NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS and RESOLUTIONS
21st General NMI Convention
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Versions
Resolution 1 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend as follows:
Strike the word “General” and insert the word “Global” when
reference is made to “General” Council, “General” President,
“General” Director, and “General” Convention throughout the
Constitution.”
Rationale:
- This change clearly expresses the scope of representation
for these people, organizations, and events.
- “Global” communicates to all nations and all generations.
- The change would provide international identity when working
with other denominations and mission agencies.
- “General” in some cultures is seen as hierarchical, so
“global” will put all of NMI on the same level.
Resolution 2 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article II as follows:
The purpose of this organization shall be to:
Mobilize the entire church in active mission involvement,
in united prayer, and in the study of the salvation needs
of the world;
Promote a wider knowledge of the mission fields
of the Church of the Nazarene;
Inspire and challenge youth and children to be
open to God’s call for missionary service, and to facilitate
the mentoring of children, youth, and adults in their calls;
Raise funds, as elsewhere provided for in this
Constitution for extending the kingdom of Jesus Christ around
the world
mobilize the church in mission through praying, discipling,
educating, and giving.
Rationale: This amendment states succinctly and clearly
the purpose of NMI and states the objectives of the organization.
Resolution 3 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article III, Section 3, Paragraph 2 as follows:
Amend to read: “All district and local NMI organizations shall
constitute the General NMI. It shall be auxiliary
to the Church of the Nazarene.”
Rationale:
- That Nazarene Missions International no longer be considered
an auxiliary organization, but a ministry of the Church
of the Nazarene.
- The Nazarene Manual refers to NMI, NYI, and SDMI
as “auxiliaries.” In limited usage today, auxiliary is defined
as “a person or group engaged in supplementary service,
but not part of a regular team.” Synonyms for “auxiliary”
include: secondary, spare, back-up, trivial, nonessential.
- By contrast, essential is defined as “part of the essence
of something, giving a cause or group necessary, significant,
and unique qualities.” Synonyms for “essential” include
foundational, vital, indispensable, integral.
- NMI partners with many ministries within the Church of
the Nazarene and will continue to do so.
- NMI is part of the core team.
Resolution 4 - WITHDRAWN
Source: Los Angeles District
To amend Article IV. Membership as follows:
Article IV. Membership
A. Members: Any person who is a member
of the Church of the Nazarene attends
a district-recognized Church of the Nazarene, regardless of
its status as organized, mission-type, new start, or a part
of a Multicongregational church operating under the umbrella
of an organized church, and supports the Nazarene Missions
International (NMI) purpose may be a member of NMI in that
church/congregation.
2. Unless otherwise stated in this constitution, reference
to “members” means NMI members who are members of
attend the
district-recognized congregation. B. Associate
Members: Any person who is not a member of the Church
of the Nazarene and supports the NMI purpose may be an associate
member of NMI.
Article VI Section 2A3. District Meetings
A. Convention
a. Only members
of the respective district Members of every
category of district-recognized church/congregations
shall be eligible to serve as ex-officio or elected delegates.
b. Ex-officio members
of the convention shall be district NMI council; district
superintendent; all assigned ministers and full-time salaried
associate ministers of local churches district-recognized
churches/congregations; lay members of the district advisory
board; the local NMI presidents of district-recognized
churches/congregations of the assembly year just ending,
and newly elected NMI presidents or newly elected vice presidents
if the newly elected president cannot attend;…
c. Elected delegates from each
local church district-recognized
church/congregation shall be NMI members (15 years
of age or older). The number of elected delegates shall be
based on the following formula: two delegates (excluding
associate members) from each district-recognized
congregation’s NMI of 25 members of fewer, and one
additional delegate for each additional 25 members or major
portion thereof.
Rationale:
NMI membership be open to every district-recognized congregation.
Every district-recognized congregation be allowed to send
delegates to district NMI conventions.
According to the NMI Constitution only organized churches
are allowed to send delegates to district NMI conventions.
This denies representation and participation by new-start,
mission-type, unorganized ethnic churches and multiethnic
congregations that operate under the umbrella of an organized
English church.
At district NMI conventions, new-start, mission-type, unorganized
ethnic and multiethnic congregations feel excluded because
they have no voice or vote. This leads to these churches
independently organizing their missionaries and organizations.
