The following three (3) proposed amendments are presented for consideration at the 2026 Session of the Rio Texas Annual Conference:
Amendment 1: Uniting Table At-Large Membership to Include Extension Ministry
Amend Standing Rule 1: Uniting Table by adding the following:
One of the seven (7) members at large will be an elder or deacon in full connection serving in extension ministries or appointment beyond the local church setting.
Rationale: This proposal ensures representation for clergy serving in extension ministries, who are sometimes underrepresented due to the distinct nature of their settings. Their work beyond the local church offers valuable insight into engaging both church members and the broader community, strengthening the conference's shared ministry.
Amendment 2: Caretaker of God's Creation Coordinator
Amend Standing Rule 5: Transforming Communities Vision Team by adding the following:
The Peace with Justice Coordinator and Caretaker of God's Creation Coordinator shall also be members. The board shall name the Peace with Justice Coordinator and a Caretaker of God's Creation Coordinator who will each serve on both the Transforming Communities Vision Team and the Board of Church and Society.
Rationale: The Caretaker of God's Creation Coordinator is listed in BOD ¶628. This addition helps to place this position within the Rio Texas Conference structure.
Amendment 3: Process for Resolutions and Proposals
Clarifying how resolutions and proposals are submitted to and brought before the Annual Conference.
Summary and Rationale: These amendments address two governance gaps. First, while the Vision Teams function as conference agencies in practice—receiving funding from the Annual Conference budget, being accountable to the Annual Conference, and carrying out disciplinary functions—the Standing Rules do not explicitly identify them as conference agencies, creating ambiguity about their standing to bring resolutions directly to the Annual Conference. Second, the current rules require that resolutions pass through the Uniting Table for recommendation but do not ensure the Uniting Table acts on every resolution in a timely manner. At General Conference, every petition referred to a legislative committee must be acted upon and reported back to the plenary; the same principle should apply to the Uniting Table.
Amendment 3.1: Vision Teams as Conference Agencies
Amend Standing Rule 1 (Uniting Table) by adding a new paragraph 1(f):
f. The Uniting Table and each of the four Vision Teams (Uniting Peoples, Vitalizing Congregations, Developing Leaders, and Transforming Communities) are conference agencies of the Río Texas Conference. As conference agencies, the Vision Teams shall have standing to bring resolutions, proposals, and reports directly to the Annual Conference for action or information, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Standing Rules 16 and 17. Each Vision Team may authorize the submission of resolutions and proposals by vote of its membership, and such submissions shall be treated as actions of a conference agency for purposes of the Annual Conference agenda.
Amendment 3.2: Agency Resolutions Distinguished from Non-Agency Resolutions
Amend Standing Rule 16 by inserting after the first sentence:
Resolutions and proposals originating from a conference agency—including the Uniting Table, the four Vision Teams, and the Administrative Agencies listed in Rule 6—may be submitted directly to the Annual Conference and are not required to be forwarded to the Uniting Table for recommendation prior to inclusion in the Pre-Conference Report. A conference agency may, at its discretion, request that the Uniting Table review a resolution or proposal, but is not obligated to do so. All resolutions and proposals that are forwarded to the Uniting Table—whether from non-agency sources as required below, or from conference agencies by voluntary referral—shall be acted upon by the Uniting Table in accordance with the procedures and deadlines established in this rule. Resolutions and proposals originating from individuals, local churches, districts, or other non-agency sources shall be forwarded to the Uniting Table for recommendation as provided below.
Amendment 3.3: Uniting Table Obligation to Act on Non-Agency Resolutions
Amend Standing Rule 16, replacing "All Resolutions or Proposals shall also be forwarded to the Uniting Table for recommendation" with:
All resolutions and proposals from non-agency sources shall be forwarded to the Uniting Table for recommendation. The Uniting Table shall provide a written recommendation of concurrence, non-concurrence, or referral for every resolution or proposal forwarded to it—whether required by this rule or voluntarily referred by a conference agency. The Uniting Table shall act on all pending resolutions and proposals no later than 105 days before the Annual Conference session. If the Uniting Table does not have a regularly scheduled meeting within the period between its receipt of a resolution and this deadline, the chairperson shall convene a special meeting—which may be held by electronic means—for the purpose of considering all pending resolutions and proposals. Failure of the Uniting Table to provide a recommendation by the deadline shall not prevent a resolution or proposal that otherwise complies with these rules from being included in the Pre-Conference Report; in such cases, the Pre-Conference Report shall note that no recommendation was received from the Uniting Table.
Amendment 3.4: Conforming Change to Rule 17
Amend Standing Rule 17(b) to read:
b. for non-agency resolutions and proposals, been reviewed by the Uniting Table with a recommendation of concurrence, non-concurrence, and/or disposition. If the Uniting Table has not provided a recommendation due to scheduling constraints, the chairperson shall convene a special meeting—which may be held by electronic means—to consider the late-submitted resolution prior to the Annual Conference session;
Effective Date
If adopted, these amendments shall take effect immediately upon adoption by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Annual Conference, in accordance with Standing Rule 27.
Errata (June 10): Amendment 4 — Finance Team
The Committee on Standing Rules recommends the following correction to the proposed Standing Rules amendments:
Amendment 4
Section 6.a – Finance Team
Strike the final two lines establishing a Personnel Committee within the Finance Team structure.
There shall be a Finance Table whose function is defined in BOD ¶¶611-627, and which will fulfill all references in the Book of Discipline to the Council on Finance and Administration.
…There shall also be a Personnel Committee to carry out those functions of the Finance Table in BOD ¶613.13. There shall be four (4) members of the Personnel Committee plus a representative of the Finance Table and a district superintendent.
Rationale: The Personnel Committee provision was added during the formation of the Río Texas Conference. After review, the standing rules committee has determined that this provision no longer reflects the current organizational structure or operational practices of the conference and is not required by the Book of Discipline. Responsibilities related to minimum compensation and associated personnel-related financial recommendations continue to be carried out by the Finance Team as part of its ongoing work.
The Committee on Standing Rules respectfully requests adoption of the report as amended by this errata.
(Spanish errata pending.)