Comments on: General Synod: A Primer

By: David Kellett

David Kellett — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 16:41:56 +0000

Hello Mr. Townsend: I was reacting to the sentence :”when a resolution comes before synod it must be moved and seconded before it can be debated”. I am quite surprised by the Chancellor’s response. so, the rules we follow do not require a positive act “by the presiding officer”? So, a motion becomes debatable if it is “properly moved and seconded”? That assumes the mover and the seconder are well intentioned persons, and are acting without malevolent intentions!!!!My complaint with the resolutions brought before General Synod is their foucs on procedures and process. For example, the resolution by Ms. Bull, I forget the number, C003?. (GS 2013) it read “That this Synod direct the Council of General Synod to prepare a future motion that would…….” That resolution was a most peculiar one, it was manipulative (focusing on proceduralism), and it lacked any statement of a Christian belief or principle. I have come to the conclusion General Synods are not being properly “chaired”, and I believe the “chairman” or the “presiding officer” ought to have real authority.

By: Matthew Townsend

Matthew Townsend — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 23:21:40 +0000

In reply to Sheila Hagan-Bloxham.

Yes! They will be at https://gs2019.anglican.ca/

By: Sheila Hagan-Bloxham

Sheila Hagan-Bloxham — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:51:05 +0000

Can I receive live streaming of the meetings of General Synod. f so how will I access this?

By: Iain Luke

Iain Luke — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 17:49:04 +0000

It is striking how often the word “vote” appears in the text, to the point where one might be forgiven for thinking that was the main or only purpose of a synod. If that were so, it would be a lot cheaper to stay home and have a series of electronic referenda. But a synod is called so that representatives of the church (and yes, they are representatives) can come together to worship, pray, discern, deliberate, even argue with one another, so that we can respond to God’s call and participate in God’s mission as a body.

By: Matthew Townsend

Matthew Townsend — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:48:01 +0000

Dear David,

Thanks for this comment. I do not believe there is an error in the article—I reached out to David Jones, Q.C., chancellor of General Synod, with your comment, and he replied with the following:

General Synod uses the Rules of Order and Procedure contained in the Handbook, supplemented by Kerr & King’s Procedures for Meetings and Organizations (2nd ed.). We do not use Perry (or Roberts Rules of Order). Although there is considerable similarity among all of the authorities on procedure, there are some differences.

Our Rules do not contain a general requirement of a positive act or step of acceptance of a motion by the presiding officer; it is usually implicit in moving on to debate. However, the presiding officer does have the ability to make a determination about whether a motion is in order, and a member can also always raise that question; and ultimately General Synod as a whole would determine any appeal from the presiding officer’s ruling.

Once a motion has been properly moved and seconded, it becomes the property of the assembly, and cannot be withdrawn without the consent of General Synod: Rule 16 d).

In addition, the presiding officer has a general discretion about which speaker to recognize, and when.

Rule 16 g) does give the presiding officer discretion not to accept a motion that debate be closed if the presiding officer is of the opinion that the motion to close debate is an abuse of the rules or would deny members of the synod an adequate opportunity for discussion.

So: I do not think the description in the Journal is inaccurate, but it is made in the context of all of our particular rules, including the role of the presiding officer.

By: David Kellett

David Kellett — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 03:10:45 +0000

There is an error in the above precis.
“Many people who attend meetings are confused by motions and the rules concerning them. The most common misconception is that a motion requires only two things to be debatable, a mover and a seconder. Overlooked is the third and most vital element, acceptance by the Chair. For example, a motion would be unacceptable if it concerned some business beyond the authority of the meeting.
“Acceptance is what makes a motion a formal part of the meeting, and only after acceptance by the Chair does it become debatable. Once a motion is accepted it becomes the property of the meeting.” Call to Order, Meeting Rules and Procedures for Non-profit Organizations, Herb Perry. 1984