional case;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Central/Southern Illinois Synod Assembly direct the Central/Southern Illinois Synod Council to forward this resolution to the Churchwide Council for consideration and possible action so that should the Churchwide Council prepare resolution(s) to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly to revise established teaching and policy regarding blessing of same-gender relationships and /or rostering of approved candidates who are in committed same-gender relationships, such resolution(s) be consedered as exceptional social policy resolutions(s) and require accompanying supporting foundational theological material and two-thirds vote for adoption under Sphere 3: Development & Enactment of Social Policy of the Policies & Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns. 

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