The saying "the opera ain't over until the fat lady sings" has a General Assembly equivalent: "the assembly ain't over until the YAD cries." The crying YAD appeared around 11 p.m. Friday night, during the Health Issues (i.e., abortion policy) report. To be fair, we don't want to trivialize the YAD's deeply held feelings, but a long week of near-sleepless nights, a late night debate on an emotional issue after a full day of business, and a nervous 17-year old speaking before a large audience are necessarily going to result in tears. I don't know who the crying YAD was, or even what position she was advocating, but when the YAD cries you know "GA Theater" (how old do you have to be to get that pun?) is nearing the end of the show.
And the show did end, Saturday morning at about 10:45 a.m. local time. The only Saturday action item was the approval of the GA per capita apportionment for the next two years, which was set at $6.15, up from $5.79 in 2006. Put in perspective, the increase constitutes a 6.2% total increase, which is an adjustment of 4.5% to offset membership loss, and an increase of 1.7%, or about 8/10 of 1% per year over the two year period. Even the 6.2% figure is below the rate of inflation. You can't say the commissioners were spendthrifts.
The rest of the morning were the obligatory, ceremonial thank-you's, farewells, and see-you-in-two-years remarks. The surprise highlight was a delightfully self-deprecating video from the Minneapolis assembly local arrangements committee inviting folks to the 2010 Assembly.
So now begins the process of interpretation of the Assembly's actions, and the misstatements are already piling up. The headline of "Presbyweb" -- a daily, subscription-only, compilation of Presbyterian and religious news and opinions says "Divided assembly lifts ban on ordination of gays and lesbians," which is just plain false. A click on the link to the Presbyterian Outlook article shows the actual headline to be, "Divided assembly approves referendum on ordination of gays and lesbians." That's a big difference. Meanwhile, I have been told that the staff in the Office of Constitutional Services will begin work Monday on "Advisory Opinions" on matters coming out of this assembly. If you recall two years ago, it took three tries for the Stated Clerk's office finally to interpret the PUP authoritative interpretation correctly. I hope they do better this time. Meanwhile, my own task of interpretation starts Sunday morning at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Boulder.
I want to report that our Presbytery delegation of Elders Joe Tunner and Sylvia Dooling, Minister Stephen Roosa, and YAD Kelsey Day served us well. (Minister Wayne Nickerson was unable to attend due to a family emergency.) We will meet soon to plan how best to share the assembly experience and decisions with the presbytery.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
General Assembly Summary - Day Seven
It is currently 11:30 p.m. on Friday, and the General Assembly is still in session trying to wrap up its final committee reports. This has been a history-making day in our denomination, but somehow the Assembly seems unaware of its significance. Yesterday I termed this the "deferring" Assembly; today I think it may more aptly be named the "sleeping" Assembly. The commissioners always seem to be three steps behind the moderator (resulting in what has to be a record number of motions for reconsideration); action items that one might think would be sure to generate floor debate pass unanimously; and moments of genuine significance are met with dead silence. Even the debate on the most heated items seems muted. I am not alone among veteran Assembly observers in surprise at the apparent complacency of this Assembly.
However, the momentous events of this day will not go unnoticed here:
However, the momentous events of this day will not go unnoticed here:
- The Rev. Gradye Parsons was elected Stated Clerk of the General Assembly (the highest continuing office in the denomination), filling the opening at Clifton Kirkpatrick's retirement. Gradye is well known to GA insiders, but perhaps not so well known around the denomination. Gradye has served as Associate Stated Clerk in Louisville for many years, after having previously served as a pastor and then as Executive Presbyter in Holston Presbytery in Appalachian Tennessee. Gradye exuded his typical low-key personality, dry wit, deep thought, and spiritual passion during the hour-long examination by commissioners this morning. While Gradye was the first choice of GA loyalists and most progressives, he has strong conservative credentials as well, and is the first Stated Clerk to have graduated from evangelical Gordon-Conwell Seminary. In his address to the Assembly, his first act was to look into the TV camera, wave his hand, and with a big grin say, "Hi, Mom!" Gradye won on the first ballot with 57% of the vote. Vote totals for the other three candidates ranged from 3 - 25%.
- The rest of the morning was taken with the report on Church Orders and Ministry, which was handling the "PUP II" overtures and "G-6.0106b" overtures. The votes on these items followed a very consistent 54-46 split in favor of the progressive positions. This wasn't a case of "lockstep" organization so much as it is the mix of commissioners at this Assembly. Conversations with a key liberal organizer indicated that the progressive organizations are as surprised at the vote counts as are the rest of the denomination. Among the actions, sure to spark controversy in the church, are the approval of an amended Authoritative Interpretation of G-6.0108 which attempts to re-open the possibility of "local option" in the examination of candidates (but, see the analysis below). Also, the presbyteries will be voting on new language for the "fidelity and chastity" provision of the Book of Order (G-6.0106b) again this year. This is the third time around for this vote. A full analysis of the major decisions is found in the special posting below.
- The afternoon was taken up with "Peacemaking and International Issues" which was anything but peaceable. Significant debate -- perhaps the most intense of the Assembly -- was had over policy advocacy in matters concerning Israel and Palestine. Ultimately, the Assembly adopted the committee's recommendations (big surprise), which fairly well reiterate the current position of the denomination, and rejected a "hands off" policy alternative.
- The Polity Committee, which seemed to have the most diverse business of any committee, presented a recommendation to disapprove Overture 04-08 from the Presbytery of Baltimore, which would have sent amendments to the presbyteries to change the definition of marriage in the Directory for Worship so as to include same-sex marriages. After considerable debate (divided by the dinner break), the Assembly agreed with the committee and rejected the overture overwhelmingly.
Some highlights, lowlights, and sidelights:
- This Assembly marks the terminus of the 12 year service of Cliff Kirkpatrick as Stated Clerk. He was elected in 1996, the year G-6.0106b was approved by the GA; he leaves in the year its replacement was sent to the presbyteries. But the two assemblies could not otherwise be more different. The intense conflict and prolonged demonstrations evident in 1996 were nowhere to be seen today. When the John Knox overture passed, there was not a single clap of applause, not a groan of disappointment to be heard. Perhaps we have matured; perhaps we have just grown older and tired.
