Please submit by: May 30th, 2023
Proposals to Pacific Mountain Regional Council
We recognize that individual members, Communities of Faith, Covenantal Ministries, Regional Committees/Councils/Groups, and Regional Council Members may want The Pacific Mountain Regional Council or Executive to take action on a specific issue or concern. You desire a conversation about a specific topic. You might want to have some education and conversation about a topic leading towards a decision. A “proposal” is the formal request for any of these.
The Manual (2023), Section F, describes in detail how a proposal may be submitted. The template below also provides a way for creating a proposal. Proposals must be submitted by May 30th, 2023. Any proposals received after the deadline will be forwarded directly to the PMRC Executive.
All actions resulting from proposals are sent to the Regional Council Executive. That action will be part of subsequent accountability reports from the Executive to the Regional Council.
Who Can Make a Proposal?
- Proposals by Member(s) of a Community of Faith (F.1.2.1). Any Full-member of The United Church of Canada through their local Community of Faith Governing Body. The governing body has several options to choose from when evaluating a proposal. (See section F.1.2.1 and F.1.3.1)
- Proposals by Others (See section F.1.2.2)
- A proposal may also be started by:
- a member of the Regional Council; (F.1.3.3)
- a committee or other church body of the Council; (F.1.3.4) or
- the Regional Council. (F.1.3.2)
How do I/we craft a proposal?
We are asking you to submit your proposal in a very focused way.
- Name the solution your proposing up front.This way we can read the rest of the proposal with the solution in mind.
- Name the type of proposal:
- Conversation – the major intention is for the Regional Council to discuss a question or concern.
- Decision – the desire is that a decision will be made to take action. You must have a clear outcome or solution including financial implications and linkages to Regional priorities.
- Why is this issue important? Provide the background needed to consider the proposal in two (2) pages or less. What’s the issue or challenge or gap being identified? Why is that the case? What ENDS Policy supports the proposal? Is there a need for a revised or new ENDS Policy? Is there a need for a new ministry priority? Why is the region the most effective space to undertake the proposed ministry/action.
- What might the cost be? Estimate the potential cost. Everything we do has a cost. It might be time from staff and volunteers. It might be budgetary. Being mindful of the cost is an important part of every proposal. Proposals that do not include a cost or assume “within existing budget/resources” will automatically be sent back to the person/council or origin for additional discernment.
- What’s the Priority Level? Recognizing that any new ministry initiatives will impact current ministry priorities as established by the Region, please identify areas which you think could be reduced in order to establish this initiative. Current Regional priorites are:
- Identity – Reconciling, Anti-Racism, Affirming
- Healthy Communities of Faith
- First Third Ministry
- Why the Regional or General Council? The United Church of Canada is governed with overlapping spheres of power and authority. Part of any proposal needs to acknowledge why the council of action identified is the most effective place for this proposal. Please give careful consideration as to why the proposal should be enacted by the Regional or General Council, especially given the finite resources available to both Councils. You must provide this rational as part of your proposal. Any proposal that is missing this information will be sent back for further discernment.
- Is there a required format for a proposal? Yes, to help people engage the topic as easy as possible all proposals must use the found below.
Things to keep in mind:
The Policy Committee of the Executive and the Business Committee (PMRCBusiness@gmail.com) are available at the General Meeting to help ensure your proposal is clear and focused enough to achieve the good conversations the meeting wants to have.
In order to make the best use of the meeting’s time, The Policy Committee may also group together Proposals that deal with the same issue or topic, have the same purpose, or desired outcome. The Committee may generate an Omnibus Proposal that address the matter raised.
Proposals from individual community of faith members or governance groups must follow the steps in F.3.1.1 and include a copy of the motion to transmit with the proposal.