GC2027
Resolutions to General Conference 2027 – Guidance and Procedures
For Free Methodists, the General Conference is not just a meeting, but part of our long-standing practice of “holy conferencing.” It is a means of grace wherein we seek the Lord through prayerful and intentional conversation about matters of faith, Christian life, and mission.
One of the ways we participate in this means of grace is through considering resolutions that have been proposed to the Conference. According to our Manual (¶410.5), any society or individual member of a local society has the right to propose a resolution to the General Conference and to have it “fully heard.” Resolutions are an indication of our investment in the life of our denomination and our concern for its future. Pastors and delegates are strongly encouraged to review the process of resolutions with their local churches, reminding the membership, especially of the opportunity to engage in this process.
Based on the provisions of our Manual and the Standing Rules of General Conference, this is the procedure for submitting resolutions to the 2027 General Conference:
- The deadline for submitting resolutions is November 1, 2026.
- No new resolutions will be accepted from the floor at the General Conference.
- Resolutions must be submitted using the format outlined under “Resolution Submission Guidance” below.
- Each proposed resolution must be co-signed by at least one sponsor who is a Member of Conference (pastor or delegate).
- Resolutions should be submitted via email to resolutions@fmcic.ca.
- The Study Commission on Doctrine (SCOD) will serve as the Resolutions Committee. It will evaluate the resolutions submitted and may refer them to a standing committee or to the Board of Administration (BOA).
- Proposed resolutions will be evaluated for their clarity, conciseness, format (see guidance below), feasibility, focus, and alignment with FMCIC vision and values.
- SCOD, the standing committee, or the Board of Administration may recommend adoption, amendment, merging (combining two or more related resolutions) or rejection of the resolutions. The rationale for such decisions will be reported to the Conference.
- The full set of resolutions along with the decisions of the Resolutions Committee will be communicated to the FMCIC by March 1, 2027.
- A recommendation to reject a resolution may be overturned by a 75% vote of the General Conference from the floor. This would permit the resolution to be considered by the Conference.
- Resolutions that are approved at the General Conference will be enacted by the BOA or other relevant standing committee. When approved resolutions necessitate changes to the Manual, SCOD will oversee those edits or will defer them to the body responsible for the appropriate chapter of the Manual (e.g., BOA, MEGaP). All edits to the Manual must receive final approval by the BOA as representatives of the General Conference.
Resolutions should be prayerfully and thoughtfully prepared. They should pertain to some aspect of our common life together as a denomination and should serve the furtherance of God’s mission through the Free Methodist Church in Canada. Preferably, each resolution will be focused on a single issue.
When writing a resolution, the author(s) should include supporting rationale, with each reason offered in support of the resolution written as a “Whereas” statement (as many as are needed), followed by the resolution itself introduced with “Therefore, be it resolved . . .” See format below:
Resolution to the 2027 General Conference of the Free Methodist Church in Canada
Whereas:
Whereas:
Whereas:
Therefore, be it resolved . . .
Name of the Society or individual member(s) by whom the resolution is offered:
Name of the member(s) of the General Conference who is co-sponsoring and introducing the resolution (Delegate or Ordained Minister):
