Parliamentary Law: Positioning a Motion

1. Management & Leadership in
Ministry
Positioning a Motion
to get positive support

2. Typically the „mover‟ of a
motion wants to see a
majority of those in
attendance at the
business meeting support
his/her motion.
Those who study Parliamentary procedures &
Robert’s Rules of Order have observed the
motions which typically receive a „positive‟
vote, are characterized by the following traits…

3. Positioning a motion for positive results
1) The motion is stated in positive language
State what you want to see happen, not
what you don‟t want to see happen.
- most people want to be seen
as positive, supportive,
proactive people, not negative.

4. Positioning a motion for positive results
2) Ensure that your motion is provided to
the church family, ahead of time.
Get the motion into the hands of the people
PRIOR to the business mtg. Usually 1-2 wks.
in advance is sufficient
- people tend to react negatively to
„surprise or unexpected‟ motions from
the floor. People want time to „think‟
thru a motion, without feeling pressured
to make a snap decision.

5. A Very Good Idea
Not only provide the „motion‟ to the church family
ahead of time … but also provide the “rationale for
& details of the implications of” the motion. Tell
people a bit of the history behind this motion, and
what the real-life implications are, if the motion is
approved.
Typically the more information you provide
(showing you have sought wise advice and
thought-through the details of the motion, and a
sensitivity to questions others may have) the more
likely people are to support the motion.

6. Positioning a motion for positive results
3) Instill confidence, by doing your homework
Make sure you have your facts right & know what
you are talking about. Understand the history
behind the problem /challenge your motion
addresses AND the implications of your motion. „If
we approve this motion, in real terms it means this
$ and practically‟.
- bring supporting documentation with you to
the meeting. People want to know you‟ve
done your homework & thought this through.

7. 4) Tell the congregation how your motion
aligns with the history of the church &
advances the vision of the church.
Any significant initiative (big $, big commitments)
should be well-grounded in the original vision for
the local church and the dreams for a better
future.
- People are far more likely to support a
motion that honours the history
(people, vision) of the church, than one
that ignores or contradicts its history.
People intuitively value: continuity &
predictability & progress.

8. 5) On „big ticket/ expense‟ items ask for
permission to hold an Information Mtg. a
week before the business meeting.
Some who attend a business mtg. will want to
have detailed questions answered, before
they are willing to support a motion. Info.
mtgs. provide such a venue to ask their
questions.
- Some people are detail
oriented & need more
time, facts & figures !

9. Information Meetings
• Have no power to act or decide, just discuss.
• Provide a forum for people to ask detailed questions.
• Often provide insights into the types of „concerns‟ the
congregation may have, and still allow time for the
church leaders to get additional information/facts, before
the congregational business meeting the following wk.
• Are usually attended by a much „smaller‟ number of
people than the business mtg.
• Will save you many hours in your business meeting and
those who attend the business meeting, who don‟t care
about „details‟, will bless you!

10. 6) Never surprise your key ministry leaders
or staff, with an unexpected motion they
haven‟t previously heard about/discussed
Before a motion ever sees the light of day at a
congregational business mtg., a wise leader will
have extensive private conversations with
his/her key lay leaders & staff to solicit their input
& counsel, esp. those people most directly
affected by the motion: ministry leaders &
finance committee.
- If you surprise your key leaders/
influencers & don‟t solicit their
input, you will likely not have their
support.

11. 7) Make sure the chairperson is well versed
in the particulars / history / value of the
motion, ahead of time.
While the chairperson is not suppose to
influence the decision making process (or show
bias either for or against a motion) the truth of
the matter is that oft times even the facial
expression or tone of voice the chairperson uses
can either help to win over or defeat a motion

12. 8) Motions requiring large financial
commitments, should include the phrase
“as finances allow”
i.e. “Motion to replace the shingles on the
roof of the church during the summer of
2013, as finances allow”
This little phrase can significantly ease the
fears of those who are fiscally conservative
in their thinking (will this decision bankrupt
the church) and allows those who make the
final decisions as to whether or not to
proceed, some room to exercise wisdom &
discretion.

13. 9) As the mover of the motion, you have the
right and responsibility to make the first
and last speech concerning the motion
before it goes to vote … thus remind the
chair of this right & go to the meeting
prepared to speak passionately
informatively concerning your motion.

14. 10) Speak as courteously & respectfully to
the chairperson
This is especially important when responding to
the concerns and questions raised by those who
may not support your motion. Do not speak to
the individual, speak only to the chairperson.
Speak only about the issues / questions they
raise … do not become emotionally reactive to
the person who is arguing against your motion.

