Subject:Motion to Amend the Rules of Order and Procedure

Moved By: Chancellor David P. Jones, Q.C.
Seconded By: Ms. Cynthia Haines-Turner    

Be it resolved that this General Synod:

1. Amend the Rules of Order and Procedure as follows:

A. In Rule 6, amend the first sentence in paragraph a) to read as follows:

a) Agenda Committee—consisting of the chair of the General Synod Planning Committee and not more than seven members to be drawn from the members of the General Synod ….

B. In Rule 9, change “second edition” to “most recent edition”.

C. In Rule 16 k) viii), change “to divide upon it” to “to close debate”.

D. At the end of Rule 16k), put a period after “named” and delete the rest of the sentence.

E. After Rule 16 k) ii), add “iii) to divide a compound motion” and reletter the following sub-paragraphs.

F. In Rule 16 m), change “put the question” to “close debate”.

G. At the end of Rule 18 d) add “The sequence of voting shall be laity, clergy, Bishops.”

2. This resolution shall come into effect upon prorogation of General Synod.

Source: Governance Working Group                

Submitted By: Governance Working Group            

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?      Yes    No

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?   Yes   No

EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND

A number of provisions in the Rules of Order and Procedure need updating or clarifying. The following motion is proposed to accomplish this task, with the proviso that the amendments will only come into effect at the end of General Synod 2019 so none of these changes would affect the proceedings of General Synod 2019 but the updated version would be in the Handbook published after General Synod.

PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION (F)

Section 11 d) of the Declaration of Principles requires an amendment to the Rules of Order and Procedure to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the members of General Synod voting in the normal manner (that is, as a whole).

Rule 23 of the Rules of Order and Procedure requires a motion to suspend a Rule of Order to be passed by two-thirds of the members present voting as a whole.