- The Assembly passed unawares a potentially embarrassing action from the Polity Committee. Item 04-18 was a request for clarification of the meaning of the action of the 217th Assembly in adopting an amendment requiring synod representation on all GA level committees. Rather than adopt the ACC advice, the committee instead recommended answering the question with the advice from 2006. Only, that advice answered an overture, not a request for interpretation, and was based on an entirely different version of the provision in question. The committee sought to use the remedy suggested in 2006, and passed on amendments to the Book of Order to address the representation issue. But the rest of the advice is essentially meaningless, and if the amendments don't pass, we'll have to issue new advice in 2010 on the same question. [I disavow responsibility for the committee's actions as I was resourcing a different committee when this occurred. I brought the mistake to the attention of the committee leadership, and rather than go through an awkward amendment on the Assembly floor, it was decided to leave it as is to be fixed next Assembly if need be.]
- Finally, my vote for the Theology and Civics Award goes to the YAD who argued in favor of allowing gay marriage with the argument, "we have a constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness." If you don't see the humor in that, check out the U.S. Constitution. Or, the Declaration of Independence. No one said you needed to have passed a civics course to be a YAD, or a commissioner, for that matter.
Tomorrow, the Assembly will meet for worship, then address budgetary matters (to see how much effect the Assembly's actions will have on the 2009 and 2010 per capita amounts). Then we are off to our respective homes to try to make sense of this "sleeping" Assembly to those who sleep in the pews.
P.S. Adjournment tonight was at 11:38 p.m. (And I had midnight in the pool!)
Special Post on Sexuality and Ordination Actions
I will add my daily summary posting later, but for now I want to inform you about actions taken by the 218th General Assembly regarding sexuality and ordination.
WARNING: As with all actions of the Assembly, the result is more complex and nuanced than can be adequately communicated in news media, either secular or religious. So please do not jump to conclusions about the content or the effect of any action until you have had the opportunity to fully research the action based on facts rather than opinion.
The 218th General Assembly has taken four actions in two items of business which significantly affect the church's standards for office and the examination of candidates for ordination.
The first of these was an overture from the Presbytery of John Knox (located in parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota) which amended the Authoritative Interpretation on G-6.0108 issued by the last General Assembly in response to Recommendation 5 of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. By a vote of 375-325 (53%-47%) the Assembly adopted the following language:
ordination and installation of persons who refuse to repent of any practice the confessions call sin remains in effect. The change has the appearance of reversing by Assembly action the claim in a recent PJC ruling (Bush) that the fidelity and chastity standard is not subject to "scrupling" (i.e., a
request for approval of a departure from a standard). Of course, I thought that Bush missed the point anyway, in that it focused on the second sentence of G-6.0106b rather than the third sentence in the decision. The third sentence is where the stronger case for obstruction of constitutional governance (based on G-6.0108a) can be made, since it binds the actions of a governing body, to which freedom of conscience does not apply.
While it is obvious that the intent of 05-12 is to amend the Constitution by authoritative interpretation, rather than by the vote of the presbyteries (the only constitutional method), it is unclear that the amendment will accomplish what its drafters hope it will. Not only does it fail to address the limits on the rights of ordaining bodies set in the third sentence, it fails to recognize the distinction between approving an examination (addressed in the AI) and conducting an ordination (not addressed). For example, assume that polygamy is a federal offense. Even if a state should permit polygamous unions, and might even issue a legal marriage license, it might still be a crime to enter a polygamous marriage. By analogy, even if a presbytery might choose to approve the examination of someone who "refuses to repent" of a "self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin," it might still be an irregularity for the presbytery to ordain the person.
The above notwithstanding, the constitutional ground for those who want to enforce G-6.0106b as constitutionally binding is shrinking.
The other actions were part of a single recommendation on Overture 05-09 from Boston Presbytery. The second called for a vote of the presbyteries on a constitutional amendment to G-6.0106b (the “fidelity and chastity” provision) that would substitute new language for the current formulation. Specifically, if approved by the presbyteries, the new G-6.0106b would read:
WARNING: As with all actions of the Assembly, the result is more complex and nuanced than can be adequately communicated in news media, either secular or religious. So please do not jump to conclusions about the content or the effect of any action until you have had the opportunity to fully research the action based on facts rather than opinion.
The 218th General Assembly has taken four actions in two items of business which significantly affect the church's standards for office and the examination of candidates for ordination.
The first of these was an overture from the Presbytery of John Knox (located in parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota) which amended the Authoritative Interpretation on G-6.0108 issued by the last General Assembly in response to Recommendation 5 of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. By a vote of 375-325 (53%-47%) the Assembly adopted the following language:
The 218th General Assembly (2008) affirms the authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108 approved by the 217th General Assembly (2006). Further, the 218th General Assembly (2008), pursuant to G-13.0112, interprets the requirements of G-6.0108 to apply equally to all ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Section G-6.0108 requires examining bodies to give prayerful and careful consideration, on an individual, case-by-case basis, to any departure from an ordination standard in matters of belief or practice that a candidate may declare during examination. However, the examining body is not required to accept a departure from standards, and cannot excuse a candidate’s inability to perform the constitutional functions unique to his or her office (such as administration of the sacraments).A careful reading of this AI shows that it really changes only one element of the final product of the 2006 assembly: namely, that examining bodies are free, if they choose, to treat the second sentence of G-6.0106b (the “fidelity and chastity” sentence) as they do to other standards in evaluating persons being examined. All other elements of the AI remain unchanged, and no element of G-6.0106b has been altered. For example, the third sentence which prohibits the
ordination and installation of persons who refuse to repent of any practice the confessions call sin remains in effect. The change has the appearance of reversing by Assembly action the claim in a recent PJC ruling (Bush) that the fidelity and chastity standard is not subject to "scrupling" (i.e., a
request for approval of a departure from a standard). Of course, I thought that Bush missed the point anyway, in that it focused on the second sentence of G-6.0106b rather than the third sentence in the decision. The third sentence is where the stronger case for obstruction of constitutional governance (based on G-6.0108a) can be made, since it binds the actions of a governing body, to which freedom of conscience does not apply.
