Prepare for Synod with Me | Advisory Committee Advice

Note: This is an audio transcription of this podcast and this video.

Introduction

I’m a first-time delegate to this year’s Synod for the Christian Reform Church, which is pretty overwhelming because we haven’t met for three years, the agenda is massive, and there are some pretty controversial and weighty topics on this year’s agenda. So, in order to make sure I’m ready and prepared for the gathering, I’m looking for advice from people who have more experience than I do and, since I know there are many other first-time delegates who are feeling the same way I am, I’m recording these conversations so you can prepare for Synod with me.

You can find the previous blog post here.

Advisory Committees Are Weighty

Jason: Roger, you mentioned that advisory committees are probably the place where we can have the most influence because it’s a smaller group.

Roger: Yeah. Each advisory committee will have various assignments. Basically, everything that comes to the floor of Synod is filtered through one advisory committee or another—except for, maybe, the Executive Director’s report and things like—but all the real business comes through advisory committees and their recommendations. They set the stage for the discussion in the larger body.

That’s why, if you feel strongly about something, and you say, “Boy, I’m not on that advisory committee but I see that they’re coming with advice that’s the opposite of what I hoped,” little alarms might go off in your mind.

At the same time, that doesn’t mean the advisory committee’s take is what Synod is going to do. I’ve seen many times over the years where an advisory committee has come with their recommendation and someone speaks up from the floor and says, “Yes, but what about this?” and it might go a completely different direction.

Speak Up & Read Advisory Committee Information

That’s where it’s important to speak up.

Also, make sure you’re reading the information that’s coming every day from the advisory committees. So you can see what action they’re recommending Synod would take.

Negative Votes & Minority Reports

When you’re on an advisory committee, you might feel a little pressure to present a unified report. But if you are convinced that the advisory committee is bringing bad advice, you have the opportunity to register your protest with the committee itself—maybe even come with a minority report from the advisory committee. Of course, there are procedures for how Synod would handle that.

You’re not locked into the majority on your advisory committee. That’s good to know because Synod is supposed to be a place for deliberation—a place to discuss and make the best informed decisions.

Your part in the advisory committee has a big role in deliberation as well—either by voting with the majority or by coming with a minority recommendation

Pressure for a “Unified Voice”

Jason: Do you have any advice for someone who feels like they are the lone voice on their advisory committee—like they’re going against everyone else? Any advice for them on how to operate in that environment?

Roger: That’s not a pleasant place to be. Like I said, you will feel pressure to come with a unified recommendation from the committee. It’s much smoother that way. I’m also sure there will be some time constraints this year. So you’ll hear people saying, “Let’s all try to be as unified as we can.” But if you can’t, let the chairperson of your advisory committee know you intend to bring a minority report.

Help From Synodical Services

If you need help figuring out how to do that—it may be a new thing for you—then talk to Synodical Services. Ask, “How do I do this?” They will give you information about how to write advisory committee reports, or in this case, a minority report. So, it can be done.

If you feel the need to bring a minority report, you might be surprised. There might be one or two others on your committee who feel the same way. Then you would get together, work on the report, and bring your minority report to the floor.

Get the Work Done

Jason: Basically, you get to write that overnight, right?

Roger: I wouldn’t quite say “on the fly,” but you don’t have a lot of time.

But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. That might mean you stay up late that night to serve Christ in his Church, but you’ve got to do it.

Jason: It’s pretty ridiculous to complain about having to spend all night typing on a computer when others have suffered much more for the Gospel.

Roger: Absolutely.

Jason: I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of that at this upcoming Synod. I don’t think advisory committees will be as unified as they have been in the past. So, I think we might get a lot of minority reports.

Roger: With the issues coming, I would not be surprised either. The diversity of opinions and convictions throughout our denomination will all be represented, to some degree, at Synod.

Try to be Friendly & Ammicable

Jason: I think we’re finding out our advisory committee assignments this week—the week we’re recording this. Would it be a good idea to study and possibly prepare for a minority report—if you think your advisory committee is going to go in an unhelpful direction? That way, you’re ready to go once you get there?

Roger: Yeah, in the back of your mind might want to have that ready as a possibility. At the same time, you don’t know what the advisory committee is going to advise. Maybe you could support three of their recommendations, but not the last two—or something like that. You can say: I agree with that, but not with that, and that for these reasons. Try to be as friendly and amicable as you can.

You Can’t Have Some Things Both Ways

At the same time, there are watershed moments. You can’t have some things both ways.

Jason: You’ve mentioned registering a negative vote and a minority report. Can you explain the difference and the benefits of registering a negative vote and not going forward with a minority report?

Roger: Picture yourself on your advisory committee. You’ve been discussing the matter at hand and they come to a decision. Let’s say you can’t support the decision. In fact, you might want to speak against the decision when it comes to the floor of Synod. At that point, you register your negative vote with the committee itself. You can say, “Secretary of the Committee, I’d like to register my negative vote.” That gives you the right to speak against their recommendations. That’s not quite as significant as coming with an actual motion to the contrary—a minority report—but it reserves your right to speak against your committee’s recommendations. You should let the chairperson and the secretary of your advisory committee know you’re going to do that, otherwise you will get some static.