In February of this year, leaders of all Tres Dias communities received announcements of two new position papers and one best practices paper. These publications were developed by the International Secretariat’s Policy Committee in response to questions from local communities. Position papers state policies that must be complied with. Best practices papers recommend practices that communities may wish to adopt.

The first position paper, titled “Scriptural Basis for the Qualifications for Community Leadership,” provides scriptural documentation for the Qualifications of Community Leadership. All communities are required to include the Qualifications of Community Leadership as well as the Tres Dias Statement of Belief in their bylaws.

This position paper includes a statement regarding clergy who perform same-sex marriages in their congregations. Clergy should be held to an even higher standard than lay leaders, the paper says, and clergy who perform same-sex marriages are not eligible to serve on weekend teams.

The second position paper outlines a process in which foreign communities may change the words in non-core Tres Dias documents when those words carry connotations different from the intended meaning in American English.

A best practices paper offers guidelines for responding to a convicted felon who, having returned to society, asks to serve on team.

To read these documents, go to www.tresdias.org, then resources, then community resources, or use this link: Policy Papers.

Attention Community Presidents and Chairpersons

March 1 was the deadline for completing the Annual Census and Community Survey. This survey asks for the information you need to submit to maintain your community’s charter. If you have not completed this task, please do so as soon as possible. For a month-to-month guide for responding to TDI requests and for getting the most benefits from TDI, use this link: A Guide for Leaders of Local Secretariats.