While it is obvious that the intent of 05-12 is to amend the Constitution by authoritative interpretation, rather than by the vote of the presbyteries (the only constitutional method), it is unclear that the amendment will accomplish what its drafters hope it will. Not only does it fail to address the limits on the rights of ordaining bodies set in the third sentence, it fails to recognize the distinction between approving an examination (addressed in the AI) and conducting an ordination (not addressed). For example, assume that polygamy is a federal offense. Even if a state should permit polygamous unions, and might even issue a legal marriage license, it might still be a crime to enter a polygamous marriage. By analogy, even if a presbytery might choose to approve the examination of someone who "refuses to repent" of a "self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin," it might still be an irregularity for the presbytery to ordain the person.
The above notwithstanding, the constitutional ground for those who want to enforce G-6.0106b as constitutionally binding is shrinking.
The other actions were part of a single recommendation on Overture 05-09 from Boston Presbytery. The second called for a vote of the presbyteries on a constitutional amendment to G-6.0106b (the “fidelity and chastity” provision) that would substitute new language for the current formulation. Specifically, if approved by the presbyteries, the new G-6.0106b would read:
Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.This will be the third time the language of G-6.0106b will be put to the presbyteries for adoption, removal, or replacement. In the past, it has generated tremendous acrimony in the presbyteries, and even within congregations. Let us pray we will be more civil this go-round.
Also included are two other amendments, which would require assent to the constitutional questions of office as part of the examination process. I do not (at this time) detect any significant effect of these amendments on the ordination processes of the church. Whether the questions are asked at the time of examination, or only at the time of ordination, the candidate must affirm them in order to be ordained. Advice of the ACC was approved by this assembly which states that even though the questions have been moved into the Directory for Worship, they are still binding and cannot be "scrupled."
The final action was to rescind, effective at the end of the Assembly, the definitive guidance of 1978 and 1979 on the ordination of self-affirmed, practicing homosexuals, and all authoritative interpretations of the Constitution stemming from them. This last action does not invalidate the current language of G-6.0106b or any authoritative interpretation adopted since it took effect in 1997. It would, however, remove obstacles to the ordination or installation of self-affirming, “practicing” homosexuals should the language of G-6.0106b be deleted or replaced at any future time.
It may be several weeks before we can say with some confidence what the actions truly mean, and yet another season of judicial cases before they are tested. And then, who knows what will happen in Minneapolis at the 219th General Assembly in 2010.
GA Summary - Day Six
First, let me apologize to my faithful readers (both of them) for my clumsiness as a blogger -- I have inadvertantly been shrinking the font size every day! I promise I won't let it happen again, but thanks for letting me know.
Every Assembly develops a personality. The 1997 Assembly (the year after "Amendment B" - the fidelity and chastity amendment - passed) became known as the "backlash" Assembly; another assembly (maybe Denver 2003?) became known as the "referring" Assembly for its penchant to postpone decisions. This Assembly has surprised veteran Assembly for its willingness to go along with committee recommendations, which in turn have been more often than usual in lockstep with the recommendations of GA entities or the ACC. I call it the "deferring" Assembly. This could all change tomorrow when some of the most controversial business comes up, including the Stated Clerk election first thing in the morning. But today, it was a case of wasting a lot of time on amendments that would ultimately fail, and endorsing the work of committees after the posturing and bluster of commissioners.
The biggest item on the docket today was consideration of the proposed New Form of Government. The committee that dealt with it answered all of the overtures (including one from Plains and Peaks) with a single recommendation: to refer the matter to an expanded Form of Government Task Force, to include members of the GA Committee which considered it, to provide for interpretation, study, and feedback from each presbytery over the next year, and to come back with a revised edition in the fall of 2009. A minority report to scuttle the report (with thanks) and to develop a "missional polity" based on proposals by presbyteries coordinated by the GAC (!?) thankfully died, although it was a slow and painful death. It's not that the FoG has any real chance of gaining sufficient support in two years to pass, but at least we are avoiding the mistake of allowing our mission arm to draft polity (which is nearly as bad as asking our polity arm to draft mission priorities). We can now advertise the plan to have the Rev. Dr. Paul Hooker, theological architect of the new FoG, be our special guest at the November 2008 presbytery meeting.
In other business, the GAC and the Foundation have kissed and made up, at least for now. The compromise solution, calls for a "Restricted Funds Resolution Committee" of 7 person (2 from each entity and three chosen by the moderator) to review the dispute and make a recommendation; if the dispute persists, it will be resolved by a civil court resolution. Personally, I think the GAC gave away too much. I find it fascinating to talk to two top-flight attorneys (one the moderator of the Advisory Committe on the Constitution, the other the moderator of the Advisor Committee on Litigation) and get two very different perspectives.
This assembly has been a "soft touch" for the "underdog." In one of the slickest moves by a Presbytery since Mid-Kentucky stole the denominational headquarters in 1987, the Presbytery of Northern New England secured a $185,000 gift from the GA to help with legal expenses in defending the Presbytery's claim to the Londonderry (NH) church property against a schismatic group and the "New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church." Now, I understand what a strain legal expenses can place on a presbytery, but there are dozens of presbyteries facing legal bills, including some in synods that don't have the millions of dollars of reserves held by the Synod of the Northeast. The only saving feature of this giveaway bonanza was an amendment saying that the funds for this and a $2 million legal fund (keep dreaming) would come from Extra Commitment Offerings. Otherwise we would have seen nearly $1 increase in GA per capita.
There was some very good news shared yesterday I forgot to post. It was reported that 25 new full-time missionaries are budgeted for the 2009 budget year. It will mark the first net increase in global mission personnel in 50 years. I believe part of the responsibility for this change is due to funds from the Heiserman Trust bequeathed by a member of the Yuma Church.
