If the assembly wishes to decline to take a position on a main motion that cannot be either adopted or expressly rejected, what should it do?

When an assembly wishes to decline to take a position on a main motion in a way that allows the matter to be set aside without making an affirmative or negative decision, the appropriate course of action is to postpone the motion indefinitely. This action effectively removes the motion from consideration, allowing the assembly to avoid taking a formal stance on the issue.

Postponing indefinitely serves as a way to acknowledge that the assembly may wish to revisit the topic at a later time without committing to a definitive vote. This approach allows members to move on to other business while keeping the door open for future discussion or further consideration of the motion if desired at another time.

The other options do not fulfill this need: adopting the motion would result in a definitive acceptance of its merits, while amending it suggests a desire to modify rather than decline the motion wholly. Tabling the motion implies a temporary set-aside while planning to return to it later, but it does not convey the same level of disinterest or refusal to address the matter in the present. In contrast, postponing indefinitely clearly indicates that the assembly prefers not to take any immediate action regarding the main motion.