Preparing to Preparing to Defeat Amendment B Defeat Amendment B

in Your Presbyteryin Your Presbytery

Terry SchlossbergTerry SchlossbergThe Presbyterian CoalitionThe Presbyterian Coalition

703-680-4571 703-680-4571 Terry@presbycoalition.orghttp://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfmhttp://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfm

Sue CyreSue CyrePresbyterians for Faith, Family and MinistryPresbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry

540-898-4244 540-898-4244 scyre@swva.net

With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (www.oneby1.orgwww.oneby1.org),),and to Presbyterians for Renewal (and to Presbyterians for Renewal (www. pfrenewal.orgwww. pfrenewal.org) for ) for encouraging this encouraging this

seriesseries

Preparing to Defeat the Preparing to Defeat the New Amendment B in Your New Amendment B in Your

PresbyteryPresbytery

Section 6 Section 6

Planning Ahead for the Planning Ahead for the VoteVote

See Resource Packet, pages 37-43See Resource Packet, pages 37-43

Preparing to Defeat Preparing to Defeat Amendment B in Your Amendment B in Your

PresbyteryPresbytery

ContentsContents

Section 1: Introduction: The Resource PacketSection 1: Introduction: The Resource PacketSection 2: Compare the current language of G-6.0106b with Section 2: Compare the current language of G-6.0106b with

the the proposed language of Amendment Bproposed language of Amendment BSection 3: The theological question raised by the amendmentSection 3: The theological question raised by the amendmentSection 4: The “discernment” process recommended by G.A.Section 4: The “discernment” process recommended by G.A.Section 5: Talking Points: Arguments you are likely to hear Section 5: Talking Points: Arguments you are likely to hear

and and arguments you will want to consider makingarguments you will want to consider makingSection 6: Planning ahead for the voteSection 6: Planning ahead for the voteSection 7: Testimony of a life transformed by the Gospel of Section 7: Testimony of a life transformed by the Gospel of

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

Resource PacketResource Packetpages 37-43pages 37-43

Prepare for the presbytery Prepare for the presbytery debate and votedebate and vote

Process issues in the Process issues in the presbytery debatepresbytery debate

Raise awareness and Raise awareness and get out the voteget out the vote

Many sessions, especially those Many sessions, especially those without pastors, may be without pastors, may be unaware of the vote on this unaware of the vote on this amendment, its implications, or amendment, its implications, or even the date of the vote in your even the date of the vote in your presbyterypresbytery

Develop a working Develop a working planplan

Prayer supportPrayer support A schedule from now to the voteA schedule from now to the vote Participation in presbytery Participation in presbytery

planning for the voteplanning for the vote

Form a TeamForm a Team

Identify your leadershipIdentify your leadership Schedule a meeting for prayer Schedule a meeting for prayer

and planning; create a calendarand planning; create a calendar We may be able to help you We may be able to help you

make friendly contacts in your make friendly contacts in your presbytery. Ask us.presbytery. Ask us.

Principal preparation Principal preparation itemsitems

Equip voting commissioners Equip voting commissioners to presbyteryto presbytery

Get out the voteGet out the vote

PrayPray

Organize prayer that includes Organize prayer that includes everyoneeveryone

Hold prayer vigilsHold prayer vigils Pray in worship services for the Pray in worship services for the

churchchurch Provide prayer guides and Provide prayer guides and

remindersreminders

Basic Basic preparationpreparation

Influence your presbytery’s Influence your presbytery’s plan for the voteplan for the vote

Presbytery Presbytery informational informational

meetingsmeetings

Participate in the planning:Participate in the planning: Clear and fairClear and fair Each side choose its own Each side choose its own

representative to speakrepresentative to speak

Influence the presbytery’s Influence the presbytery’s plan for the voteplan for the vote

Central locationCentral location Place on the agenda (order of the Place on the agenda (order of the

day)day) Good advance notice of date, Good advance notice of date,

place, timeplace, time Use of parliamentary process in Use of parliamentary process in

the vote (Book of Order, G-9.0302)the vote (Book of Order, G-9.0302)

Get presbyters Get presbyters together and equip together and equip

them tothem to

Participate in debate and Participate in debate and discussiondiscussion

Cast an informed voteCast an informed vote

Presbyteries where the Presbyteries where the outcome is uncertainoutcome is uncertain