Another symptom of this "deferring" Assembly has been the generally positive (in some cases effusive) praise for the ACC, especially from commissioners. This is in stark contrast to the vitriol extended in 2006, which culminated in the ACC being the target of a remedial complaint. I'd like to think I had something to do with the change.
If you are interested in reading about the actions of the Assembly in greater detail, check out the GA news feed at the presbytery website (http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/), or the news postings at the assembly website (www.pcusa.org/ga218). You can watch streaming video of the Assembly on the latter. (It will be on late, late Friday, by all estimations.)
A few high- and low-lights of the Assembly today: the vice-moderator of the Committee on Review of GA entities referred to committee moderator Elder Susan Gieser (pronounced "geezer") as "the Elder Geezer." Outgoing Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick was honored by a committee resolution adopted by the Assembly naming him "Stated Clerk Emeritus." In typical Prebyterian fashion, the motion passed the committee 49 to 1. Gotta love that "one." Then there was the hyperflorid prayer in which a commissioner repeatedly prayed in the name of God: Adonai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon, and "the name beyond our mentioning" -- which she then went on to mention. I could only think of the blasphemy scene from Monty Python's The Life of Brian.
As the Assembly dragged on past eleven p.m. local time, the faithful remnant in the gallery (including yours truly) started developing the biennial version of "GA bingo." We hope to have cards ready to play by tomorrow night's marathon. Spots might include GA stock characters like "the crying YAD" and the "coming out TSAD" as well as newer near-cliches like singing "Awesome God" and experiencing a "PC-Biz breakdown."
Tomorrow we have the Stated Clerk election, the Polity committee report, PUP part II (church orders and ministry), health (i.e., abortion) issues, and more. And I have to wear a suit again, since I am likely to be on camera during the postponed Polity report (figure somewhere between 11 and 12 PDT).
Every Assembly develops a personality. The 1997 Assembly (the year after "Amendment B" - the fidelity and chastity amendment - passed) became known as the "backlash" Assembly; another assembly (maybe Denver 2003?) became known as the "referring" Assembly for its penchant to postpone decisions. This Assembly has surprised veteran Assembly for its willingness to go along with committee recommendations, which in turn have been more often than usual in lockstep with the recommendations of GA entities or the ACC. I call it the "deferring" Assembly. This could all change tomorrow when some of the most controversial business comes up, including the Stated Clerk election first thing in the morning. But today, it was a case of wasting a lot of time on amendments that would ultimately fail, and endorsing the work of committees after the posturing and bluster of commissioners.
The biggest item on the docket today was consideration of the proposed New Form of Government. The committee that dealt with it answered all of the overtures (including one from Plains and Peaks) with a single recommendation: to refer the matter to an expanded Form of Government Task Force, to include members of the GA Committee which considered it, to provide for interpretation, study, and feedback from each presbytery over the next year, and to come back with a revised edition in the fall of 2009. A minority report to scuttle the report (with thanks) and to develop a "missional polity" based on proposals by presbyteries coordinated by the GAC (!?) thankfully died, although it was a slow and painful death. It's not that the FoG has any real chance of gaining sufficient support in two years to pass, but at least we are avoiding the mistake of allowing our mission arm to draft polity (which is nearly as bad as asking our polity arm to draft mission priorities). We can now advertise the plan to have the Rev. Dr. Paul Hooker, theological architect of the new FoG, be our special guest at the November 2008 presbytery meeting.
In other business, the GAC and the Foundation have kissed and made up, at least for now. The compromise solution, calls for a "Restricted Funds Resolution Committee" of 7 person (2 from each entity and three chosen by the moderator) to review the dispute and make a recommendation; if the dispute persists, it will be resolved by a civil court resolution. Personally, I think the GAC gave away too much. I find it fascinating to talk to two top-flight attorneys (one the moderator of the Advisory Committe on the Constitution, the other the moderator of the Advisor Committee on Litigation) and get two very different perspectives.
This assembly has been a "soft touch" for the "underdog." In one of the slickest moves by a Presbytery since Mid-Kentucky stole the denominational headquarters in 1987, the Presbytery of Northern New England secured a $185,000 gift from the GA to help with legal expenses in defending the Presbytery's claim to the Londonderry (NH) church property against a schismatic group and the "New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church." Now, I understand what a strain legal expenses can place on a presbytery, but there are dozens of presbyteries facing legal bills, including some in synods that don't have the millions of dollars of reserves held by the Synod of the Northeast. The only saving feature of this giveaway bonanza was an amendment saying that the funds for this and a $2 million legal fund (keep dreaming) would come from Extra Commitment Offerings. Otherwise we would have seen nearly $1 increase in GA per capita.
There was some very good news shared yesterday I forgot to post. It was reported that 25 new full-time missionaries are budgeted for the 2009 budget year. It will mark the first net increase in global mission personnel in 50 years. I believe part of the responsibility for this change is due to funds from the Heiserman Trust bequeathed by a member of the Yuma Church.
Another symptom of this "deferring" Assembly has been the generally positive (in some cases effusive) praise for the ACC, especially from commissioners. This is in stark contrast to the vitriol extended in 2006, which culminated in the ACC being the target of a remedial complaint. I'd like to think I had something to do with the change.
If you are interested in reading about the actions of the Assembly in greater detail, check out the GA news feed at the presbytery website (http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/), or the news postings at the assembly website (www.pcusa.org/ga218). You can watch streaming video of the Assembly on the latter. (It will be on late, late Friday, by all estimations.)
A few high- and low-lights of the Assembly today: the vice-moderator of the Committee on Review of GA entities referred to committee moderator Elder Susan Gieser (pronounced "geezer") as "the Elder Geezer." Outgoing Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick was honored by a committee resolution adopted by the Assembly naming him "Stated Clerk Emeritus." In typical Prebyterian fashion, the motion passed the committee 49 to 1. Gotta love that "one." Then there was the hyperflorid prayer in which a commissioner repeatedly prayed in the name of God: Adonai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon, and "the name beyond our mentioning" -- which she then went on to mention. I could only think of the blasphemy scene from Monty Python's The Life of Brian.