15. 11) If it becomes apparent that your motion
may be defeated … then ask if the
assembly would like to send the motion
to committee or lay on the table for
further study & recommendation.
Better to study the issue further, than have it
defeated on the floor. Once a motion has been
defeated … it is very difficult / unlikely to
resurrect it again.

16. 12) If possible, introduce your item of
business early in the business mtg. or just
after a recess, before everyone becomes
tired/weary.
13) While a person may only speak twice
concerning a motion … they may ask
multiple “Points of Information” questions
and may „answer‟ a limitless number of
questions. Seek clarification or evidence for the
pts. of view of those who oppose your motion .

17. 14) Introduce „amendments‟
which might make the
motion more palatable
to the opponents of the
motion.
Instead of allowing the motion to go down to defeat,
perhaps a compromise/amendment to the motion can
make the motion acceptable to the majority.

18. 15) Don‟t forget to „vote‟ for your motion.
Sometimes in the midst of a lot of discussion
and debate, the mover of the motion
becomes so distracted, they fail to cast their
own vote.
Sometimes 1 vote makes all the difference

19. How to Defeat or
Seriously Delay a Motion

20. DEFEATING/ Delaying a motion …
1) If you have advance notification of a motion that
is coming before the upcoming business mtg. &
you adamantly disagree with the motion - set up
a time to meet with the „mover‟ of the motion,
prior to the business mtg.
- gain understanding of „why‟ they
are making this motion
- gain understanding of the
„implications‟ of the motion
Perhaps you can convince them to
withdraw the motion before it goes
before the people/congregation/mtg.

21. Defeating / delaying a motion …
2) Once an item is before the congregation:
- secure the permission of the chair to speak to the issue
- do not speak to the person who made the motion …
speak only to the chair
- speak respectfully of the intent of mover & keep your
mouth/emotions under control
No discourteous, obnoxious, loud or harsh
statements concerning the mover’s
character/motives. No ‘sky is falling’
warnings (this will destroy our church).
Truism: the first to lose their temper, losses
the argument.

22. Defeating / delaying a motion …
3) Highlight the negative
implications of the motion
- Raise a series of questions about the implementation, costs &
effect of the motion passing. Sow seeds of doubt. “Are there
other ways we could effectively accomplish the same objective, for less
money?” “Have we considered and fully studied other options like
__” Don’t answer your own questions.
- Expose any weakness in the arguments for the motion
- Demonstrate that you understand the motion. Share a bit of the
history & intention behind the motion (based on your earlier
meeting with the mover).
- Show how the motion is inconsistent with the original vision
and/or present vision/values of the church.

23. Defeating / delaying a motion
4) In addition to „debating‟ the
issue, those opposed to a
motion can also:
- make a motion or a series of motions to ‘amend’
the motion to make it more acceptable to you.
- If it becomes apparent that a motion is likely to
be adopted … make a motion that the issue be
‘sent to committee’ or table the motion, to allow
more time for additional research & comment.
5) Don‟t forget to vote against a motion at the
appropriate time.

24. Once a decision is made and you LOST
The one option you DO NOT HAVE is to be
divisive to, or quarrelsome within Christ‟s church!
- once the decision has been made … it is time to yield to the
will of the majority
- either get behind the decision and give it your full support …or
at least choose to „abide‟ by the majority decision.
- move on with life and ministry and be a blessing to the church
in other areas of ministry.
- or leave
- do not just sit passively by … moping and sulking …waiting
until „they‟ see the wisdom of your position. Wisdom is proven
right by her children (implications of that verse) Sometimes it is
a long time before we see „who or what was the right choice to
make, way back then‟.

25. Once a decision is made, and you WON
The one option you DO NOT HAVE is to be arrogant,
gloating and proud within Christ‟s church
- once the decision has been made … it is time to implement the
will of the majority.
- make sure the motion and approving vote are properly
recorded in the Minutes of the meeting.
- talk with key church leaders about the implementation plan …
set firm dates & assign who will be responsible to carry out the
motion
- purposefully build bridges & reach out to (and maybe even
involve) those who were not supportive of the motion.
- prepare a follow up, written report to be submitted to the
appropriate overseeing body (how we implemented the
decision of the business meeting).

26. Class Exercise
Fix Time to Adjourn
Adjourn
Take a Recess Scenario:
Question of Privilege
Call for Orders of the Day Location: Your Home town
Appeal
Division of Assembly Situation: Church Bd. Meeting
Division of Question
Inquiry/Pt. of Information Motion: “To give each young
Pt. of Order person in our church
Suspend Rules
Withdraw a motion
$250/yr. from the Missions
Lay on the Table Fund, towards their
Previous Question expenses in pursuing
Limit/Extend time Debate
Postpone to Certain Time higher education at a
Refer to Committee Canadian Christian
Amend
Postpone Indefinitely
college”
Main Motion