fbpx The Plenum: Purpose and Membership | Page 2 | Reconstructing Judaism

The Plenum: Purpose and Membership

Article

What Is the Plenum?

The plenum of the Reconstructionist movement is a group of representatives from each affiliated congregation and havurah who discuss and share the issues of the day, both internal movement discussions and thoughts on the movement’s relationship to the world. In order to foster that kind of discussion, the goal is to create a stable group, where representatives stay engaged with the plenum for a couple of years or more.

Plenum members give input for and vote on various matters in the Reconstructionist movement. Examples of these issues include sharing their perspectives on issues of inclusivity and diversity, and voting to affirm candidates for special commissions.

The plenum meets for a business meeting at least two times per year — by video conference call — and has ongoing communications before, between, and after each meeting. 

Congregational Representatives

The plenum includes one representative from each affiliated congregation or havurah. This can be the current president, another officer, or another designated person. As noted above, the goal is that this person stay engaged with the plenum for at least a couple of years. 

Congregations can designate their representative by sending an email to Maurice Harris indicating their representative and their contact information. If no one has been designated in advance of the voting meeting, the staff of Reconstructing Judaism will assume that the congregation’s president will serve as the authorized representative to that meeting.

Non-Voting Members

There are several categories of non-voting, ex officio members of the plenum:

  • Rabbis of affiliated congregations
  • Chair of the RRC board of governors
  • Chair of the Jewish Reconstructionist Camping Corporation board
  • Chairs of the movement commissions (Youth and Education, Movement Growth and Financial Health, Tikkun Olam)

Business of the Plenum

Agenda items for plenum sessions will include (but are not limited to):

  1. Votes on public positions as recommended by the Tikkun Olam Commission, and policies of the Reconstructionist movement
  2. Positions are taken in response to larger world developments. They are externally oriented (e.g., gun control, hunger, immigration policy). The board of governors will also vote on positions, separately from the plenum. Both the plenum and the board must agree for something to become the official position of the Reconstructionist movement.
  3. Policies are internally directed and guide the practice and behavior of the Reconstructionist movement (e.g., patrilineal descent, egalitarian roles). The plenum, board of governors, and membership of the RRA must all approve a proposal for it to become a policy for the movement.
  4. Regular updates on movement priorities
  5. Regular reports from the Congregational Services Committee
  6. Reports as needed from the movement commissions: Youth and Education, Movement Growth and Financial Health, Tikkun Olam
  7. At every spring meeting, the RRC president will facilitate a discussion on emerging budget and program priorities of the central organization.

The plenum also has a role in electing leadership of the central movement organization:

  • The plenum elects its own chair, who serves as the chair of the Congregational Services Committee.
  • The plenum also elects a congregational representative for the Congregational Services Committee and one for the Movement Advisory Committee.
  • Finally, the plenum ratifies the board of governors slate for at-large governors and select ex officio governors, including the chairs of the movement commissions (Youth and Education, Movement Growth and Financial Health, Tikkun Olam).

More Questions? Frequently Asked Questions list is available here. 

Related Resources

News and Blogs

From Despair to Action

Rabbi Deborah Waxman reflects on the ways in which Reconstructing Judaism is strengthening the ways in which we support and connect Jewish communities traumatized by the recent surge in antisemitic attacks.

News

Session 5: Questions and Answers

Audience questions and answers at Reconstructing Jewish Communities panel

Article

Session 4: The Need to Wrestle with Difficult Issues

Rabbi Shira Stutman on Reconstructing Jewish Communities panel

Article

Session 3: The Need to Reconstruct Judaism Itself

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld on Reconstructing Jewish Communities panel

Article

Session 2: Redeveloping Congregational Identity So That Being Part Of The Congregation Makes Meaning

Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann on Reconstructing Jewish Communities panel

Article

Session 1: The Need for Progressive Jewish Communities to Reconstruct Themselves in This Era

Rabbi Sid Schwarz introducing Reconstructing Jewish Communities panel

Article
News and Blogs

What's Next?

Seth Rosen reflects on the successes of our 2018 convention and shares plans to build on it to strengthen our communities and movement.

News
News and Blogs

Havaya: Camp to Campus

A Camp Havaya alum reflects on the ways that her camp experience shaped her for the better.

News
News and Blogs

Joint Israel Commission Meets at Convention

The Joint Israel Commission gathered in person at the Reconstructing Judaism convention. Rabbi Maurice Harris reports on their activities and next steps. 

News
News and Blogs

Jewish Ethics, #MeToo, and Crowd-Sourced Responsa

In 5778, the hashtags #TimesUp #MeToo #GamAni sparked a broad communal conversation about abuses of power on the part of individuals and institutions, within and beyond the Jewish community. The year brought revelations of misconduct among celebrities and government officials, and in Jewish schools, organizations, and synagogues. Now, powerful people who abuse their power are being held accountable, and this is a development that is welcome and long overdue. That doesn’t mean it is easy.

News

The Founding of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

A history of the beginnings of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Article
News and Blogs

Atlanta Congregation to Share Its Passion for Music at Convention

The musical services at Congregation Bet Haverim are a phenomenon. This November, a contingent of more than 30 members of Bet Haverim’s chorus and band will be featured at the Reconstructing Judaism 2018 Convention in Philadelphia.

News
News and Blogs

Gathering Together

As we continue to develop new ways to build community across time and distance, we must also continue to find ways to “be there” for one another.

News
News and Blogs

The Poor People’s Campaign, a National Call for Moral Revival

The RRA recently became a partner of the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC). In the last two weeks the PPC has coordinated rallies and acts of civil disobedience in over 30 state capitals, including the participation of over 15 RRA members. 

News
News and Blogs

Drawing Comfort from Community

Belonging connects us to something larger than our own individual experience. I belong to the Jewish people because claiming this connection enters me into a millennia-old conversation and joins me into community both vertical—all those who came before me and all those who follow—and horizontal—the Jews of today, in all our diversity.

News