What is a delegate?

Synod is the most important decision making body of the Moravian Church.  The Provincial Synod has the supreme legislative power of the Province in all things not committed to the Unity Synod. It shall consist of elected delegates and official members; it shall determine the qualification of its own members; it shall prescribe what bodies shall be entitled to representation, and on what basis, and in what manner to be elected Their work sets the direction for the Church for the next four years. Good decisions can unify and cement Churches together in Christ.  Poor decisions can divide Churches and members from each other and from Christ.

Delegates have been nominated and voted into their positions by congregations and or agencies to act as their delegates.  Delegates according to Webster’s Dictionary are:  Delegate; to send with a commission,  One sent and empowered to act for another; a deputy; a representative. One commissioned to represent others, as in a convention.

This definition clearly specifies that delegates should understand and represent the concerns or positions of their congregations or agencies to synod.

As delegates gathered at various pre-synod preparation meetings around the Southern Province they were given a different definition for their role as delegate.

At the First meeting Rev Neil Routh stressed that Delegates are not to be bound to representing their Congregation or agency. They are not representatives and should not feel compelled to bring any issues or concerns from their congregations. 

The differences between delegates and representatives were emphasized in the following power point frame presented by Rev Routh.  

Rev Routh reminded delegates again at the second meeting that they are not to be bound  as a representative of their Congregation or Agency.  Instead they should come to Synod ready to dialogue with other Delegates and be lead by the Holy Spirit. 

I must confess I do not know where Rev Routh got his definition but I did try to find out. 

I found this communication from the DPC and PEC to the churches in a pamphlet titled "What it is all about?". Underlined emphasis was included  by the Province in the original document.

Congregations are encouraged to elect delegates from various age groups. While congregations elect representatives from among their members, delegates are not bound by instructions from their constituents and should vote according to their own convictions. 

Also:

From the 2002 Book of Order Chapter V The Province Sec. 403 

 In representing the interest of their electors of their office, members of synod must not lose sight of the interest of the Province and of the Unity as a whole. Members of a synod vote according to their own conviction and are not bound by instructions of their constituents given beforehand.

I believe the statement from the Book of Order holds the key to understanding how the incorrect definition might have evolved.  It is important that one carefully reads the entire statement and not simply lift the last sentence. One should conclude that Sec. 403 is stating that the primary task should be representing the interest of the electors keeping in mind the interest of the Province and the Unity as a whole.

I must be quick to confess I bought into this hook line and sinker. I even reflected this misunderstanding in some of the postings on this web site. It was not until I was discussing this with another delegate that the accuracy of the definition by the DPC was questioned.

I would encourage delegates to reassess their approach to being a delegate especially since a major number of congregational responses calling for an affirmation of the authority of scripture and its message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone was not  included in the new Delegate Preparation Committee questionnaire. If you as a delegate are convinced that a delegate is not a representative (One commissioned to represent others) you may be lead to believe you are not required to represent those views from your congregation that were not expressed in the new survey.

Delegates must understand that taking on the responsibility of representative will require much more work. They must seek out opinions from their fellow members, their boards and their local congregational leaders in order to establish what opinions and visions they are to represent at synod.

I simply find it quite amazing how understandings of written statements can evolve. This may be a very good example of how we cannot look to evolving statements produced by synod as the bases for writing theological statements.  (Whatever expressions of theology and doctrine come from a synod, that they should clear1y stand within the framework of Synod statements of our common faith the; Moravian Covenant for Christian Living and the Ground of the Unity? -From the new DPC questionnaire)  As dangerous as some seem to think it is we must continue our Moravian vigilance to affirm scripture as the source of our doctrine, faith and life (practice).