RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
Charter

Article I: Committee Ministry Description
The Resolutions Committee assists the Continental Council in overseeing the process of soliciting, drafting, reviewing, and recommending resolutions that reflect the mission, vision, and values of the AABF. These resolutions shall be timely and impactful by addressing significant theological, social, and global issues impacting Baptists and the broader world. In a covenanted ecclesiology of shared transformation in Christ, shared relationship, and shared mission, resolutions adopted by the All Africa Baptist Fellowship (AABF) reflect a global discernment of the mind of Christ and aim for unity in diversity within this covenantal ecclesiology. As a reflection of a process of global and communal discernment of the mind of Christ pursuing participatory unity, pastoral presence, and prophetic witness, resolutions adopted by the AABF will shape and guide the practice of the AABF as an organized movement as well as those representing the AABF as an organized continental communion.

Article II: Committee Responsibilities
1. Prayerfully celebrate and humbly speak about the work of the Lord within the continent and beyond, within the AABF, and through the AABF family – including through Member Bodies, Ministry Partners, churches, and individuals – in participatory unity, pastoral presence, and prophetic witness in the fulfillment of God’s mission throughout the continent and beyond.
2. Review and refine the timeline and process maintained by the AABF to receive and/or develop resolutions for consideration by the Continental Council and ensure all aspects of the process seek to reflect and honor our diversity in the framework of a unified continental mission.
3. Prayerfully discern and develop resolutions that align with the Biblical witness, mission, and values of the AABF.
4. Review and refine proposed resolutions, ensuring clarity, theological soundness, and practical applicability.
5. Engage with AABF Member Bodies, Ministry Partners, and other relevant leaders to gather insight and input in the development of resolutions.
6. Present recommended resolutions to the Continental Council for final deliberation and adoption.
7. Guide the dissemination of adopted resolutions, including engagement with AABF Member Bodies, Ministry Partners, and external stakeholders.
8. Collaborate with the AABF Team to facilitate discussions and educational opportunities related to key resolutions.
9. The Resolutions Committee may use subcommittees as needed to fulfill committee responsibilities and make recommendations to the full Resolutions Committee. Subcommittees should include the Resolutions Committee Chair, the designated AABF team member, and normally at least three additional Resolutions Committee members. Subcommittees should seek to reflect the AABF commitment to unity in godliness, geography, gender, generation, and giftedness.
10. The Resolutions Committee Chair, by virtue of office, will be a member of the Continental Leadership Council.

