GCE45 GS21 Amendments to section D.4.3 for November 2025

1. What is the issue? Why is it important?

GC45 WF26: GCE01 – Review of the Roles of the Moderator and General Secretary for Summer 2025 was carried at the last General Council meeting in August. A task group reviewed the roles of the Moderator and the General Secretary and produced a report with several recommendations.

The General Council received the report and adopted all of its recommendations except for Recommendation 9, which proposed distinguishing between the General Secretary speaking for the Church and the Moderator speaking to the Church. This particular recommendation was referred back to the General Council Executive for further analysis, with a report to be provided to the General Council in 2026.

All other recommendations were accepted, and the Manual Committee was directed to revise the by-laws accordingly.

2. How might the General Council Executive respond to this issue?

The General Secretary recommends the following changes to section D.4.3. The original wording is presented first, followed by the proposed changes.

D.4.3 Executive Ministers/Officers

Original Text

The General Council or its executive is responsible for appointing General Council officers. It is also responsible for setting the number of General Council officers from time to time.
The General Council officers are responsible for

1. acting for the General Secretary when required by the General Secretary on a short-term basis; and
2. performing other duties as assigned by the General Council or the General Secretary.

Proposed Text

The Executive ministers/officers are responsible for

1. Specific portfolios as assigned by the General Secretary;
2. Acting for the General Secretary when required by the General Secretary on a short-term basis; and
3. Performing other duties as assigned by the General Secretary.
    

3. For the body transmitting this proposal to the General Council Executive:?

N/A