Then at the time of official organization, these churches
have committed themselves to non-Nazarene mission activities.
The resolution is supported in the 2005-2009 Manual under
“The Local Church; A. Organization, Name, Incorporation, Property,
Restrictions, Mergers, Disorganization; 100.1 The Multicongregational
Church” because it states: “In such Multicongregational churches
where not all the individual congregations are fully organized
churches, the District Advisory Board, with the approval of
the district superintendent and the general superintendent
in jurisdiction, may grant to such congregations the rights
and privileges of an organized local church;” and Under “The
Local Church; B. Membership; 107.2. Members of a Church-Type
Mission,” as supporting the resolution because it states:
“Where the organization of a local church has not been effected,
a church-type mission shall receive and report church members
according to 107 and 107.1 in the annual statistics.”
Resolution 5 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article V, Section 1B.2 as follows:
That Article V Council and Officers, Section 1 Local Council,
B Composition, section 2 be amended as follows:
Council members shall be responsible to mobilize
the church in mission through praying, discipling, educating
and giving. mission education, LINKS, prayer
and fasting, Mission Call, Alabaster, Missionary Health Care,
Work and Witness, World Mission Broadcast, publicity, Nazarene
Compassionate Ministries, children’s missions, youth missions,
and / or any other emphasis deemed necessary by the local
council. Chapter chairmen shall be members of the local
NMI council. A council member may hold more
than one position but only have one vote.
Rationale:
The purpose of the NMI is to mobilize the church in mission
through the four objectives on NMI: praying, discipling, educating
and giving. It is more appropriate to state this purpose
as being the responsibilities of the council members rather
than a list of programs and tools used by the council members
to achieve the purpose. Such information should be provided
in the Handbook. In addition, this amendment provides
flexibility for the structure of a council while retaining
the minimal requirements for the number of officers (4) and
council members (4 officers plus 2 council members).
Resolution 6 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article V, Section 2, B, 2 as follows:
That Article V Council and Officers, Section 2 District Council,
B Composition, section 2 be amended as follows:
Council members shall be responsible to mobilize
the church in mission through praying, discipling, educating
and giving. mission education, LINKS, prayer
and fasting, Mission Call, , Alabaster, Missionary Health
Care, Work and Witness, World Mission Broadcast, publicity,
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, children’s missions, youth
missions, and / or any other emphasis deemed necessary by
the local council. Chapter chairmen shall be members
of the local NMI council. A council member
may hold more than one position but only have one vote.
Rationale:
The purpose of the NMI is to mobilize the church in mission
through the four objectives on NMI: praying, discipling, educating
and giving. It is more appropriate to state this purpose
as the responsibilities of the council members rather than
a list of programs and tools used by the council members to
achieve the purpose. Such information should be provided
in the Handbook. In addition, this amendment provides
flexibility for the structure of a council while retaining
the minimal requirements for the number of officers and council
members.
Resolution 7 - PASSED
Source: Missouri District
To Amend Article V, Section 2: District Council; Item B.3
as follows:
“Executive Committee shall be the district superintendent,
NMI officers and two three
other council members.”
Rationale: Since the vice president is automatically
one of the officers and is elected as one of the four required
council members, that only leaves three elected council members
from which to choose two executive council members at large.
If we had three executive council members at large, it would
then include all required elected council members.
Resolution 8 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article V, Section 2C, 2h as follows:
To delete the sentence from Article V, Section 2C, 2h: “Delegates
and alternates to the General Convention shall be elected
by ballot at a district convention. Alternates to the General
NMI Convention may be elected on a separate ballot, or, at
the recommendation of the district NMI council, on the same
ballot as the delegates.” And move it to Article VI,
Section 3A, 3b. with subsequent paragraphs being re-alphabetized.
Rationale:
It is more appropriate for the method of election of delegates
to the General NMI Convention to be stated at the same place
as the determination of the numbers of delegates.
Resolution 9 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article V, Section 2D, 3c, and Article VI, Section
3A3a as follows:
Amend by striking “NMI program coordinator” and inserting
“regional NMI coordinator”.
Rationale:
The title “regional NMI coordinator” more accurately describes
the role of this position. This leader coordinates NMI ministries
and not merely NMI program.
