Constituents of the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference have come together to raise awareness about an important matter regarding the upcoming Regular Constituency Session.
The Conference, which has a quadrennial bylaw, has traditionally held this session every four years to elect Officers and Departmental Directors. However, concerns have arisen as the session, seemingly, planned for 2025 contradicts the Conference Constitution and Bylaws. This article aims to shed light on the concerns and emphasize the need for adherence to the established guidelines. The 2020 delegates, who were the last officially elected representatives, feel a sense of duty to communicate the concerns, adhere to the constitution bylaws, and encourage their leaders to do the same.
Lack of Information and Discussion
When the Ark-La Conference Executive Committee received their 2024 calendar, it became apparent that no information was listed regarding the 2024 Constituency Meeting or the necessary preparation schedule. Furthermore, there have been no discussions thus far about the regularly scheduled 2024 Constituency meeting. It is important to note that organizing such a significant event requires months of planning, including the announcement of the date and securing a suitable venue. The absence of any mention or planning raises concerns among constituents about the transparency and commitment to the Constitution Bylaws.
The Importance of Constitution Bylaws
The quadrennial bylaw of the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference, similar to many other Conferences, states that a Regular Constituency Session should be held every four years. This provision ensures the democratic process of electing leaders to serve a four-year term. However, the postponement of the 2020 Constituency Session due to the COVID-19 pandemic did not automatically reset the quadrennial cycle (their 2020 Constituency meeting was held in 2021). A motion to amend the bylaws did not occur, implying that the next Constituency Session should be held in 2024. It is important to respect and uphold the Constitution Bylaws to maintain church governance and Conference policies.
Comparison with the General Conference
The General Conference, which operates on a five-year cycle, faced a similar situation with the postponement of their 2020 session to 2022. However, the recommendations and voted actions confirmed the maintenance of the five-year cycle, with the next session still scheduled for 2025. It is worth noting that the five-year cycle was not reset in 2022, demonstrating the importance of continuity and adherence to established schedules. The Arkansas-Louisiana Conference constituents argue that there were no recommendations or voted actions to alter the four-year cycle, making the absence of a planned 2024 Constituency Session concerning.
The Petition as a Tool for Change
In response to these concerns, an open letter has been prepared and sent to the Conference Officers, Executive Committee members, the Southwestern Union Officers, and the North American Division (NAD). The conference officers are: Elder Richard C. Dye, Sr., President of the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference and Jeff Villegas, Secretary and Public Affairs, and Rodney Dyke, Treasurer.
[Editor’s note: Richard Dye earned the respect of Fulcrum7 in December, 2021 for pushing back against the unconstitutional Biden vaccine mandate—something that all SDA Conferences in the United States should have done, but lacked the courage. (His courage was vindicated after a federal judge found the mandate unconstitutional)].
The letter urges the decision-makers to honor the will of the constituents and ensure that the next Regular Constituency Session is held in 2024. The petition represents a unified voice of the constituents, emphasizing the significance of sticking to the Constitution Bylaws and maintaining transparency and accountability within the Conference. The next scheduled Executive Committee is early February 2024. Our hope is that this petition will help all involved see the need to adhere to the bylaws.
Conclusion
The constituents of the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference are raising awareness about the need to adhere to the Constitution Bylaws in scheduling the Regular Constituency Session. The absence of information and discussions regarding the 2024 meeting has sparked concerns about the Conference's commitment to transparency and democratic processes. By utilizing the petition as a tool for change, constituents hope to convey the importance of upholding the established guidelines and ensuring that the next Constituency Session takes place in 2024.
We hope that Conference Officers and Executive Committee will address these concerns and prioritize the voice and will of the constituents in their decision-making process.
A petition has been created at: change.org/arkla-2024
Constituents can email the president, Richard Dye at: rdye@arklac.org
Southwestern Union president, Carlos Craig at: president@swuc.org
Southwestern Union secretary, Stephen Brooks at: secretary@swuc.org
Thank you,
Arkansas-Louisiana Conference Constituents
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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).