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Submitting Diocesan Convention Resolutions

This year the Diocese of Vermont completes the celebration of its 175th anniversary at Diocesan Convention, November 7–8, at Trinity Church in Rutland. Now is the time to start thinking about resolutions to submit for action at Convention.

Send Resolutions by e-mail to:
Laura Chase, Chair
Resolutions Committee
LAURACHASE@aol.com.
Please send the resolution in the body of the e-mail.

For information or with questions, e-mail Laura Chase or call her at 802-483-2995.

Deadline: August 24, 2008

Resolutions should call for specific action and state clearly who or what group should be responsible. For Example: if what the proposer wants is a report on the action taken by implementation of the resolution, that needs to be stated clearly and specifically in the resolution. Questions to consider when writing a resolution include:

• Does this resolution amend an existing position or policy of the Diocese of Vermont?
• Does this resolution offer a new position or policy?
• What action, if any, may be required because of this resolution and by whom? (e. g.. the Bishop, Diocesan Council, a Commission or Committee)
• Are there any budget implications if this resolution is adopted?
• Does this resolution require a canonical or constitutional change?

The Form for Writing Resolutions

I. Title: Each resolution should have a brief descriptive title that highlights the area of concern Ex. "Establish a Fun Day Task Force"
II. Preamble: Unless it is absolutely necessary, please eliminate the preamble. If you absolutely must use a preamble, each clause, written as a separate paragraph, begins with the word "Whereas" underlined or printed in italics and followed by a comma. The preamble should never contain a period. Each of its paragraphs should close with a semicolon followed by the word "and".
III. The form of a Resolution: The word "Resolved" is underlined or printed in italics and is followed by a comma and the word "That" which begins with a capital "T." Each resolved paragraph should close with a semicolon (followed by the word "and") or a period. A resolving paragraph should not contain a period within its structure.
In a resolution containing several resolving paragraphs, each paragraph is separated by "therefore be it" and "be it further" phrases that end a clause. These phrases are not to be used at the beginning of a "Resolved" clause.
IV. A Resolution must require specific action: In other words, the Resolution should be phrased in such a way that it will result in some action by the Diocesan Convention, Diocesan Council, the Diocese or some other diocesan body or person.
V.. Explanation: In order to avoid lengthy "Whereas" clauses, a separate paragraph entitled"Explanation" follows the resolution. This is where the presenter can provide the rational for the resolution, background clarification or reasons for the resolution.
VI. Proposer: At the end of the resolution the proposer or proposers need to sign their signatures and identify who/what body they represent.

(This explanation was adapted from "How to Write a Resolution; Guidelines for the 1997 General Convention).