Resolution 10 - WITHDRAWN
Source: Kentucky District
To amend Article V, Section 3C, 3e as follows:
Election of General Council Members
The term of service shall be limited to two full terms
unlimited, but the
person must be re-elected after two full terms. A term
of service shall be one quadrennium. If a person is elected
to fill a vacancy of a General Council member, that person
is also eligible to serve two full unlimited
terms upon election to the General Council.
Rationale:
To retain qualified and experienced leadership.
Resolution 11 - DEFEATED
Source: Tennessee District
To amend Article V, Section 3C, 3e as follows:
The term of service shall be limited to two full terms.
A term of service shall be one quadrennium. If a person is
elected to fill a vacancy of a General council member, that
person is also eligible to serve two full terms. A
person shall not serve more than two full terms consecutively.
A person may serve again after being out of office for at
least one term.
Rationale:
This change fully supports developing leaders, but also recognizes
the value of experienced leadership.
Resolution 12 - WITHDRAWN
Source: Central Florida District
To amend Article V, Section 3C, 3e by substitution the following:
A term of service shall be one quadrennium. A person elected
to the General council may serve a maximum of four full terms.
However, no person may serve more than two full terms consecutively
nor be elected after reaching the age of 70. If a person is
elected to fill a vacancy of a General council member, that
person is also eligible to serve a maximum of four full terms,
but no more than two full terms consecutively.
Rationale:
To limit an individual to two full terms on the General NMI
Council might cause leadership and focused direction to suffer.
If a younger or emerging leader is elected, it is possible
that within the foreseeable future there would only be emerging
young leaders on the council. A council comprised of various
generations will continue to move NMI forward.
Resolution 13 - PASSED
Source: Kansas City District
To amend Article V, Section 3C, 4a as follows:
The General Council shall in its first meeting nominate and
elect a vice president, a
secretary and two one
additional members for the executive committee.
Rationale:
Maintains consistency with election of local and district
secretary for the council and executive.
Resolution 14 - DEFEATED
Source: Northwest District
To amend Article VI, Section 2A, 3c as follows
Elected delegates from each local church shall be NMI members
(15 years of age or older). The number of elected delegates
shall be based on the following formula: two delegates
(excluding associate members) from each local NMI of 25
50 members
or fewer, and on additional delegate for each additional 25
50 members
or major portion thereof.
Rationale:
- The change from 25 to 50 delegates would make the NMI
selection formula the same as the formula specified in the
Manual paragraph 201.1. for electing delegates
to the District Assembly.
- This would uniform the selection process for local church
electing delegates to attend both the District Assembly
and the annual District NMI Convention.
- The financial burden would be eased upon the part of the
local church in underwriting the cost or delegates attending
the annual District Assembly and NMI Convention.
Resolution 15 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council and Pittsburg District
To amend Article VI, Section 2A, 3c. as follows:
By inserting the words, “Membership
shall be based on the NMI membership reported at the local
NMI annual meeting when elections take place. Delegates shall
be nominated by the local NMI nominating committee.”
so that Article VI, Section 2A, 3c will read:
Elected delegates from each local church shall be NMI members
(15 years of age or older). The number of elected delegates
shall be based on the following formula: two delegates (excluding
associate members) from each local NMI of 25 members or fewer
and one additional delegate for each additional 25 members
or major part thereof. Membership
shall be based on the NMI membership reported at the local
NMI annual meeting when elections take place. The local NMI
nominating committee shall nominate delegates.
Rationale:
This amendment will specify clearly the membership report
to be used to determine the number of delegates that may represent
a local NMI at the District Convention and the nominating
process to be used.
Resolution 16 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To Amend Article VI, Section 3A 2 as follows:
That article VI, section 3A 2 be amended to read: The
time and place of the convention shall be decided by the General
Council in consultation with the general superintendent in
jurisdiction. The
General NMI Council shall approve official locations and shall
ensure implementation of practical arrangements
Rationale:
- Visas to the U.S.A. have become more difficult to obtain
in recent years.
- The practice will allow for wider age-range of delegates
from around the world, as younger delegates are some who
have the most difficulty acquiring visas.
- The General NMI Council will be charged with the responsibility
of ensuring all practical arrangements to provide for full
contributions of all delegates duly elected to discussions
held at all sites without the diminishing of the spirit
of the General NMI Convention.
Resolution 17 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council and Pittsburg District
To amend Article VI, Section 3A, 3b as follows:
By inserting the words, “Membership
shall be based on the NMI membership reported at the district
NMI convention when elections take place. Delegates shall
be nominated by the district NMI nominating committee.”
