The NALC • Governance

Governance

Convocation

A convocation of the NALC shall be held annually.

Delegates with voting privileges at a convocation shall be the ordained ministers of the NALC and at least an equal number of laypersons. Each congregation of the NALC shall elect one lay delegate to the convocation for every 750 baptized members, or fraction thereof, of such congregation. In the event that the total number of lay delegates elected pursuant to the preceding sentence is less than the total number of ordained clergy, the Executive Council shall apportion additional lay delegates based on the relative size of the congregations of the NALC.

 All members of the convocation are delegates and as such represent their congregations.

The responsibilities of the annual convocation shall include:

• election of the Bishop, the Executive Council and any other position requiring election;
• adoption of a budget for the subsequent calendar year;
•  consideration of teaching statements;
• reception of reports;

and other items of business as may be determined by the Executive Council or by the Convocation.

Teaching statements must be endorsed by the Bishop prior to being submitted to the convocation, and shall require for approval at least two-thirds of the votes cast. Teaching statements so approved shall not become effective until ratified by at least two-thirds of the congregations of the NALC pursuant to the ratification procedures in section 17.03 of the constitution.

Special convocations may be called for specified purposes by the Bishop or by the Executive Council.

Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern the business of a convocation absent the approval by the convocation of alternative rules of procedure by at least two-thirds of the votes cast.