Synod Delegates
Tools for Delegates
Resolution Guidelines for the General Synod 2016
Request a Copy of the UACC Canons
Delegates to the General Synod
All major decisions affecting the life of the United American Catholic Church are made jointly by the laity and clergy of the Church. The vehicle for this decision making process is the General Synod.
Who are Delegates? They are clergy and regular people who feel called to work for the growth of the Church by serving the Church’s people.
They are the Clergy of the Church. All clergy in good standing within the UACC are considered delegates to the General Synod with all rights pertaining there-unto.
And on a local level, parishes and ministries elect a Lay Delegate to attend the General Synod and represent the interests of the laity. Lay Delegates are able to speak before the General Synod, vote on major policy decisions, proposed budgeting issues, and help set priorities for the Church at large. These delegates usually serve their local UACC ministry as member of the parish or ministry’s elected a parish council or board which governs the affairs of the parish or ministry in conjunction with the Pastor or Clergy Person in charge.
The laity of the UACC do not need to be a Delegate to the General Synod to be able to attend but are encouraged to come and support their parish, clergy and the General Synod with their presence.
To serve as Delegate to the General Synod is an honor. It is not an honor of titles and rest but one of helping and serving the Body of Christ in working for the growth of the Church. May you be blessed in serving as Delegate to the General Synod.
General Information and Canon Material
The General Synod is the plenary assembly of the Bishops, Priest, Deacons and Laity of the UACC meeting in council to legislate for the Church on a national level and/or to adjudicate appeals of disciplinary action or other matters from within the Church. (Canon IV-1)
The members of the Synod shall consist of all active members of the College of Bishops, Presbyterate, Diaconate and heads of Religious Communities not in Holy Orders who are in good standing and neither retired, inactive, suspended, nor on leave of absence and an elected lay representative of each UACC ministry. (Canon IV-1.1)
In effect, under its current UACC organizational structure, all attending members of the synod with voting rights are deemed delegates to the synod. As such, each delegate has the personal responsibility to confer and consult with the people and clergy the s/he ministers with and to and to represent them before the Synod carrying with her/him the sensum fidei of her/his people, through whom the Holy Spirit speaks to the Church. (Canon IV-1.2)
Actions taken by the Synod, whether legislative or judicial, are final and do not require confirmation by any person or agency, nor are they subject to review or veto by any person or group within or without the UACC, notwithstanding provision for amendment and/or repeal.
Delegate Voting:
Only members of the General Synod actually present at the time a vote is taken may cast a vote on any matter before the synod. A vote is brought to the floor following Roberts Rules of Order and votes are cast by a simple show of hands unless a member of the Synod requests a secret ballot.
Each member of the General Synod present at the time a vote is taken, casts a single vote and may not cast a vote in the stead of an absent Synod member. The right to vote may not be given, loaned, or transferred in any manner to another person. A delegate may abstain from any vote without divulging a reason for such abstention. (Canon IV-1.12)
Tools for Delegates