Resolutions of the United Church of Christ explained
See also: General Synods of the United Church of Christ.
The United Church of Christ is a Christian denomination. Periodically, bodies within the United Church of Christ issue resolutions for various reasons. These statements may or may not be representative of the United Church of Christ. This article documents notable resolutions from the various formal bodies of the United Church of Christ.
Resolutions about denominational statements
The 2001 "Mutual respect within the faith community " https://web.archive.org/web/20050426092928/http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res11.htm resolution passed by General Synod XXIII "calls upon all levels of the United church of Christ, the national covenanted ministries, conferences, associations, and individual congregations of the denomination to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of a church with such a diverse population and difference of theological beliefs and to identify representatives or groups issuing statements to indicate that they speak only on behalf of themselves or their groups and not on behalf of or for the entire 1.4 million members of the United Church of Christ."
A proposed resolution being submitted by the Faithful and Welcoming Renewal group to General Synod XXVI http://www.faithfulandwelcoming.org/faw/content/show.asp?mne=gs26-resolution "seeks to "address the concerns of congregations that may be considering withdrawal from the United Church of Christ by reaffirming our classical and centrist theological heritage and by explicitly including in our extravagant welcome those members and churches considering themselves to be evangelical, conservative, orthodox, or traditional in theological outlook" This resolution "acknowledges the existence of a broad spectrum of thought on contemporary issues of theology and ethics, and advocates fair representation of ECOT and centrist points of view alongside liberal and progressive points of view in all settings of the United Church of Christ, including official gatherings and publications" and "calls upon all settings of the church to consider prayerfully its policies and statements in terms of their impact on the unity and future of local churches, associations, and conferences in the UCC."
General Synod Resolution Overview
The denomination's churchwide deliberative body is the General Synod, which meets every two years. The General Synod is composed of delegates elected from the Conferences (distributed proportionally by conference size) together with the boards of directors of each of the four covenanted ministries (see below, under National Offices).
While General Synod provides the most visible voice of the "stance of the denomination" on any particular issue, the covenantal polity of the denomination means that General Synod speaks to local churches, associations, and conferences, but not for them. Thus, the other settings of the church are always allowed to hold differing views and practices on all non-constitutional matters.
General Synod considers three kinds of resolutions:
- Pronouncements: A Pronouncement is a statement of Christian conviction on a matter of moral or social principle and has been adopted by a two-thirds vote of a General Synod.
- Proposals for Action: A Proposal for Action is a recommendation for specific directional statements and goals implementing a Pronouncement. A Proposal for Action normally accompanies a Pronouncement. (See link above regarding Pronouncements.)
- Resolutions and Other Formal Motions Which may consist of the following three types:
- Resolutions of Witness: A Resolution of Witness is an expression of the General Synod concerning a moral, ethical, or religious matter confronting the church, the nation, or the world, adopted for the guidance of the officers, Associated, or Affiliated Ministries, or other bodies as defined in Article VI of the Bylaws of the United Church of Christ; the consideration of local churches, Associations, Conferences, and other bodies related to the United Church of Christ; and for a Christian witness to the world. It represents agreement by at least two-thirds of the delegates voting that the view expressed is based on Christian conviction and is a part of their witness to Jesus Christ.
- Prudential Resolutions: A Prudential Resolution establishes policy, institutes or revises structure or procedures, authorizes programs, approves directions, or requests actions by a majority vote.
- Other Formal Motions
2015 - Thirtieth General Synod held in Cleveland, Ohio
Minutes
2011 - Twenty-eighth General Synod held in Tampa, Florida
- On the Situation of Iraqi Refugees and Internally Displaced
- Affirmation of Partnership with the Protestant Church in East Timor
- Call to Reaffirm the Importance of Ecumenical Commitments and Initiatives in the UCC
- Calling on President Barack Obama to Revisit and Re-negotiate a More Humane, Democratic, and Ecologically Sound Version of the North American Free Trade Agreement: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/nafta.pdf
- A Call to Awareness and Action to End the Practice of Trafficking in Persons: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/human-trafficking.pdf
- An Urgent Call For Advocacy in Support of Healthcare For All, as in H.R. 676: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/health-equity.pdf
- Toward Unified Governance for the National Setting of the United Church of Christ: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/toward-unified-governance.pdf
- An Economic Justice Covenant: This resolution calls upon churches to prioritize fighting economic inequality and working with social justice organizations.
- A Call To Be Global Mission Churches in the United Church of Christ: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/global-mission-church.pdf
- A Call for Study of Our Church's Involvement in the Eugenics Movement: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/eugenics.pdf
- Calling For Comprehensive HIV Prevention in Church and Community: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/comprehensive-hiv-prevention.pdf
- Affirming the Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth: This resolution endorsed the view, taken by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (which included the UCC) at its 2004 assembly in Accra, Ghana, that "neoliberal economic globalization" is a system that "impoverish[es] and oppress[es] people around the world and in the U.S." and must be replaced by systems "more in line with God's vision for God's world."
- Roles of Church and Government in Addressing the Global Food Crisis: This resolution lays out "ways in which our consumerism leads to food insecurity," and calls for study and advocacy on how to make the global food system more just and equitable.
- Solidarity and Friendship with Iran: This resolution addresses the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, declaring "solidarity with the people of Iran" and calling for the government of Iran to cease its "violence, repression, and bloodshed" against demonstrators and others.
- Responsible Meeting Practice: This resolution calls upon UCC churches to live the principles of "creation care and social justice" in how meetings are organized.