So that Article VI, Section 3A, 3b will read:
Elected delegates to the General Convention shall be based
on the following formula: two delegates from each Phase
3 and Phase 2 district of 1,000 or fewer NMI members, excluding
associate members, and one additional delegate for each 700
members or major portion thereof.
Membership shall be based on the NMI membership reported at
the district convention when elections take place. The district
NMI nominating committee shall nominate delegates.
(See Manual paragraph
200.2 for definition of district phases.)
Rationale:
This amendment will specify clearly the membership report
to be used to determine the number of delegates that may represent
a district at the General Convention and the nominating process
to be used.
Resolution 18 - PASSED
Source: Indianapolis District
To insert Article VI, Section 3A, 3c as follows:
Delegates and alternates
to the General Convention shall be elected by ballot at a
district convention. Alternates may be elected on a separate
ballot or at the recommendation of the district council on
the same ballot as the delegates. Delegates and alternates
may be elected by a plurality vote by ballot on approval by
a two-thirds vote of the district convention upon recommendation
of the district council. (See Article VI, Section 3A, 3b.
for determining the number of delegates and time of election).
Subsequent paragraphs to be re-alphabetized
Rationale:
To provide for election of delegates and alternates by plurality
ballot in those districts where there may be a desire to do
so.
Resolution 19 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
To amend Article VII, Section 1B, 1 as follows:
That Article VII Funds, Section 1 Raised by Local Churches,
B Approved Mission Specials section 1 be amended as follows:
Opportunity shall be given to contribute to Approved Mission
Specials (such as Alabaster, World Mission Broadcast,
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Deputation, Missionary
Health Care, LINKS, Work and Witness, NMI International Student
Scholarship Fund etc) over and above WEF giving.
Rationale:
The list of Approved Mission Specials is not inclusive of
all such specials. This list should be available in
the Handbook and should be inclusive of all such Approved
Mission Specials.
Resolution 20 – WITHDRAWN
A Resolution to the General Assembly
Source: Connecting A New Generation Committee
Church of the Nazarene Manual Paragraph
or Section Heading 903.16
Value of
Children and Youth
The Bible commands
every Christian to, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs
31:8). The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 11:19) admonishes us
to communicate God’s grace to our children. Psalm 78:4 declares,
“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of
the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” Jesus affirms
this in Luke 18:16, “Let the little children come to me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such
as these.”
As a response to
this biblical perspective, the Church of the Nazarene acknowledges
that children are important to God and a priority in His kingdom.
We believe God directed us to attend to all children – to
love, nurture, protect, uphold, guide, and advocate for them.
It is God’s plan that we introduce children to the life of
salvation and growth in grace. Salvation, holiness, and discipleship
are possible and imperative in the lives of children. We recognize
that children are not a means to an end, but full participants
in the Body of Christ. Children are disciples in training,
not disciples in waiting.
Thus, holistic and
transformational ministry to children and their families in
every local church will be a priority as evidenced by:
- providing effective
and empowering ministries to the whole child—physically,
mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually;
- articulating
Christian positions on current social justice issues that
affect children;
- connecting children
to the heart of the mission and ministry of the faith community;
- discipling children
and training them to disciple others;
- equipping parents
to nurture the spiritual formation of their children.
Since the church’s
educational institutions (Bible schools, colleges, universities,
and seminaries) prepare students for leadership, they play
a crucial role in carrying out the vision and mission of communicating
the value of children. They join local churches and families
in taking responsibility to prepare clergy and laity to raise
the next generation of children and youth to be biblically
and theologically literate and to meet the known and unforeseen
challenges for evangelizing, discipling, and transforming
their societies.
The Church of the
Nazarene envisions an intergenerational faith community where
children and youth are loved and valued, where they are ministered
to and incorporated into the Church family through a wide
variety of means and methods, and where they have opportunities
to minister to others in ways consistent with their ages,
development, abilities, and spiritual gifts.
FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
- As a child, Jesus was embraced by the religious leaders
in the Temple. They listened to Him and marveled at His
insight.
- As an adult, Jesus valued and welcomed children.
- Around the world, many children are not valued and nurtured.
