“A-3 and A-3a Amendment to Community of Christ Bylaws—Electronic Meetings” from the Michigan USA Mission Center and the First Presidency

Insert a new section in Article IV after Section 5. If adopted will read:

Section 6. Electronic Conferences and Meetings. All organized units of Community of Christ may hold conferences and meetings electronically if such is determined to be the most suitable method within a given context. Electronic conferences and meetings must be approved by appropriate next-level supervisory administrators and must be in harmony with requirements unique to each body (i.e., World Conference, Mission Center Conference, Congregation Conference, etc.) detailed elsewhere in these bylaws.

Rationale: While such meetings were allowable previously if emergency circumstances prohibited in-person meetings, a variety of developments have made electronic meetings more available and advisable in many contexts. These developments include expanded forms of electronic communication, the geographical size of many jurisdictional units which make travel to in-person gatherings difficult, governmental travel restrictions in some jurisdictions, difficulty for some individuals to travel even short distances to attend, and consideration of the impact of travel on the environment.

Whereas, Community of Christ Bylaws Article VIII—Parliamentary Authority states “the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all conferences of the church in all cases where they are culturally appropriate and where they are not in conflict with these rules of order or any special rules of order adopted by the appropriate conference;” and

Whereas, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 12th Edition states, “Except as authorized in the bylaws, the business of an organization or board can be validly transacted only at a regular or properly called meeting—that is, as defined in 8:2(1), a single official gathering in one room or area—of the assembly of its members at which a quorum is present;” [RONR (12th ed.) 9:30]; and

Whereas, The First Presidency provided guidance on July 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 global pandemic for conducting online mission center and congregational conferences referencing bylaw provisions that allow apostles and mission center presidents to recommend procedures for conducting church business in emergency situations; and

Whereas, Authorizing electronic meetings for all conferences would provide options for conducting church business in ways that could increase participation, decrease costs, limit negative impacts on the environment, and provide other benefits; therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Community of Christ Bylaws be amended by adding the sentence “Conferences may be conducted with some or all members communicating through electronic means.” to Article IV—Conferences, Section 1. Conferences.

Proviso: To avoid duplication of efforts, printing of additional materials, and confusion for World Conference delegates, the mission center president is empowered to withdraw submission of this resolution for the next World Conference if a proposal for Community of Christ bylaw amendment similar to this resolution to allow for electronic participation in church conferences is submitted by the First Presidency or other World Church team or quorum.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Community of Christ Bylaws—Article IV—Conferences

Section 1. Conferences. Conferences are the legislative bodies of the church. They may be regular or special. Generally, regular conferences shall be held annually or otherwise as agreed upon by those who constitute their membership. They may represent the church at large, a mission center, or a congregation. They are subject to the jurisdiction of the First Presidency, members of the Council of Twelve Apostles, and appropriate mission center presidents or congregational pastors. Conferences may be conducted with some or all members communicating through electronic means.