- Ministering to Those Struggling and Suffering in the Troubled Economy: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/troubled-economy.pdf
- Affirming Diversity/Multi-Cultural Education in the Public Schools: http://uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/diversity-education-in-public-schools.pdf
2005 - Twenty-fifth General Synod XXV held in Atlanta, Georgia
General Synod 25 Minutes http://www.ucc.org/synod/pdfs/gs25minutes.pdf
Note: The numbered links to resolutions, are to resolutions as proposed. The links to "Minutes" are the links to the official GS 25 Minutes, which document reports the resolutions as passed. Direct links to pages within the GS 25 minutes file do not work with some combinations of versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader.
2003 - Twenty-fourth General Synod XXIV held in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minutes
- Mutual respect within the faith community https://web.archive.org/web/20050426092928/http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res11.htm
- To end the presence of the United States Navy in the municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res22.htm
- Resolution on conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res21.htm
- Call for study on reparations for slavery http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res20.htm
- Reaffirming the Trinitarian basis of our ecumenism http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res19.htm
- Program for essential conference ministry http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res18.htm
- Preservation of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arickara languages of the three affiliated tribes http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res17.htm
- Pension supplementation for Native American ordained and licensed ministers http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res16.htm
- Pastoral compensation ("To address compensatory disparities existing among American Indian clergy and non-native clergy serving congregations in the United Church of Christ") http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res15.htm
- Resolution on juvenile justice http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res10.htm
- Health effects and impacts of tobacco on children, teenagers, and their families http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res9.htm
- The epidemic of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome on the continent of Africa http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res8.htm
- Colombia ("The purpose of this resolution is to help our conferences become more aware of the situation in Colombia and give concrete suggestions for how to respond to crisis.") http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res6.htm
- Calling upon the United Church of Christ to initiate a jubilee for justice for rural America http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res5.htm
- Calling for a more just, humane direction for economic globalization http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res4.htm
- Access to excellent public schools: a child's civil right in the 21st century http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res3.htm
- Calling on the United Church of Christ to join the Decade to Overcome Violence http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res2.htm
- Anti-Semitism ("This resolution calls on the Twenty-third General Synod of the United Church of Christ to face the problem of anti-Semitism, to help the congregations become aware of the problem of anti-Semitism, and to address the issue through both education and concrete actions") http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res1.htm
- Redistributing tax rebates to the poor http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res28.htm
- A Statement on Convergence in Matters of Theology and Practice between the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res26.htm
- Recommendation to the churches for a new partnership, Churches Uniting in Christ, Consultation on Church Union http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res27.htm
- A pronouncement on a United Church of Christ ministry and witness with Micronesians http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res29.htm
- Support for federally funded research on embryonic stem cells http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res30.htm
- [In support of the coalition of Immokalee workers boycott of Taco Bell] http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/res31.htm
- “Christian Response to Development in Genetic Technology”
1997 - Twenty-first General Synod XXI held in Columbus, Ohio
It was recommended that the Office for Church Life and Leadership along with Conference and Association Church and Ministry Committees; 1. emphasize that the call to Ordained Ministry includes a call to teach as well as to pastor and 2. develop clearer guidelines on how this calling to teach informs expectations in the training and standing of Pastors;
1995 - Twentieth General Synod XX
1993 - Nineteenth General Synod XIX
1991 - Eighteenth General Synod XVIII held in Norfolk, Virginia
- Reaffirming Universal Health Care Y2K
http://www.ucc.org/justice/health/uhc_resolution.htm
1989 - Seventeenth General Synod XVII
- Pronouncement and Proposal for Action: “The Church and Genetic Engineering”
- “Challenging the Resurgence of Racism in the United States of America”
- “Resolution on Support for the Peace Process in Central America”
1987 - Sixteenth General Synod XVI
1983 - Fourteenth General Synod
- Concern about the Moral and Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering
1981 - Thirteenth General Synod
1977 - Eleventh General Synod
1975 - Tenth General Synod
pp. 42-43 of minutes
1971 - Eighth General Synod
- declaration of commitment to improving the criminal justice system so that prisons become primarily institutions or training and rehabilitation of the inmates, 1971.
1969 - Seventh General Synod
- “demand for law and order be combined with a demand for justice"
1965 - Fifth General Synod [3]
- Establishment of an Audio Visual Fund
- Appointment of Committee on Structure
- Adoption of Report on Integrated Quality Education
- Adoption of Report on Ecumenism & On Commission on Racial Unity
- Recommendation for Continuing Racial Justice Now
1963 - Fourth General Synod
In 1963, the 4th General Synod called upon the United Church of Christ to be "radically committed" to "uproot intolerance, bigotry, and prejudice within our own living and to replace them with goodwill and the determination to strike down immediately the barriers which divide [people] on account of race. http://www.ucc.org/justice/mrmc/synod.htm
1961 - Third General Synod
The Constitution of the United Church of Christ was declared in force by the Third General Synod on July 4, 1961 https://web.archive.org/web/20061129015153/http://www.ucc.org/aboutus/constitution.htm. The Bylaws were also adopted by the Third General Synod
Notes and References
- https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/us/united-church-of-christ-to-divest-israel-to-aid-palestinians.html?_r=0 United Church of Christ Approves Divestment to Aid Palestinians - New York Times, 30 June 2015
- http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Why-UCCs-BDS-vote-matters-408328 Opinion: Why UCC's BDS vote matters - Jerusalem Post, 8 July 2015
- Web site: General Synod Resolutions Chronological Index. UCC Files. United Church of Christ. 25 July 2017.