As the Assembly dragged on past eleven p.m. local time, the faithful remnant in the gallery (including yours truly) started developing the biennial version of "GA bingo." We hope to have cards ready to play by tomorrow night's marathon. Spots might include GA stock characters like "the crying YAD" and the "coming out TSAD" as well as newer near-cliches like singing "Awesome God" and experiencing a "PC-Biz breakdown."
Tomorrow we have the Stated Clerk election, the Polity committee report, PUP part II (church orders and ministry), health (i.e., abortion) issues, and more. And I have to wear a suit again, since I am likely to be on camera during the postponed Polity report (figure somewhere between 11 and 12 PDT).
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
GA Summary - Day Five
After a "free" morning (which I spent at the "face-to-face" room speaking to persons interested in positions in our presbytery), the General Assembly met in plenary session for its first day of final action on committee recommendations. There were two somewhat controversial items of business that dominated the time. The first was an overture from Grace Presbytery (Dallas area) "to direct the General Assembly Council to produce adolescent human development resources based upon Scripture and the Reformed theological tradition. These resources would explore all facets of adolescent development including human sexuality." The last time such a resource was developed, it was the spark of a firestorm that resulted in the General Assembly rescinding its approval of the curriculum (but still letting it be sold) and a replacement being authorized, but not developed until the first was sold out. Go figure. This time will be different however (hold up "sarcasm" sign now) because the assembly adopted the following comment:
Other business was conducted, some of which was passed even without discussion. An authoritative interpretation was adopted regarding whether Presbyteries may dismiss churches to "transitional presbyteries." Outgoing Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick was honored for his ecumenical leadership by Dr. Michael Kinnamon, president of the National Council of Churches of Christ, and by the Assembly. The last item of business was to approve Dr. Brian K. Blount as the first African-American president of Union Theological Seminary/ Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. 145 years after the abolition of slavery in the South, one of the church's "anti-abolition" seminaries has finally shattered its last racial "glass ceiling." Who says Presbyterians aren't socially progressive? (display sarcasm sign)
The business for the day concluded after 10 p.m. The Assembly will need to discipline themselves better or we may be here until July.
Breaking news: There is controversy afoot regarding alleged abuses of General Assembly standing rules in Committee 5 (Church Orders and Ministry), which considered the overtures seeking to overturn the "fidelity and chastity" clause and the GA Permanent Judicial Commission decision enforcing it. Based on a protest filed by three overture advocates, it is alleged that Standing Rules were waived or disregarded by the committee chairperson so as to prejudice the information the commissioners were able to receive. If this is true, and is upheld, the only remedy I can imagine would be to refer the disputed overtures to the 219th General Assembly in 2010. If the allegations are true, and no remedy is offered, it taints the integrity of the Assembly and of the rule of law in the church. The committee makes its report Friday morning.
The second was a resolution from the Ecumenical and International Issues committee titled "On Calling for Tolerance and Peaceful Relations Between the Christian and Muslim Communities." The resolution sought to commend and encourage dialogue and conversation between and among Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The hangup was in a prefatory declaration that "we worship a common God" and "acknowledge Abraham as an expression of our common commitment to one God." After 90 minutes of motions, amendments, and votes, the Assembly finally came up with the following language for the disputed section: "2. State that though we hold differing understandings of how God has been revealed to humankind, the PC(USA) affirms that, as children of this loving God, we share the commandments of love for God and neighbor, [and] the requirement to care for the poor." However, even this innocuous assertion is contradicted by a footnote which seems to confuse a Christian and Jewish commandment to love God and neighbor, with a Muslim promise that God could, if God chose, provide us with the power to love our enemy. These are not nearly the same.We choose to plant the seed of peace. We set aside our individual desires to “win” and to further our own agendas and put our faith in God, and send this overture on without trying to advocate one position or another, trusting not only God, but our fellow Presbyterians to do what is right not only for our children but for our denomination. We send this overture on in the hope that the next step of the process will cultivate the seed we have planted, faithfully stepping out in mutual trust.
Other business was conducted, some of which was passed even without discussion. An authoritative interpretation was adopted regarding whether Presbyteries may dismiss churches to "transitional presbyteries." Outgoing Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick was honored for his ecumenical leadership by Dr. Michael Kinnamon, president of the National Council of Churches of Christ, and by the Assembly. The last item of business was to approve Dr. Brian K. Blount as the first African-American president of Union Theological Seminary/ Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. 145 years after the abolition of slavery in the South, one of the church's "anti-abolition" seminaries has finally shattered its last racial "glass ceiling." Who says Presbyterians aren't socially progressive? (display sarcasm sign)
The business for the day concluded after 10 p.m. The Assembly will need to discipline themselves better or we may be here until July.
Breaking news: There is controversy afoot regarding alleged abuses of General Assembly standing rules in Committee 5 (Church Orders and Ministry), which considered the overtures seeking to overturn the "fidelity and chastity" clause and the GA Permanent Judicial Commission decision enforcing it. Based on a protest filed by three overture advocates, it is alleged that Standing Rules were waived or disregarded by the committee chairperson so as to prejudice the information the commissioners were able to receive. If this is true, and is upheld, the only remedy I can imagine would be to refer the disputed overtures to the 219th General Assembly in 2010. If the allegations are true, and no remedy is offered, it taints the integrity of the Assembly and of the rule of law in the church. The committee makes its report Friday morning.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
GA Summary - Day Four
This has been a long, tiring, and, for better or worse, momentous day at General Assembly. The Assembly committees wrapped up their business (although at this writing, some are still working). The highlights of the day:
- The Church Orders and Ministry committee sent to the whole assembly a recommendation to approve 05-12, the overture from John Knox Presbytery that would adopt a new authoritative interpretation of G-6.0108 that would undo the work of the last assembly and the Bush decision of the GAPJC. This would permit presbyteries to approve the examination of candidates who seek a scruple from the obligation to conform to G-6.0106b ("fidelity and chastity"). The committee appeared to be considerably more pro-ordination than the assembly as a whole, so it remains to be seen what will come out of committee.
