Catholic Committee of Appalachia
Policy on Resolutions and Position Statements
The following policy on resolutions, position statements, and interim endorsements was adopted by the Executive Committee on November 9, 1997; revised April 21, 2009, September 20, 2014 and Feb.27, 2016
Position statements
Definition
A position statement is an expression of support or concern from the membership of CCA, 1) by vote among membership present at an Annual Gathering, 2) by the Board of Directors on the membership’s behalf, or 3) in those situations when an issue is particularized for a certain state through its state chapter. It should include at least three key points which would serve as the basis of the position. Statements can take a variety of forms, including letters, press releases, pastoral statements, etc.
Procedure
Any CCA member may submit a recommendation for a position statement. Proposals for position statements have traditionally been presented and voted upon at the Annual Gathering. In such cases, an outline form is submitted to the Chair of the Board at the beginning of the Annual Gathering and is voted upon by the end of the Gathering.
Proposals for position statements may also be submitted at any time to the Board of Directors who will then determine the best course of action for drafting and approving the statement. The Board may elect to draft and approve proposed statements on behalf of the CCA membership, especially if a timely statement is desired. In such cases, the Board’s action strives to reflect the position of the CCA membership as a whole, always preferring the widest consultation among concerned membership that time will allow. A CCA state chapter may develop a statement of local concern and issue from the state chapter rather than CCA as a whole. If the Board determines that a proposed statement requires a vote from the membership as a whole, the proposal is brought before the membership at the Annual Gathering.
Voting
When proposed statements are brought before the membership at the Annual Gathering, a simple majority of members present at the Gathering suffices for passage. Clarifications and objections (but not discussion) are entertained for 10 minutes, renewable for another 10, after which the position statement is voted on, amended, or tabled.
Proposed statements seeking approval from the Board on behalf of the membership may be voted upon at any quarterly Board meeting, by phone, by mail or by e-mail. The Board strives towards consensus in approving endorsements. If consensus cannot be reached, a 2/3 majority of the Board suffices. For the sake of accountability, consistency and transparency, statements developed by a state chapter should be submitted to the Board of Directors for final approval before release. The Board should, however, strive to grant a large degree of autonomy to state chapters in using their voice. Such approval is to be by 2/3 majority of the Board.
Statements approved by the membership as a whole or by the Board alone are both considered statements of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia. Statements from the state chapters are considered statements of the chapter alone, unless another chapter wishes to sign onto the same statement, and should indicate the chapter(s) which promulgated the statement. The category of “Board of Directors Interim Endorsements” has been eliminated.
Resolutions
Definition
A resolution is a statement by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia membership expressing a position on an issue and a course of action. It should include specific means of implementation, detailing the accountability of the membership and the particular responsibilities of designated individuals.
Procedure
Resolutions are submitted in writing to the Coordinator/Director by July 1. The resolutions are then circulated with the Summer PatchQuilt and on the CCA website. Time is given at the Annual Gathering for presentation and clarification of the resolutions by the members present. The persons who proposed the resolution need not be present at the Annual Gathering; however, it would be in the best interests of the resolutions if there were someone present at the Gathering to speak on behalf of a specific resolution.
Members unable to attend the Annual Gathering will have the opportunity to send their clarifications and objections to the Coordinator/Director prior to the Annual Gathering so that their comments can be shared at the meeting.
Voting
Voting on resolutions and any amendments takes place at the Annual Gathering, and a simple majority of voting members present suffices for passage.
Clarification and objections (but not discussion) are entertained for 10 minutes, renewable for another 10, after which the resolution is voted on, amended, or tabled.
If you would like to propose a statement or resolution for the board and membership to consider, please email cca@ccappal.org to request CCA’s statement and resolution proposal form.