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Returning to discussion around new business that was suspended from Saturday, General Synod on Monday afternoon voted to incur all costs of the new special council they had earlier approved.

Returning to discussion around new business that was suspended from Saturday, General Synod on Monday afternoon voted to incur all costs of the new special council they had earlier approved.

The special council was proposed by synod president Greg Alderman during his report on Friday. It will convene early next year. Alderman hopes the council will offer a “settled position” on issues related to homosexuality, which have been debated at most General Synods since the 1970s.

The council had initially been proposed as self-funded, where delegates or their sending bodies would pay their own costs. Instead, General Synod voted to foot the bill.

As determined by the Committee of Reference, the cost to General Synod for one five-day, four-night gathering for 74 council members would be $175,000. Since delegates voted to approve the possibility of more than one meeting, moderator of the General Synod Council Christa Mooi reported that the committee planned for two meetings, which will bring costs to $350,000, or a $2.03 per-member cost. After some discussion, this was approved.

On Monday evening, delegates voted to approve a per-member assessment of $53.71, including the cost of the special council and support for denominational ministries, theological education, the Board of Benefits Services assistance program, and other initiatives approved at synod.

Earlier in the week, delegates set the 2016 Partner-in-Mission share at $6,300.