- In a world that is characterized by pluralism and postmodern
thought, it is critical to reach out in love to children
and youth. Demographically, more than one-third of the world’s
population is children and youth. Statistics show the prime
age to win a child to Christ is the “4/14 window” –
the ages between 4 and 14. A child’s sense of trust is developed
in the first year of life. Trust is necessary for a person
to have faith to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Trust comes
as loving, caring adults meet the needs of the whole child.
Resolution 21 - PASSED
NMI General Council Executive Committee
To amend Article VI Meetings, Section 3A General
Meetings, by adding new paragraph “3f.” as follows:
In the event that elected delegates or duly elected alternate
delegates are unable to attend the General Convention and
this fact is identified after the last district convention
before the General Convention, then replacement alternate
delegates may be appointed by the district NMI council.
Rationale: To provide a means for the appointment of delegates
to the General NMI Convention in the event that the delegates
and alternate delegates elected by the District NMI Convention
are unable to attend.
Resolution # 22 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council Executive Committee
To amend Article V Council and Officers, Section 3C General
Council, 2e General President as follows:
The general president shall serve from the adjournment of
the General Convention until the adjournment of the next General
Convention or until his or her successor has been elected
and qualified for a four-year term, from the close of the
General Assembly until the close of the following General
Assembly.
Rationale:
- To enable the general president representing NMI at the
General Assembly to be the president who has served for
the term leading to the General Assembly rather than the
newly elected general president.
- The newly elected general president may not have the background
to discussions having taken place over the previous quadrennium
within the General NMI Executive or Council or General Board.
- The newly elected general president may be unable to represent
the NMI at the General Assembly due to logistical arrangements
following very recent election before the General Assembly
- To bring consistency with the constitution of Nazarene
Youth International.
Resolution # 23 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council Executive Committee
To amend Article V Councils and Officers, Section 3C General
Council, 3d General Council as follows: Council members
shall serve from the adjournment of the General Convention
until the adjournment of the next General Convention or until
their successors have been elected and qualified for a four-year
term, from the close of the General Assembly until the close
of the following General Assembly.
Rationale:
- To bring consistency with the proposed amendment #22 to
Article V: Councils and Officers Section 3: General Council
2e.
- To bring consistency with the constitution of Nazarene
Youth International.
Resolution # 24 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council Executive Committee
To amend Article VI Meetings, Section 3 General Meetings,
B Council Meetings by adding paragraph “a.” as follows:
The General Council newly elected at the General Convention
may meet before the adjournment of the General Assembly for
the purpose of organization and planning.
The current paragraph in Article VI, Section 3B will become
paragraph “b.”
Rationale: To provide for the newly elected General NMI Council
to be able to meet for the purposes of organization and planning
before formally taking office at the adjournment of the General
Assembly.
Resolution # 25 - PASSED
Source: NMI General Council
Note: The intention of this resolution is to harmonize potential
action of NMI with pending general assembly action. General
Assembly resolution GA 307 proposes a revised procedure for
missionary representation to general assembly by a method
approved by the General Secretary’s office. GA 307 is copied
below the NMI resolution for ready reference. If the NMI convention
approves this NMI resolution, this NMI resolution will be
implemented only if GA 307 is approved by the general assembly.
To amend the NMI Constitution Article VI, Section 3, Paragraph
A3c as follows only if GA 307 is approved by the general assembly
and to harmonize the NMI Constitution with pending action
by the general assembly:
c. One global missionary delegate for every World Mission
region of 50 or fewer missionaries, or two global missionary
delegates for each region with 51 or more missionaries shall
be elected by the Regional Advisory Council in each region
nominated and elected from and by the assigned global missionaries
serving in that region, by a method approved by the general
NMI director’s office.
Rationale:
- This resolution would allow assigned global missionaries
serving on a region to elect missionary delegate(s) by a
process approved by the general NMI director’s office. This
new procedure would replace the current procedure, which
allows missionary delegates to be elected by the regional
advisory council.
- NMI government is representative. Missionary delegates
to the general NMI convention are elected to represent missionaries
and mission ethos on a given region, and not specifically
to represent the region per se. The regional advisory council
is not composed of missionaries. Missionaries should elect
missionary representative(s) to the general NMI convention.
GA 307
MEMBERSHIP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MISSIONARY DELEGATES.
Robert D. McCroskey, et al.