- The Mission Coordination and Budgets committee recommended approval of a compromise motion resolving (for now) the feud between the General Assembly Council and the Presbyterian Foundation. Under this compromise, an impasse between the two regarding donor intent and the application of obsolete funds would immediately be resolved by the civil courts.
- The (new) Form of Government is likely to be with us for a while longer. Reportedly, the committee did not even open the nicely bound volume containing the text of the amendment before they voted to recommend the Assembly refer the proposal for consideration by the 219th General Assembly in 2010. The referral motion, which is not yet posted, reportedly calls for the formation of a new committee to develop a study process and materials, and present the overture before the next assembly.
- The Polity Committee (where I have spent most of my time) voted to disapprove a motion from the Presbytery of Baltimore that would redefine marriage in the Directory for Worship to include same-sex relationships. They did, however, vote for a Denver Presbytery overture endorsing equal family rights for gay couples.
Some of my favorite committee moments:
- An amendment that might require vows of membership somehow managed through the committee process to refer to "affirming faith in Jesus Christ to the session as Lord and Savior." Now that's a powerful session!
- Running across the street to the special committee on Youth Issues, for an emergency consultation, to tell them why a motion to give Youth Advisory Delegates the status of commissioner (with voice and vote) would effectively require rewriting the foundations of our polity, namely that we are governed by presbyters - elders and ministers.
- Defending advice that "sympathy" and "empathy" are sufficiently similar so as to promote confusion, and having YADs in the committee read definitions off their computer dictionaries that proved my point.
- Seeing a compromise motion I helped mediate pass the committee unanimously. It was an affirmation of what can happen when we listen to each other.
Unfortunately I had to miss a concert tonight by David Bailey, a Christian singer-songwriter I have come to appreciate. But the Witherspoon dance will still be going strong when I get done in committee. It is the only semi-official "party" at the Assembly, where people of all theological stripes "get down" together. Tomorrow morning is "reading time" to consider committee reports, or to sleep off the after-effects of the Witherspoon dance. Time to boogie!
GA Summary - Day Three
On Monday of "General Assembly Week" the mood of the gathering gets serious. We are well into the "legislative" Assembly with a healthy dose of the "power" assembly taking effect. Committees convened at 9:30 a.m., and except for lunch and dinner breaks, worked until 9:30 or 10:00 at night.
Committee work is where the real politicking of the Assembly takes place. This year, the 380 or more items of business are parcelled among 17 committees, each of which has 55-60 members. Commissioners and Advisory delegates have equal standing in committees, which makes recommendation to the Assembly on each item of business. Since it is much easier to bring about amendments and to affect the vote of committees than it is to do so on the floor of the Assembly, where the committee recommendation will have significant influence, committees are where the most important debate happens. What is more, members of the public, overture advocates, and other some resource people have access to the floor of the committees, but not the plenary session.
On this first full day of committee work, there are some real controversies brewing. In the Theological Issues Committee, several attempts to authorize a new translation of the Heidelberg Cathechism were answered with a single action that flies in the face of the Constitutional advice given that any change in the text would require using the process for Amendment spelled out in the Book of Order. The committee simply recommends changing the language by Assembly vote. The action as posted on PC-Biz (the business tracker) does not even require the positive or negative votes of the Presbyteries, much less the formation of a Committee of 15 and the approval of two different Assemblies and the concurrence of 2/3 of the presbyteries (G-18.0200). Of course, the action is made all the more controversial in that it eliminates the only specific condemnation of homosexual activity found in the Book of Confessions.
The GAC-Presbyterian Foundation battle rages on. I understand "highly sensitive" conversations with the leadership of Committee Eight (Mission Coordination and Budgets) were taking place late tonight. Meanwhile, the Committee handling Board of Pensions and Foundation business recommended approval of new Foundation by-laws that eliminate the rights of the General Assembly Council (acting for the Assembly) to consent in the election of officers and board members. Chapter eight of those by-laws require the consent of the GAC to the substance of the changes before they can be approved. In the current climate, I would be surprised to learn that such consent has been given.
In other, less arcane matters, the Polity Committee is recommending the Assembly adopt an authoritative interpretation (AI) that would make official the position of our own Presbytery that it is out of order for a congregational meeting to be held to vote to withdraw from the denomination. The question arose in a question for constitutional interpretation from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia asking if the Presbytery can set higher quorums for such meetings. The Advisory Committee on the Consitution's recommendation was that such meetings were out of order and could only be held as "hearings" conducted by the Presbytery in its required consultation with congregations considering dismissal. Those familiar with our conversations with Greeley First Church last fall may recognize the advice.
Reports from the Peacemaking and International Issues committee indicates that our Presbytery's overture on Human Trafficking passed easily with a minor editorial change (it still requires Assembly adoption). Also, discussion in the committee considering the new Form of Government has been largely negative, while the "PUP II" committee (Church Orders and Ministry) seems to be leaning toward undoing the work of the last Assembly by adopting yet another Authoritative Interpretation that could invalidate the express prohibition in G-6.0106b against the ordination and installation of "persons who refuse to repent of any practice the confessions call sin." Whatever your feelings are about the ordination of sexually active homosexuals, it is destructive to the denomination when mandatory provisions of the Constitution are amended by a process other than through the vote of the presbyteries, as required in G-18.0000. An attempt to run this through the Assembly, if not opposed as unconstitutional by the outgoing stated clerk, could result in a vote shift to a strict constitutionalist like Ed Koster in the upcoming Stated Clerk election.
That's as much as I can fit in tonight. Committees wind up their work tomorrow. As someone called to serve as a resource to TWO committees for the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, I will be glad when I no longer have to wear a path in the carpet of the convention center shuttling between meeting rooms!