Getting out a strong elder vote is Getting out a strong elder vote is criticalcritical

Strong persuasive speeches are Strong persuasive speeches are necessarynecessary

Good presence at the microphones Good presence at the microphones in debate is essentialin debate is essential

Talking points in the Resource Talking points in the Resource PacketPacket

Presbyteries where the Presbyteries where the vote is likely to go against vote is likely to go against

your convictionsyour convictions

Bring a clear witness for truthBring a clear witness for truth Work hard to draw in your Work hard to draw in your

friends and make a strong friends and make a strong showingshowing

Increase the size of your voteIncrease the size of your vote

Prepare for an ongoing Prepare for an ongoing witnesswitness

Equipping as a way of learning Equipping as a way of learning and growing in convictionand growing in conviction

Equipping as training in Equipping as training in evangelismevangelism

Equipping as an opportunity to Equipping as an opportunity to teach content and tone for other teach content and tone for other settingssettings

Involve presbytersInvolve presbyters

Prepare and practice floor Prepare and practice floor speeches in a setting where speeches in a setting where counsel and help is availablecounsel and help is available

Meeting options for Meeting options for equippingequipping

A single meeting in a central A single meeting in a central locationlocation

Regional meetingsRegional meetings Visits to session groupsVisits to session groups Speakers v. discussion groupsSpeakers v. discussion groups Conference callsConference calls

Maximizing your Maximizing your influenceinfluence

Consider Consider sending a lettersending a letter offering analysis of the amendmentoffering analysis of the amendment a joint meeting of sessions to present a joint meeting of sessions to present

informationinformation sending a reminder of the meeting sending a reminder of the meeting

time, date, and place by letter or time, date, and place by letter or emailemail

Encourage each church to send a full Encourage each church to send a full contingent of voting commissionerscontingent of voting commissioners

Reach OutReach Out

Use telephoneUse telephone Use emailUse email Use postal serviceUse postal service Organize car pools and offer ridesOrganize car pools and offer rides Do not shy away from encouraging Do not shy away from encouraging

presbyters to vote against the presbyters to vote against the amendment, and tell them whyamendment, and tell them why

““To Do” on the Day of the To Do” on the Day of the VoteVote

Consult the Resource Packet for more Consult the Resource Packet for more extensive adviceextensive advice

Be clear about what a “yes” or “no” vote Be clear about what a “yes” or “no” vote means, so that people know how to votemeans, so that people know how to vote

Aim for an order of the dayAim for an order of the day Ensure sufficient time for pro and con speechesEnsure sufficient time for pro and con speeches Consider the possible need for a written ballotConsider the possible need for a written ballot Be well positioned to reach the microphonesBe well positioned to reach the microphones Use the help of Use the help of Robert’s RulesRobert’s Rules or Marianne or Marianne

Wolfe’s bookletWolfe’s booklet Be prepared to call the question to end debateBe prepared to call the question to end debate Be prepared to call for a division of the house if Be prepared to call for a division of the house if

the vote is close and you think the Moderator’s the vote is close and you think the Moderator’s ruling requires a recountruling requires a recount

Record the results of Record the results of the the vote and notify the vote and notify the

Campaign officeCampaign office (703-680-4571, or (703-680-4571, or

terry@presbycoalition.org)terry@presbycoalition.org)

We are posting a running tally of the We are posting a running tally of the outcomes well ahead of the official outcomes well ahead of the official

notice provided by notice provided by the Office of the General Assemblythe Office of the General Assembly

Preparing to Preparing to Defeat Amendment B Defeat Amendment B

in Your Presbyteryin Your Presbytery

Terry SchlossbergTerry SchlossbergThe Presbyterian CoalitionThe Presbyterian Coalition

703-680-4571 703-680-4571 Terry@presbycoalition.orghttp://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfmhttp://www.presbycoalition.org/campaign.cfm

Sue CyreSue CyrePresbyterians for Faith, Family and MinistryPresbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry

540-898-4244 540-898-4244 scyre@swva.net

With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (With appreciation to the ministry of OneByOne (www.oneby1.orgwww.oneby1.org),),and to Presbyterians for Renewal (and to Presbyterians for Renewal (www. pfrenewal.orgwww. pfrenewal.org) for ) for encouraging this encouraging this

seriesseries