Submit a Resolution

Perhaps your church would like to bring the issues surrounding mental illness and the life of the Church to the forefront in your diocese.

One way to draw attention to this issue is to submit a resolution for consideration at your diocese’s annual convention.

This article contains guidelines for drawing up a resolution.

Following these guidelines is a sample resolution you could use as a jumping off point to draw up your own resolution supporting people with mental illness in your diocese.

First, remember that you need to submit your resolution well before convention in order for it to be considered in a prayerful and deliberate manner. While differences of opinion may be stimulated by the consideration of resolutions, the debate on issues offers a way of learning and growing, and an ordered, rational way of exchanging ideas.

Why are resolutions important? Resolutions focus our attention on specific issues facing the church, stimulate an ordered debate and hopefully lead to healthy change. Many even think such discussion is fun and exciting and a positive experience for our diocesan community. Such a debate can be considered a way of stretching ourselves as Christians and a rational way of looking toward new horizons.

Who may submit a resolution? Deputies to convention, congregations, clergy — actually any individual who is a member of a parish or mission in the diocese.

Drafting resolutions for convention should not be a daunting task. A resolution is simply a way for the convention to act on an issue.  When a resolution is proposed, it puts into form what action the convention will take if the resolution is adopted. So, if a committee wants the convention to take a particular action, it should draft a resolution asking to take action in as simple a form as possible.

Drafting a resolution calls for clarity of purpose. A person who contemplates drafting a resolution should first consider the following questions:

1. What is the issue?

2. Why should the church address this issue?

3. What should be the church’s position on this issue?

4. Who should be urged, directed, or instructed to act on this issue?

5. What action should result?

If these questions are clearly addressed, a resolution will be effective.

A resolution should take the following form:

1. Title of the resolution.

2. Name of the presenter(s) and/or church, association, or committee that is proposing the resolution.

3. The reasons for proposing action (with each phrase beginning with WHEREAS) -- more about this section later.

4. The specific action to be taken (with each phrase beginning with BE IT RESOLVED). Details on the preparation of this portion of a resolution can be found in Robert’s Rules of Order.  

Leave out the “whereas’s” if you can!

Many resolutions contain a long set of reasons for passing the resolution in a long list of whereas clauses. We don’t recommend this. Such a list of clauses makes a resolution difficult to read and difficult for the convention to figure out what is being asked of it.

The sections of the resolution that are the numbered “Resolved” sections are the only parts that are the action of the convention.  The whereas clauses are not adopted by the convention when a resolution passes.  Further, adding a large number of controversial whereas clauses tends to distract the discussion of the exact action to be taken. 

Limiting the number of whereas clauses, or completely eliminating them, if possible, allows the convention to focus on the exact action that it is being asked to take.  If you must try to explain the reasons for the resolution, the best thing to do is to add after the end of the Resolved clauses a clearly labeled area of discussion.

Sample Resolution

Here is a sample resolution to support mental illness initiatives, modeled after the resolution passed at the General Convention in 1991.

Resolved, the House of ________concurring, That members of the diocese of _____ are encouraged to become knowledgeable about mental illness in order to reduce stigma and stereotypes which are prevalent within the Church body and the Community-at-large; and be it further

Resolved, That churches within the diocese of _____________and all its units and organizations, be encouraged to reach out, welcome, include and support persons with a mental illness, particularly those who have a prolonged, serious mental illness, and the families of those persons, and recognize the abilities and celebrate the gifts of those who have a mental illness; and be it further

Resolved, That the diocese encourage the development of specific programs to equip the clergy and laity for ministry to persons with mental illnesses and their families and that clergy and lay ministers seek out training and opportunities to minister to the spiritual needs of those who are affected by a mental illness; and be it further

Resolved, That our diocese and congregations work with existing agencies and organizations to assist with and initiate programs, such as support groups, drop-in centers, housing and employment opportunities, which lead to an improved quality of life for people who have a mental illness, with specific attention to those who have become homeless; and be it further

Resolved, That our diocese, congregations and individual parishioners become advocates for public policy and adequate funding to provide comprehensive community-based services, hospital care and research into the causes and treatment of mental illness; and be it further

Resolved, That dioceses, congregations and individuals utilize the resources and support services offered by the Episcopal Mental Illness Network (EMIN).

Thanks to the Advocate, the newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, for contributing to this article.