February 1, 2010: Minority Reports and CWS

Just a quick note: if you have been elected by your presbytery to serve as a commissioner or advisory delegate, please let me know: presbybob@me.com . I want to keep these notes more general but would be glad to communicate with you more specifically.

Minority Reports

Today, I am going to introduce a procedural issue that will come up multiple times throughout the General Assembly week: Minority Reports. Minority reports are covered in the Standing Rules (the Manual of the General Assembly) at Standing Rule E.7.h. (page in the Manual 25 .pdf) and Standing Rule F.3.a. and b. (page 28 in the Manual .pdf).

In other years this is a topic I would not have covered until much closer to the Assembly; and usually in the context of ordination standards. This year it is already being discussed: as the Outlook article by Leslie Scanlon indicates, there may be a minority report coming as part of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage.

A minority report is one of the procedural vehicles in Robert's Rules that makes sure all voices have an opportunity to be heard and considered. It is really unusual to get a minority report from a special committee reporting to the Assembly. (That does not mean it is a bad thing, it just is not something we often see.) Another way of saying this would be that it is more customary to get a minority report coming out of a commissioners committee at the assembly than going in. Here's how the Standing Rules define a minority report:

Standing Rule E.7.h.(1): A minority of the members of an assembly committee, or an individual member of an assembly committee, may submit in writing views that differ from those in the committee report. If the moderator of the committee shall affirm in writing that the positions expressed as recommendations for action by the assembly in a written minority report were presented to the whole committee during its consideration of the matter, the Stated Clerk shall reproduce the minority report and distribute it with the report of the committee.

The practical impact of a minority report is equivalent to a substitute motion. We will cover the process of handling a minority report at another time.

I cannot recall a minority report coming to the Assembly from a special committee. It raises the question about the rights of the signers. It is not clear from the Standing Rules whether the minority report signers will only be able to make one speech supporting their minority report in committee or, as corresponding members (Standing Rule B.3.a.), if they will have voice rights to speak throughout the committee process. My expectation is the latter. It sets up the commissioner committee that handles this report to hear a number of speakers who begin, "I was on the special committee and I support this recommendation because..." followed by other speakers who begin, "I was on the special committee and I do not support this recommendation because...". Competing experts.

Also, during the commissioner committee process, there often are occasions where commissioners direct questions to the special committee that has produced a report. Ordinarily the moderator or a designated spokesperson answers. The existence of a minority report may mean that ever question will automatically need to be addressed point-counterpoint by two people.

Hmmm. Interesting. (At least to me.)

 

Acronym of the Day: CWS (for a full list of acronyms, go here)

Today's acronym of the day is: Church World Services (CWS). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is one of the member denominations supporting CWS. CWS is probably best known in Presbyterian circles for the Crop Walk. Currently, CWS is working in cooperation with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to support relief and recover efforts in Haiti.

In the context of General Assembly business, CWS is not likely to be controversial. It often is seen as the outreach arm or sibling of the more political National Council of Churches. The two - CWS and NCC -- are no longer integrated entities, but they still share meetings and a close affiliation. Here is a nice informational brochure about the activities of CWS.

 

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