Report of Reference & Counsel

WV-WMD Synod Assembly
Report of Reference & Counsel

The Committee on Reference & Counsel received ten resolutions submitted by Voting Members Phil Van Dam and Pete Suwak. These are the sum total of the resolutions received by the September 26, 2021, deadline.

Reference & Counsel gave due and fair consideration to each and every one of the Van Dam / Suwak Ten in a committee meeting held September 27, 2021.

Rather than rule it an illegal resolution, Reference & Counsel corrected an error in the Resolution concerning the Age of Ordination by replacing “Southern Ohio Synod” with “West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.”

Reference & Counsel concludes that the Synod Assembly’s deliberative decision-making process will be best served by seeking more information. It is the unanimous opinion of Reference & Council that the submitted resolutions will be enhanced by taking the time to seek the advice, counsel, and expertise of others who can provide a fuller and more complete explanation of the issues raised.

Reference & Counsel recommends that the Synod Assembly refer all ten resolutions as follows:

1. ASSYRIANS: That the resolution on dialog with the Assyrian Church of the East be referred to the Ecumenical Officer who is requested to report the cost of human and financial resources to carry out the proposed action to the Synod Council.
2. BAPTISM: That the resolution on ecumenical recognition of baptisms be referred to the Ecumenical Officer who is requested to report the cost of human and financial resources to carry out the proposed action to the Synod Council.
3. CREDAL: That the resolution on credal status and full-communion agreements be referred to the Ecumenical Officer for more information to be reported to the Synod Council.
4. ORIENTAL: That the resolution on dialog with the Oriental Orthodox be referred to the Ecumenical Officer who is requested to report the cost of human and financial resources to carry out the proposed action to the Synod Council.
5. BARMEN: That the resolution on the Barmen Declaration be referred to the Bishop for more information to be reported to the Synod Council.
6. ORDINATION AGE: That the resolution on a minimum age for ordination (as amended by Reference & Counsel) be referred to the Bishop for more information. The Bishop is requested to make a report to the Synod Council.
7. ORDINATION VOWS: That the resolution on ordination vows be referred to the Bishop for more information. The Bishop is requested to make a report to the Synod Council.
8. BISHOP: That the resolution on the constitutionally required roles of bishops be referred to Synod Council.
9. FEDERATED SYNOD: That the resolution on federated synods/judicatories be referred to Synod Council.
10. VOTING MEMBERSHIP: That the resolution on frequency of communion [and voting membership] be referred to the Bylaws Committee for study, followed by a report recommending action to the Synod Council.
    

Reference & Counsel encourages all parties affected by its referral recommendations to seek any and all assistance they may need to accomplish the requested tasks.

In addition, Reference & Counsel acknowledges and affirms the right of Pastors Van Dam and Suwak to submit ten non-germane resolutions for the Synod Assembly’s consideration; however, Reference & Counsel is compelled to remind the assembly that it is meeting in the midst of a continuing pandemic that requires appropriate and prudent accommodations for the health and well-being of our neighbors. One of those safety measures is to spend only as much time in one place as is absolutely necessary. Reference & Counsel believes it appropriate to remind the assembly that the mechanics of parliamentary procedure in adjudicating ten resolutions is a time consuming process. Synod Council, in planning this assembly, has attempted to limit our time in our meeting space by conducting only the business that is specifically required. The report of the Committee on Reference & Counsel is a required piece of business; a full debate on each and every resolution is not.

Reference & Counsel unanimously finds the submission of ten resolutions to this particular Assembly, while legal under the Synod Assembly’s rules, to be poor form and lacking in consideration for those present at this assembly.

Pamela Pritt
Andrea Brock
Jason Felici
William Ridenhour

Implementing Resolution: To adopt the recommendations of the Committee on Reference & Counsel, referring the ten Van Dam/Suwak resolutions as indicated in its report.