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Voting Procedure
This is an introduction to the
procedure for voting on Proposed Amendments to the Constitution.
Section G-18.0301c. of the Constitution reads in part:
“. . . Presbyteries shall transmit their votes to the Stated
Clerk by the next ensuing stated meeting of the General Assembly,
but no later than one year following the adjournment of the assembly
transmitting the proposed amendments.”
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Form: The reporting document
is available online.
You will be able to return the completed document by snail mail,
or fax (see necessary information on the attached form
).
Verification Process: Shortly
after receiving the information from the stated clerk of presbytery,
OGA will send an email verification letter (or fax if email is
not available). This letter will be sent to the official stated
clerk’s email address in OGA’s presbytery/synod listing.
We will request an email response back from that same official
email address stating that the information we have recorded is
correct.
Suggested Deadline: It is
our intention to have the revised Book of Order available
one year after convening of the prior General Assembly. In order
to have the Book of Order ready for distribution by June
22, 2007, we are requesting that all presbytery voting be accomplished
and reported to OGA by approximately 45 days prior, or by May
11, 2007. If this will pose a problem for your presbytery, please
let us know.
Information Pertaining to Amendments this Year: It is advisable
for the presbytery committee and the stated clerk to agree on
organizing the report and recommendations so that the presbytery
is able to vote “yes” in favor of the amendment and
“no” in opposition. Also, in case anyone should ask,
when the presbytery votes on an amendment, the question is decided
by a simple majority vote. No absentee or proxy votes are allowed.
Of course, the proposed amendments cannot be further amended by
the presbytery.
Proposed Amendments B.1 through
B.3 are grouped together for clarity and convenience of the presbyteries.
They may be voted upon as proposed amendment “B.”
but each subsection also stands as a separate proposed amendment.
When a subsection format is used, the stated clerk is required
to report the results of each subsection, even though the presbytery
may have voted upon them as a consent agenda or omnibus motion.
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