Submitting Resolutions

They can call for action at three levels:

• They can change the way our diocese operates.
• They can call for church-wide action by submitting proposed legislation to the General Convention that meets once every three years.
• In the wider world, they can call upon Episcopalians to take action as individuals or as congregations to address important public issues, including legislative initiatives.

Resolutions may be submitted by any canonically resident cleric, any elected lay delegate or alternate, or by any congregation, deanery, or other recognized diocesan organization.

• A draft must be submitted to the Committee on Resolutions no later than 90 days before the convention (July 27, 2024). Send it to the Chair, Dave Frangquist, frangquist@acm.org.
• A sponsor must be available to work with the Committee on Resolutions during the month of August.
• The Committee seeks to have all resolutions in final form (or close to it) by Labor Day.
• Sponsors should be available to make presentations to the deaneries in September & October.
• Sponsors should plan to present the resolution to the convention on October 25 & 26, 2024.

Don’t worry about it. Give it your best shot. The Committee will help you get it in the right form.

Yes, go to the DioCal convention web site (diocalconvention.org) and look for Resolutions.  You can also go to the DioCal.org and select the “Convention” quick link at the bottom of the home page.

Overall, the Committee tries to be as helpful as possible, advising sponsors as to the best ways to accomplish their goals. The Committee strives to operate in a collaborative mode and avoid becoming a stumbling block or gate keeper.

• The Committee may recommend that sponsors begin by working with diocesan entities other than the convention (e.g. the bishop or Executive Council).
• When a resolution is appropriate, It helps sponsors prepare a resolution that is most likely to accomplish the sponsors’ goals and is most likely to obtain the support of the convention.
• It ensures that resolutions are in proper form.
• It attempts to ensure that resolutions conform to applicable canons or rules.
• It publishes draft resolutions on the diocesan website for review and comment.
• It is available to advise sponsors on effective presentation of resolutions.
• When there are more than five resolutions proposed, it selects five for presentation to the convention.

• It does not make substantive changes to a resolution without the consent of the sponsor(s).
• It does not check the accuracy of claims made in the accompanying explanation.
• It does not take a position as to whether or not the convention should adopt a resolution.
• It does not handle changes to the Canons; that is the work of the Committee on Canons.

• It deals with only one subject.
• It is as short as necessary to accomplish its goals, normally limited to two or three clauses.
• It is written in plain English and avoids jargon or convoluted phraseology.
• It furthers the mission of the Diocese of California.
• It takes action rather than just stating an opinion.
• When it deals with matters of diocesan administration (e.g. finances), it establishes policy and delegates details to the bishop or an appropriate diocesan body, such as Executive Council.
• When `it calls for the establishment of a task force, it sets a date for the task force’s final report to the convention (i.e. “sunset” date). This is required by the rules.

• Begin working on resolution ideas early, seeking input from deaneries, diocesan commissions, congregations and other interested bodies as appropriate.
• Submit an initial draft to the Committee by the published deadline (earlier if possible).
• Prepare an explanation supporting the reasons for the resolution. Explanations should be concise (about one page), but may include links to additional documents for background.
• Provide a primary contact name with email address.
• Work with the Committee during the month of August to “perfect” the resolution. Work may extend up to the convention as feedback comes in.
• Present their resolutions to an all-deanery online meeting, usually late August or early September.
• Attend the various deanery meetings to present their resolutions.
• Present the resolution during the convention (October 25-26, 2024).

• Deaneries can propose resolutions. If a deanery sponsors a resolution, that may make a stronger case for adoption by the convention.
• Deaneries can provide a suitable forum for discussion of resolutions or ideas for resolutions. Time during convention is very limited.
• Deanery representatives to Executive Council can bring matters to the attention of the Council, which in some cases may be more effective than passing a convention resolution.

The convention adopted a rule many years ago limiting the number to five.  It appears to have been intended to keep the convention from going on too long.

Each case is unique, but some patterns have emerged:

1. The Committee may recommend that a resolution be included in the Consent Calendar. That means it would be adopted without debate and it does not count as one of the “favored five.”  This is suitable for noncontroversial matters that would not benefit from open discussion.
2. The Committee may recommend an alternative approach, such as bringing the matter before the Executive Council or other diocesan body.
3. The Committee may seek to combine resolutions when multiple resolutions seem to deal with the same subject. The combined resolution would only count as one. This requires the consent of all sponsors.
4. A resolution that is not submitted by the Committee can be brought to the floor of the convention by asking the convention to add it to the agenda. This requires a two-thirds vote.