Joint Conference of Branches
Stone Church
Independence, MO
November 10-13, 2005
Proposed Rules of Representation
Rules of Order
Representation of Restoration Branches
1. Restoration Branch Defined. A Restoration Branch has been organized under the legal authority granted by the Articles of Incorporation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (1872) and in accordance with the directions in A Manual of Practice and Rules of Order and Debate for Deliberative Assemblies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, compiled by Joseph Smith and Thomas W. Smith, and approved by General Conference action in 1876 and 1891. A Restoration Branch has three primary characteristics:
1. It has been organized by one or more priesthood members who trace their authority to the Reorganized Church.
2. Its membership is composed of six or more members who are in good standing and are under the pastoral charge of an elder, priest, teacher, or deacon. ("Elder" includes the offices of high priest, seventy, bishop.)
3. It preaches and practices the original tenets and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints originally founded April 6, 1830, by Joseph Smith, Jr., and perpetuated in the Reorganized Church by his son, Joseph Smith III, April 6, 1860.
A Restoration Branch has certain rights which include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. The right to elect its leadership;
2. The right to identify and police its membership;
3. The right to administer in the ordinances of the gospel as traditionally administered by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
4. The right to approve priesthood calls and ordain men limited to the offices of elder, priest, teacher, and deacon;
5. The right to conduct business relative to its particular area of operation;
6. The right to associate (or disassociate) in secondary and governmental organizations; and
7. The right of representation at conferences.
A Restoration Branch does not practice such doctrines as the ordination of women to priesthood offices, the serving of the sacrament to persons without authoritative baptisms, the ordaining of men to priesthood offices other than elder, priest, teacher, or deacon. Any branches previously associated with an organization which participated in such practices are encouraged to renounce the same in order to function as an independent Restoration Branch.
2. Representation of Restoration Branches. Each Restoration Branch shall be entitled to one (1) delegate.
3. Representation of Restoration Branch members. Each Restoration Branch shall be granted one (1) additional delegate for each 25 members or portion thereof listed in the branch's official membership list. Example: A properly organized Restoration Branch will be granted one (1) delegate, (preferably its branch president or other Melchisedec priesthood member) based on organization alone. An additional delegate will be allowed for its membership up to 25 members. One (1) more delegate will be allowed for each 25 members or portion thereof beyond the first 25 members. Thus, a branch of 35 members will be allowed 3 delegates.
4. Choosing of delegates. Restoration Branches shall be free to adopt rules to choose their representatives from among their membership.
5. Qualifications of delegates. The only qualifications for eligibility as a delegate to this Joint Conference of Branches shall be membership in good standing and enrollment in the Restoration Branch which is being represented.
6. Delegate votes. Properly seated delegates shall be designated by the conference Logistics Committee with a distinguishing badge and shall cast a vote equal to 25 individual member votes.
7. Certifying of Restoration Branches. Restoration Branches seeking representation in the Joint Conference of Branches must provide the following information to the Credentials Committee on or before November 10, 2005:
1. A brief history and/or by-laws which identify the official branch position regarding organization and practices;
2. A list of members certified by a branch officer, including names, contact information, date of baptism, and priesthood office and date of ordination, if applicable (other information such as date of birth and priesthood who performed a person's baptism or ordination would be helpful); and
3. An official delegate list as allowed by Rule #3 and certified by a branch officer. (A form is attached to assist in providing this information.)
Representation of Members
8. Membership qualifications. Participation by voice and vote in the conference is extended to all persons who have an authoritative baptism and are in good standing in the Church of Jesus Christ. An authoritative baptism can only be performed by a priest or elder who traces his priesthood and spiritual authority to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There can be no taint of the doctrine of women's ordination in his line of authority.
9. Certification of members of Restoration Branches. Restoration Branch members wishing to exercise their right to voice and vote shall be named on their respective branch's membership roster as provided to the Credentials Committee. If listed on an approved branch's membership list, members shall be considered to be in good standing and be granted voice and vote in the Conference.
10. Certification of unaffiliated members. Church members who are unaffiliated with a Restoration Branch or whose branch chooses not to seek representation at the conference may also exercise voice and vote by applying directly to the Credentials Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the individual member to provide adequate evidence of membership by either documentation (baptismal certificate, ordination certificate) or testimony from one or more valid, reliable witnesses. Application and evidence shall be made on or before November 10, 2005.