Committee work is where the real politicking of the Assembly takes place. This year, the 380 or more items of business are parcelled among 17 committees, each of which has 55-60 members. Commissioners and Advisory delegates have equal standing in committees, which makes recommendation to the Assembly on each item of business. Since it is much easier to bring about amendments and to affect the vote of committees than it is to do so on the floor of the Assembly, where the committee recommendation will have significant influence, committees are where the most important debate happens. What is more, members of the public, overture advocates, and other some resource people have access to the floor of the committees, but not the plenary session.
On this first full day of committee work, there are some real controversies brewing. In the Theological Issues Committee, several attempts to authorize a new translation of the Heidelberg Cathechism were answered with a single action that flies in the face of the Constitutional advice given that any change in the text would require using the process for Amendment spelled out in the Book of Order. The committee simply recommends changing the language by Assembly vote. The action as posted on PC-Biz (the business tracker) does not even require the positive or negative votes of the Presbyteries, much less the formation of a Committee of 15 and the approval of two different Assemblies and the concurrence of 2/3 of the presbyteries (G-18.0200). Of course, the action is made all the more controversial in that it eliminates the only specific condemnation of homosexual activity found in the Book of Confessions.
The GAC-Presbyterian Foundation battle rages on. I understand "highly sensitive" conversations with the leadership of Committee Eight (Mission Coordination and Budgets) were taking place late tonight. Meanwhile, the Committee handling Board of Pensions and Foundation business recommended approval of new Foundation by-laws that eliminate the rights of the General Assembly Council (acting for the Assembly) to consent in the election of officers and board members. Chapter eight of those by-laws require the consent of the GAC to the substance of the changes before they can be approved. In the current climate, I would be surprised to learn that such consent has been given.
In other, less arcane matters, the Polity Committee is recommending the Assembly adopt an authoritative interpretation (AI) that would make official the position of our own Presbytery that it is out of order for a congregational meeting to be held to vote to withdraw from the denomination. The question arose in a question for constitutional interpretation from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia asking if the Presbytery can set higher quorums for such meetings. The Advisory Committee on the Consitution's recommendation was that such meetings were out of order and could only be held as "hearings" conducted by the Presbytery in its required consultation with congregations considering dismissal. Those familiar with our conversations with Greeley First Church last fall may recognize the advice.
Reports from the Peacemaking and International Issues committee indicates that our Presbytery's overture on Human Trafficking passed easily with a minor editorial change (it still requires Assembly adoption). Also, discussion in the committee considering the new Form of Government has been largely negative, while the "PUP II" committee (Church Orders and Ministry) seems to be leaning toward undoing the work of the last Assembly by adopting yet another Authoritative Interpretation that could invalidate the express prohibition in G-6.0106b against the ordination and installation of "persons who refuse to repent of any practice the confessions call sin." Whatever your feelings are about the ordination of sexually active homosexuals, it is destructive to the denomination when mandatory provisions of the Constitution are amended by a process other than through the vote of the presbyteries, as required in G-18.0000. An attempt to run this through the Assembly, if not opposed as unconstitutional by the outgoing stated clerk, could result in a vote shift to a strict constitutionalist like Ed Koster in the upcoming Stated Clerk election.
That's as much as I can fit in tonight. Committees wind up their work tomorrow. As someone called to serve as a resource to TWO committees for the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, I will be glad when I no longer have to wear a path in the carpet of the convention center shuttling between meeting rooms!
Monday, June 23, 2008
GA Summary - Day Two
The work of the Assembly is now fully underway. Committees met tonight for the first time, first in closed session for group building, after which observers were allowed. Tomorrow begins with public hearings and then the committees will delve into the many items before them.
This morning, the sound of bagpipes guided us to the venues for the gala opening worship service. For the first time in memory, it was held in two different locations, connected by video feeds between them when necessary. In contrast to the PC-Biz issues in the plenary meetings, the technology for the two worship sites worked flawessly. There was less pageantry in the service than others in recent memory (nothing rivalled the choirs from the Congo at Birmingham in 2006, for example), so that it felt more like a typical Sunday service, but with 4000 people spread over two sites. Outgoing moderator Joan Gray preached on John 13 (the command to love one another), and exhorted the Assembly to love even those with whom they disagree. Missionaries were recognized and commissioned, including for the first time I can recall, those serving in military chaplaincy.
The Presbytery held its Assembly luncheon for attenders from Plains and Peaks, and a good time was had by all. We were joined by two special guests, Eileen Grantham (mother of Wray pastor Jennifer Grantham), and Mark Scarberry, moderator of the GA Advisory Committee on Litigation, and a personal friend who had helped lead me to Christ as a college freshman 33 years ago, but whom I hadn't seen since. (This is what I love about GA!) Several of us engaged in a lively debate on sexual ethics that was actually constructive and respectful. I was grateful to be reminded of the work of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his classics Life Together and The Cost of Discipleship, who reminds us that in Christian community ethics are never an abstraction, but must always be considered in light of our obligations to love the "concrete" brother or sister in the messy imperfection of the world as-it-is. Elder commissioner Sylvia Dooling asked for prayers as she serves on the closely watched committee on Church Orders and Ministry that will deal with this year's assortment of pro- and anti- gay ordination overtures.
The moderator's reception was held in the afternoon at the open air rotunda in the new City Hall, about 8 blocks from the convention center. Fortunately the oppressive 100+ degree temperatures we experienced Friday and Saturday broke, and it was delightfully pleasant for the event, which included musical accompaniment from a mariachi band.
As the committees start to look at their dockets, some items rise in significance and others fall. Some of the "sleeper" issues at this Assembly look to include: the ongoinig GAC-Presbyterian Foundation feud over use of donor-designated funds; Israel-Palestine issues; and the issues related to the definition of marriage and same-sex unions. Early bellwether indications are that this could be a contentious assembly, with a sizable anti-Louisville chip on its shoulder. If true, that could have a significant impact on the Stated Clerk election Friday.