Article III: Operating Procedures
1. The Committee will operate according to all relevant operating provisions and procedures outlined in the AABF Bylaws, this Charter, and any additional guidance established by the AABF Continental Leadership Council or the AABF Executive President/CEO.
2. Each Committee Member will serve according to the AABF Covenant of Service, and any other requirements determined by the Continental Leadership Council or the AABF Executive President/CEO.
3. The Committee will normally meet at least twice per year and as needed to finalize responsibilities. These meetings will normally be held virtually though at times may be held in person.
4. The Committee will meet upon the call of the Committee Chair or the designated AABF team member.
5. The agenda for meetings will be developed by the Committee Chair and the designated AABF team member.
6. Minutes will be taken by the designated AABF team member, or a Committee Member, in collaboration with the Committee Chair and the designated AABF team member. The AABF team member will ensure minutes are appropriately stored and maintained by the AABF.
7. In the absence of the Committee Chair, the designated AABF team member may serve as the facilitator and/or presenter.
8. All resolutions to be considered by the Continental Council must be first proposed to the Resolutions Committee or originated by the Resolutions Committee.
9. To best honor and reflect our unity in diversity, all active AABF Member Bodies in good standing; members of the Continental Council, Continental Leadership Council, and Trustee Committee; and AABF Committees and Commissions and their members can submit resolution drafts for consideration by the committee.
10. In questions of uncertainty as to how an adopted resolution may supersede previous resolutions or is to shape and guide the practice of the AABF as an organized movement, the Continental Leadership Council will provide final guidance and determination with a goal of upholding the overall wellbeing of the AABF.
11. All proposed resolutions submitted to the Resolutions Committee become the property of the committee, which may edit, amend, rewrite, combine with another resolution, or decline to move a proposed resolution forward.
12. To help shape the discernment process:
A. All resolutions being proposed for consideration by the Resolutions Committee must be submitted by March 15 according to the process established by the AABF. Resolutions submitted after that date will not be considered in that year but, at the discretion of the Resolutions Committee, may be considered in subsequent year(s).
B. The Resolutions Committee may choose at its own discretion to consider resolutions between the submission deadline and the AABF Annual Gathering / Continental Council meeting should it be warranted by more immediate circumstances.
C. There will typically be three presentations of each resolution to the AABF Continental Council. Presentations can be circulated and considered in formats such as, but not limited to, electronically, email, website posting, posted within a relevant app, printed, orally, or posted to a public display at an AABF Annual Gathering / Continental Council meeting. Each presentation can be in the same or in a different format and can be done in full or in part in the weeks prior to the AABF Continental Council meeting, at the Annual Gathering / Continental Council meeting, or a combination thereof. Presentations can be made by the Resolutions Committee or by the AABF on behalf of the Resolutions Committee. The exact timing and processes for the presentation will be determined by the AABF Executive President/CEO.
D. After each of the first two presentations, members of the Continental Council may offer suggested changes to be considered and potentially incorporated by the Resolutions Committee. During the final presentation, members of the Continental Council may amend the resolution prior to voted consideration by the Continental Council.
E. After a resolution is adopted, the AABF Executive President/CEO in consultation with the AABF Chairman and Resolutions Committee Chair may make slight edits in areas such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting which will be implemented by the AABF team.
F. All adopted resolutions will be maintained by the AABF in a consistent format and manner.
13. The Committee may decide to develop an additional Operational Guide. The Operational Guide, and any changes to the Operational Guide, must be approved by the AABF Executive President/CEO and cannot replace, change, or contradict anything within the AABF Bylaws or this Charter. The Operational Guide will be stored and maintained by the AABF.

Article IV: Committee Membership
1. The Resolutions Committee, inclusive of a Resolutions Committee Chair, shall have not less than six members and no more than fifteen members and should have the background and experience to meaningfully discern the focus and content of Resolutions developed and adopted by the AABF.
2. The AABF Chairman, AABF Executive President/CEO, and AABF Historian are ex-officio voting members of the Committee.
3. The Committee will also work closely and collaboratively with an AABF team member designated by the AABF Executive President/CEO.
4. Each Committee Member, including the Committee Chair, will serve according to the AABF Covenant of Service and any other requirements determined by the Continental Leadership Council or the AABF Executive President/CEO.

Article V: Committees Generally (Excerpted from BWA Bylaws Article VII.1)
1. The Continental Leadership Council may establish one or more standing committees as needed or required to assist them in providing excellence in governance and mission achievement. The standing committees shall include, but not limited to, the Awards Committee, Membership Committee, Nominations Committee, and Resolutions Committee. The Continental Leadership Council may establish other committees or standing committees whose length and purpose are determined by the Continental Leadership Council.
2. Committee Chairs are members of the Continental Leadership Council by virtue of office subject to the provisions in these Bylaws.
3. The Continental Leadership Council will determine the authority and responsibility of each committee. In standing committees, this will be set forth in a Committee Charter approved by the Continental Leadership Council. The Charter will identify values, principles, tasks and desired outcomes, committee size, frequency of meetings, and other relevant details. Committees will include people based on the AABF commitment to godliness and diversity in geography, gender, and generation, while also ensuring giftedness in the specific skills or expertise helpful to the committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.
4. Core committee members are defined as those individuals approved when the committee is either established or continued for a new Quinquennium. Additional committee members may be added through consultation between the Executive President (or the Executive President’s designated representative) and the relevant Committee Chair. Should a new Committee Chair or Vice Chair need to be appointed, this may be done through consultation between the AABF Chairman, AABF Vice Chairman, Executive President, and the remaining Committee Chair or Vice Chair.
5. A record of all committee meetings, including any decisions taken, shall be produced and copies of such records shall be maintained by the AABF. As necessitated, committees will present a report and make recommendations to the Continental Leadership Council on matters requiring Continental Leadership Council approval, or where relevant, to the Continental Council.