Manual 301, 344.3
RESOLVED that Manual paragraph 301 be amended as
follows:
B. Membership of the General Assembly
301. The General Assembly shall be composed of ministerial
and lay delegates in equal numbers from each Phase 3 district,
the district superintendent serving as one of the assigned
and ordained ministerial delegates, the remaining assigned
and ordained ministerial delegates and all the lay delegates
elected thereto by the district assemblies of the Church of
the Nazarene; the general superintendents emeriti and retired;
the general superintendents; the general secretary; the general
treasurer; the editor of
Holiness Today; the directors of the several departments,
ministries, and services of the General Board; the education
commissioner; the regional directors; the national director
of the Church of the Nazarene, Canada; the General Nazarene
Missions International president; the Global Nazarene Youth
International president; the regional college/university presidents
(in regions where more than one school exists, one delegate
from these schools would be elected by the Regional Advisory
Council); presidents of multiregional institutions whose Board
of Directors are elected by multiple district representatives;
the president of the Nazarene Publishing House; the president
of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation; the revivalism coordinator;
one career missionary delegate for every region of 50 or fewer
missionaries and two career missionary delegates for every
region with 51 or more missionaries, [elected by the Regional
Advisory Council in each region] nominated
and elected from and by the assigned career missionaries serving
in that region, by a method approved by the General Secretary’s
office. In the absence of such election the missionary
representative shall be elected by the World Mission Committee.
FURTHER RESOLVED that Manual paragraph 344.3 be amended
as follows:
344.3. Regional Advisory Council (RAC). A region may have
a Regional Advisory Council whose responsibilities will be
to assist the regional director in strategy development for
the region, to review and recommend approval or disapproval
of all national board minutes before forwarding the same to
the office of the general secretary, to interview missionary
candidates for recommendation to the World Mission Department
and/or for deployment as regional and General Board contracted
missionaries, to receive reports from the regional director,
field strategy coordinators, and ministry coordinators, [to
elect missionary delegates to the General Assembly in accordance
with provisions of the Manual,] and to elect a principal/rector/president
of an International Board of Education institution as
a delegate to the General Assembly.
Membership of the RAC shall be flexible in order to shape
the RAC according to the needs, development and requirements
of the individual regions. The regional director will recommend
the number of members of the RAC to the World Mission director
and the general superintendent in jurisdiction for approval.
Ex-officio members will be the general superintendent in jurisdiction
of the region, the World Mission Department director and the
regional director who will serve as chairperson. World Mission
Department contracted personnel shall not be candidates for
election to the RAC but may serve as resource persons. Members
of the RAC will be elected by ballot by the regional caucus
at the General Assembly. The RAC will fill any vacancy between
General Assemblies.
The regional director, in consultation with the RAC, may convene
a regional conference or area evangelism conference as needed.
General NMI Convention Standing Rules
The general NMI council recommends the following rules for
adoption by convention delegates:
ADMISSION
- Visitors may attend meetings of the convention. A convention
packet will be issued to delegates and a program to visitors.
- Badges will be required for admission of delegates to
all meetings.
SPEAKING AND VOTING PROCEDURES
- A delegate wishing to speak shall go to the appropriate
microphone, await recognition by the chair, and state clearly
his/her name and the name of the district represented.
- The chair may use his/her discretion in assigning the
floor.
- A delegate shall not speak for more than two minutes at
any one time on any question under discussion, nor more
than twice on the same question. No delegate shall speak
for the second time until all delegates seeking recognition
have had the opportunity to speak for the first time.
- All motions shall be presented to the recording secretary
in writing (via pages) when they are made, and shall be
signed showing the name of the maker and district represented.
- Discussion or debate of any resolution on the floor may
not exceed thirty minutes inclusive of all points of order
and points of information.
- During debate the chair shall attempt to recognize delegates
“for” and “against” motions in alternating order.
- Resolutions to be considered by the convention must have
been submitted to the general NMI office by February 15,
2009. Presentation of late resolutions may be accepted for
consideration upon two-thirds vote of the Resolutions Committee.
- Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current
edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern
this convention in all cases to which they are applicable
and in matters not covered by these Special Rules of Order.
GENERAL
- Announcements to be made from the platform must pertain
to the convention program or emergency situations. Other
communications, announcements, and messages may be posted
on the Convention bulletin board.
- During convention meetings, only convention pages shall
deliver messages and communications to the desk