Dear People of Pacifica Synod,
I am writing regarding our synod constitution and proposed changes to be considered by the 2024 Synod Assembly, which will be held via Zoom on June 15, 2024.
In 2021, a task force was convened by the Synod Council to review the synod constitution and suggest possible changes. That task force included Analiese Christenson, Jeff Cours, Pastor Jay Egenes, Pastor Jeff Lilley, Rachel Line, Pastor Jennifer Shaw, Bishop Andy Taylor, and Pastor Laura Ziehl. The task force suggested changes that clarified the document, corrected small errors or inconsistencies, and put the constitution in line with current practices. In addition, the 2022 Churchwide Assembly approved a new model constitution for synods with both required and suggested changes to synod constitutions. I am grateful to Jeff Cours and Rachel Line for updating our constitution to reflect the required changes.
The suggested changes recommended by the task force were distributed to the synod in November of 2022 in order to be voted on at the 2023 Synod Assembly. People reviewing the proposed changes discovered an omission that would compromise the voice and vote of rostered ministers with disability status or on leave from call status at future synod assemblies. The draft changes to the constitution, as circulated in November 2022, could not be amended on the floor. Therefore, the Resolutions Committee recommended delaying the vote until the 2024 Pacifica Synod Assembly so that the omission could be corrected, and the Synod Council voted to withdraw the changes from consideration.
The suggested changes, corrected to resolve this omission, are now being distributed to you in accordance with †S18.13. This communication allows six months for review prior to the Assembly (or “Azoombly”) on June 15, 2024.
To view the proposed constitution, click here [clean version].
To view the proposed constitution as compared to the May 2021 version, click here [diffs version].
Thank you for your review and consideration, and please join me in thanking all those involved in this process for their attention and care for this governing document.
Peace,
Nicolette Rohr
Vice President
Pacifica Synod
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