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In 1987,
constitutions and
bylaws for the
churchwide and
synodical
expressions, and
congregational and
intercongregational
units of Women of
the ELCA were
established. These
documents were taken
to the floor of the
Constituting
Convention and voted
into place. During
the fifth triennium,
the executive board
of Women of the ELCA
established "Special
Units" in venues
that would not
ordinarily have a
women’s organization
such as college
campuses, nursing
homes, mission
congregations, etc.,
and established a
constitution for
special units.
Recognizing that
there might be a
need for change in
these documents as
the organization
grows, provisions
for change are
included in each
constitution. This
procedure is
different for each
constitution,
however, it is
changes to the
churchwide
constitution that
must be taken to the
Triennial
Convention. The
Triennial Convention
is the highest
legislative
authority of the
organization.
Article XVIII,
Section 1, Article 1
"The executive
board may
propose an
amendment and
send an
official
notice to the
voting
members-elect
at least six
months prior
to the next
regular
Triennial
Convention.
The adoption
of such
amendment
shall require
a two-thirds
vote of the
members
present and
voting at the
Triennial
Convention."
The executive board
of Women of the ELCA
can propose changes
to any and all of
the constitutions
mentioned above.
These changes,
assuming the vote is
to adopt them, take
into effect
immediately. When
the secretary of the
organization
officially sends out
the changes,
constitutional
language should be
changed. These
changes do not need
to be presented to
your unit for
approval or to your
synodical
convention.
Synodical
organizations should
send their updated
constitutions to the
churchwide office
and units should
send their updated
constitutions to
their synodical
president.
Article
XVIII, Section
1, Article 2
An Amendment
may be
proposed by 25
or more voting
members of the
triennial
convention.
The proposed
amendment
shall be
referred to
the executive
board for its
recommendation
to the next
Triennial
Convention.
Adoption of
such an
amendment
shall require
passage at two
successive
regular
Triennial
Conventions by
a two-thirds
vote by the
members
present and
voting.
Article
XVIII, Section
2, Article 1
Bylaws not in
conflict with
this
constitution
may be adopted
or amended at
any meeting of
the Triennial
Convention
when presented
in writing by
the executive
board or by at
least 15
voting members
of the
convention. An
amendment
proposed by
members of the
convention
shall be
submitted to
the executive
board for its
recommendation.
No amendment
shall be
placed before
the convention
for action
sooner than
the day
following its
presentation
to the
convention. A
two-thirds
vote of the
members
present and
voting shall
be necessary
for adoption.
As a delegate/voting
member of the
Triennial
Convention, you will
be receiving changes
proposed by the
executive board.
These will be sent
to you in a mailing
six months prior to
the convention and
will again be
printed in the
Convention Program
and Reports (CPR).
It will be your
responsibility to
read these proposed
changes carefully
and come ready to
vote on them.
In the interest of
time, proposed
constitutional
changes are voted on
as a whole (a
procedure called
en bloc).
However, if there is
a change you would
like to be discussed
on the floor of the
convention, you will
be given the
opportunity to ask
that it be "removed
from en bloc."
If you are not sure
of the impact of the
proposed change, you
may contact your
synodical president
who will be happy to
assist you.
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