Tellers tally the votes the old-fashioned way.
Delegates were doubly deadlocked on R 17-51, passing the recommendation by just one vote twice and using two different voting methods.
R 17-51 instructs the Commission on Church Order to investigate amending the Book of Church Order (BCO) to provide for the discipline of a classis. The investigation will include consideration of discipline initiated by another classis.
An initial vote using keypads passed 111-110 in favor of the recommendation, but one delegate mentioned that her voting keypad was not working, saying that her vote would have made the vote a tie. (The president and vice president of synod are both allowed to vote and may use their votes to make or break a tie. In this case, both had already voted on the recommendation.)
To ensure everyone’s vote was counted, the president decided to do a second vote “the old fashioned way,” calling for a division of the house. (That’s when delegates vote by standing.)
Delegates in favor stood first; then those opposed. Once again, just one vote divided those in favor and those opposed, with 114 in favor and 113 opposed. So by a razor-thin margin, R 17-51 passed.
What could R 17-51 change?
Currently, the BCO includes procedures for the discipline of a member, elder, deacon, commissioned pastor, minister, General Synod professor, and a consistory, but not a classis. Additionally, RCA polity only allows complaints—not charges—against a classis and those complaints must be initiated from within a classis or an immediate lower assembly. The BCO does not provide judicial procedures to address issues unless they are internally initiated at the local level.
R 17-51 instructs the Commission on Church Order to investigate whether there is a constitutionally appropriate way to discipline a classis when discipline is not initiated at the local level. The commission will report its findings to General Synod 2018.
For full synod coverage, go to www.rca.org/synod.