Advocacy Policy and Consensus Tally Method

SweetWood Temenos Advocacy Policy/Prodecure 

A member collects all necessary information on the issue and the level of involvement they intend to propose for SweetWood Temenos, and presents it before the BOD to approve it as being consistent with its mission and/or values, and the legal requirements of our 501(c)3 nonprofit status as a church.

Then the member(s) may place an Advocacy Proposal before the membership. This proposal must include the naming of an "ad hoc committee" of SweetWood Temenos members. The original member(s) is (are) not required to sit on the ad hoc committee if they can find others more able and/or willing to take on the responsibilities expected of such a committee. Conversely, if an individual member is willing and able to accept all the responsibility for that project, they may form an ad hoc committee of one. (But they should carefully consider their ability to do that.)  

Responsibilities of the ad hoc committee:  

(A) Collects all necessary information on the issue for the advocacy campaign, and the level of involvement they intend to propose for SweetWood Temenos.  

(B) Disseminates pertinent information on the issue, campaign, and proposed SweetWood Temenos involvement to general membership via list.  

(C) After at least one week of discussion on the SweetWood Temenos email list, the ad hoc committee may call for a poll of the membership. The poll must demonstrate to the BoD that there is broad and deep support for the proposal and very limited if any opposition to it among the membership. (See below for one form the poll could take. Or a consensus process suggested by the Advocacy  Ad hoc Committee approved by the BoD may be used.)

(D) Handles all subsequent responsibilities (one or more committee members acting as contact for SweetWood's involvement in the issue campaign). Drafts any letters of endorsement or position statements to be signed by SweetWood clergy or Board officer as appropriate. Keeps membership informed of further developments or requests for another level of endorsement, support, or participation. Consults with Board before committing SweetWood to higher level of support, or if significant shift in focus of the campaign occurs. 

When an Advocacy Issue achieves SweetWood Temenos consensus it will be placed on the SweetWood Temenos Website and noted under SweetWood Temenos Advocacy.   

One form the poll could take using Yahoo Groups polling feature. The modified consensus process the BoD has suggested:  

"Initial Position” poll. The options on the poll will be:             

a) I actively support this proposal.            

b) I am neutral on this proposal.            

c) I object, but do not actively oppose this proposal.             

d) I actively oppose this proposal.

If at least 75% of the membership actively supports the proposal and no member actively opposes the proposal, the proposal is passed.      

"Considered Position" poll. Where the motion is not passed in the Initial Position poll but at least 50% of the members actively support the proposal, then the ad-hoc committee may call for a Considered Position poll not less then one week after the date of the Initial Position poll, but not more than one month following the date of the Initial Position poll. The options on the poll will be:              

a) I actively support this proposal.              

b) I am neutral on this proposal.             

c) I object, but do not actively oppose this proposal.              

d) I actively oppose this proposal.  

If at least 75% of the membership actively supports the proposal and no member actively opposes the proposal, the proposal is passed.   

"Supermajority Override" poll. When the motion is not passed in the Considered Position poll, but at least 75% of the members actively support the proposal, then the ad-hoc committee may call for a Supermajority Override poll not less then one week after the date of the Considered Position poll, but not more than one month following the date of the Considered Position poll. The options on the poll will be:                

a) I support this proposal and vote to override the minority              

b) I do not wish to override the minority on this issue              

c) I oppose this proposal  

If at least 75% of the membership actively supports the proposal and less than 10% of the membership actively opposes the proposal, the proposal is passed.

If the proposal does not pass the Supermajority Override poll, the proposal is tabled for at least one year from the date of the first poll. Then the process may start again.