A note here: it is the messenger’s duty to learn how the SBC works. If you don’t avail yourself of the opportunity to figure out our polity, don’t act aggrieved when your motion is ruled out of order.
Example – it is not appropriate at this point to offer motions to bring your resolution to the floor. There is another time to do that. If the resolutions committee didn’t bring your motion to the floor, then make a motion DURING the resolutions committee time. There’s an appropriate time to do this. Learn how the system works.
Here are the motions (well, summaries of them – I wrote the names as I heard them, and tried to summarize the point, writing as furiously as I could). In comments, you can offer corrects of names or clarifications of intent of motions. When the Wednesday Bulletin comes out, these motions will be printed in full.
1. Aaron Wright made a motion relative to his resolution on equal protection for the unborn. There was later a point of order on this. (This will, I believe, be ruled out of order – it should be offered during the resolutions time).
2. John Mark LaRue – If I understood his motion, it had to do with doing away with the “credibly accused” part of the sexual abuse issue.
3. JD Strouth – Clarify the BF&M as to whether it requires closed communion. (I actually am aware that a motion to change the BF&M is in order and would be acted on – I considered just such a motion at an previous convention, on this very article. Since he simply asked for clarification, this will likely be referred.)
4. J.R. ??? offered a point of order clarifying Mr. Wright’s intent to force his resolution to the floor. His point was not well taken.
5. Keith Myers moved that the organization manual assign the ERLC to assist churches in prevention of sexual abuse and assistance to survivors. (This will be referred, but has a good chance to be favorably considered).
6. Ben Hachman?? moved that those who served on trustee executive committees not be allowed to be considered as presidential candidates. (This will likely be ruled out of order because it gives orders to the entities. It is clearly in response to the recent EC events.)
7. Tim Overton moved to begin training for trustees. (This will be referred, but ignored. There is already trustee training at all our entities.)
8. Samuel Gilliam?? moved that security footage of an event at a previous convention in which a presidential candidate was accused of being unkind to an abuse survivor be found and released by noon today. (This may be the most ridiculous motion ever made – and there’s a lot of competition for that distinction. It’s impossible and will be ruled out of order.)
9. Brett Burns moved that the Business and Financial plan be amended to bring our entities into voluntary compliance with the demands of IRS form 990 reporting requirements. (I don’t hate this idea in the light of recent revelations of 20 years of problems at Southwestern. It might get referred to the EC but it might also be out of order. Not sure.)
10. Penn Bowden?? moved to ask for an EC study of whether any EC staff member should serve as EC treasurer. (Not sure I understood this one completely.)
11. Dusty Deevers moved that any church with a ministry to gays be studied by the credentials committee because they were likely in violation of our bylaws. (This is not likely to go far.)
12. Jared Cornutt moved to add “Elder/Overseer to Article 6 of the BF&M. (I believe this is in order and will be scheduled. I find it to be unnecessary, and will probably vote against it, but also innocuous.)
13. David Norman also moved concerning compliance to form 990, somewhat similar to Brett Burns’ motion. The differences are likely nuanced and beyond what I could get as I wrote them down.
14. “John Doe” (I didn’t get the name) made a motion that all resolutions be release at least 12 days before the Annual Meeting. (Likely out of order.)
15. Todd Stennet?? also tried to schedule his resolution, as did Aaron Wright.
16. Michelle Leslie made a lengthy motion about the Jennifer Buck situation. (No idea what will happen with this.)
