Election of Clergy Delegates to General Conference

Whereas, the Western North Carolina Conference is a large conference, with over 1000 Clergy in Full Connection eligible to be elected as 1 of 10 Delegates to General Conference 2020; and, Whereas, the Western North Carolina Conference’s current electoral process favors name recognition that is only common among clergy serving on conference and district staff, in cardinal appointments, and/or in executive positions on district and conference boards; and, Whereas, the Western North Carolina Conference’s current electoral process provides no additional information relevant to serving as a delegate to General Conference; and, Whereas, willingness to serve as a delegate should be considered while electing General Conference delegates; and, Whereas, an analogous process exists for the election of lay delegates from the Western North Carolina Conference; therefore, be it Resolved, the Committee on Rules and Organization for the Western North Carolina Annual Conference shall provide a process for the 2023 election of clergy delegates to the 2024 General Conference that allows for clergy to self-nominate; and, be it further Resolved, that such a process produce individual profiles with demographic and other information relevant to serving as a General Conference delegate to voting members of the annual conference for review at least 4-6 weeks prior to the meeting of the annual conference; and, be it further Resolved, that such a process not disqualify from nomination or election any clergy in full connection who chose not to self-submit a nomination and profile, but who otherwise meet the requirements of eligibility laid out in The Book of Discipline.