On June 29, 2009 the Twenty-seventh General Synod adopted the resolution Toward Unified Governance for the National Setting of the United Church of Christ. In doing so the General Synod directed its Executive Council to bring amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ enabling such a structure, for approval by the Twenty-eighth General Synod. On July 4, 2011 The Twenty-eighth General Synod voted those changes to the Constitution and Bylaws. The 38 Conferences of the Church are now required to ratify the changes to the Constitution, as set forth in Article XII, ¶74 of the Constitution (2010 ed.), before those changes may be implemented. For ratification to occur two-thirds (26) of the Conferences must act in the affirmative prior to the Twenty-ninth General Synod.

The Office of General Ministries is charged with the administration of the ratification process.

The Conferences are now asked to present the Constitutional changes for ratification to the next Annual Meeting of each Conference, or to the body so empowered to act on this matter.

This online resource provides a number documents that may be of help to those deciding the issue of ratification; 1. A memo from the Unified Governance Team. The memo provides a timeline of the proposal process, answers to some frequently asked questions and a summary of UCC polity on unified governance. You will find, 2. The Constitution and, 3. The Bylaws as voted by the Twenty-eighth General Synod in a format allowing you to see the new and old language. The Bylaws are included for reference only. Changes to the Bylaws do not require ratification, although those contingent upon a constitutional change, such as these voted by the Twenty-eighth General Synod, do not go into effect until the changes to the Constitution have been ratified. You will also find, 4. the Executive Council-adopted November 2010 Proposal for Single Governance for the National Setting of the United Church of Christ. It has been found nearly impossible to abstractly conduct a discussion of the amendments to the Constitution without reference to the proposal itself. Accordingly, the proposal is included here. For your reference you will find, 5—¶ 74 and the related ¶ 75.

Please understand the Conference votes are to the amendments to the Constitution only, not to the Bylaws and not to the governance proposal. Further, please understand there is no opportunity for the Conferences to amend these General Synod-approved changes to the Constitution; it is a straight up or down vote by each Conference, YES or NO to the document in its entirety.

Questions relating to the ratification process may be directed to me at 216-736-2192 or at foleyl@ucc.org. However, questions regarding the Constitutional changes, themselves, and the intent of the language should be addressed to Ms. Kimberly Whitney at her office here in Cleveland. Ms. Whitney’s office phone number is 216-736-2112 and her email address is whitneyk@ucc.org.

Lee Foley
Minister for Governing Body Relations
August 23, 2011