This morning, the sound of bagpipes guided us to the venues for the gala opening worship service. For the first time in memory, it was held in two different locations, connected by video feeds between them when necessary. In contrast to the PC-Biz issues in the plenary meetings, the technology for the two worship sites worked flawessly. There was less pageantry in the service than others in recent memory (nothing rivalled the choirs from the Congo at Birmingham in 2006, for example), so that it felt more like a typical Sunday service, but with 4000 people spread over two sites. Outgoing moderator Joan Gray preached on John 13 (the command to love one another), and exhorted the Assembly to love even those with whom they disagree. Missionaries were recognized and commissioned, including for the first time I can recall, those serving in military chaplaincy.
The Presbytery held its Assembly luncheon for attenders from Plains and Peaks, and a good time was had by all. We were joined by two special guests, Eileen Grantham (mother of Wray pastor Jennifer Grantham), and Mark Scarberry, moderator of the GA Advisory Committee on Litigation, and a personal friend who had helped lead me to Christ as a college freshman 33 years ago, but whom I hadn't seen since. (This is what I love about GA!) Several of us engaged in a lively debate on sexual ethics that was actually constructive and respectful. I was grateful to be reminded of the work of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his classics Life Together and The Cost of Discipleship, who reminds us that in Christian community ethics are never an abstraction, but must always be considered in light of our obligations to love the "concrete" brother or sister in the messy imperfection of the world as-it-is. Elder commissioner Sylvia Dooling asked for prayers as she serves on the closely watched committee on Church Orders and Ministry that will deal with this year's assortment of pro- and anti- gay ordination overtures.
The moderator's reception was held in the afternoon at the open air rotunda in the new City Hall, about 8 blocks from the convention center. Fortunately the oppressive 100+ degree temperatures we experienced Friday and Saturday broke, and it was delightfully pleasant for the event, which included musical accompaniment from a mariachi band.
As the committees start to look at their dockets, some items rise in significance and others fall. Some of the "sleeper" issues at this Assembly look to include: the ongoinig GAC-Presbyterian Foundation feud over use of donor-designated funds; Israel-Palestine issues; and the issues related to the definition of marriage and same-sex unions. Early bellwether indications are that this could be a contentious assembly, with a sizable anti-Louisville chip on its shoulder. If true, that could have a significant impact on the Stated Clerk election Friday.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
GA Summary - Day One
The General Assembly convened for its first day of business Saturday, although it could hardly be called the first day of General Assembly. Stated Clerks have been here since Tuesday, Committee Leadership since Wednesday, and all Commissioner and Advisory Delegates had to report Friday for training in racism awareness. The first days of the Assembly are the most joyful: people are fresh, old friendships are renewed, and people haven't gotten bogged down in the hard work of committees. The first day had a number of surprises: the outgoing moderator, Joan Gray, appeared looking like the loser in a prize fight -- she had taken her last moderatorial "trip" on a San Jose curb, falling on her face and breaking her cheekbone. She toughed it out like Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open, and handed over the moderatorial duties tonight to our newly elected moderator, Bruce Reyes-Chow of San Francisco (more on that below). Perhaps less surprising were the technical difficulties with the "PC-biz" electronic GA business tracker, which failed to work and forced the first official business -- the report of the GA Business Referrals Committee to be twice delayed.
PC-Biz was not needed, however, to conduct the moderatorial election. Four candidates were "standing" (not "running," which I gather is unseemly for persons seeking church office) for moderator: Each defined himself (they were all male) with a theme or cause, much like beauty pageant contestants. This didn't use to be the case, but with two-year terms now, it has become commonplace. You can only talk about the actions of the assembly for so long before it becomes old news. The four were Carl Mazza, a minister from Delaware who has a commitment to ministry with the homeless; Roger Shoemaker, an elder from Lincoln, Nebraska, whose theme was renewed commitment to local congregations; Bill Teng (pronouced "tongue") a pastor from Washington, D.C., who trumpeted evangelism and global mission; and Bruce Reyes-Chow, a minister from nearby San Francisco, who advocated outreach to young adults through "missional" and "emergent" ministries. Chow is 39 years old, and presented a clear contrast to the three much older men. He was the overwhelming favorite of the Youth and Theological Student Advisory Delegates, but took two ballots to gain a majority vote from the generally older commissioners. Reyes-Chow was outspoken in his support of progressive church politics (read: gay ordination), but vowed to be "excruciatingly fair" in his moderatorial duties.
It seemed to me as an observer, however, that this moderatorial contest generated amazingly litte energy or enthusiasm. Even the supporters of the winner were subdued in comparison to past campaigns. Perhaps it is because an open race for Stated Clerk garnered the pre-Assembly buzz, or perhaps it is because we are growing tired of fighting our ideological battles, or perhaps we have come to realize that the Moderator's role is mostly symbolic and makes little difference in the realpolitik world of the denomination.
For Plains and Peaks readers, there is a healthy presence of folks from our Presbytery at the Assembly, but one that is not present is one of our two minister commissioners, Wayne Nickerson. Wayne was called away to New Hampshire shortly before the Assembly to deal with a family emergency, which he hoped would not prevent his attendance at the Assembly, but ultimately required that he withdraw. The benefit of having four commissioners, however, means that our Presbytery is still well represented by the Rev. Stephen Roosa, Elders Joe Tunner and Sylvia Dooling, plus YAD Kelsey Day and TSAD Christopher Williams. Keep Wayne and his family in your prayers, however.
Tomorrow (Sunday) will be highlighted by the mass opening worship service, the new moderator's reception, and the begining of committee work (in the evening). Oh, and the Committee on Business Referrals may finally get to make its report.
PC-Biz was not needed, however, to conduct the moderatorial election. Four candidates were "standing" (not "running," which I gather is unseemly for persons seeking church office) for moderator: Each defined himself (they were all male) with a theme or cause, much like beauty pageant contestants. This didn't use to be the case, but with two-year terms now, it has become commonplace. You can only talk about the actions of the assembly for so long before it becomes old news. The four were Carl Mazza, a minister from Delaware who has a commitment to ministry with the homeless; Roger Shoemaker, an elder from Lincoln, Nebraska, whose theme was renewed commitment to local congregations; Bill Teng (pronouced "tongue") a pastor from Washington, D.C., who trumpeted evangelism and global mission; and Bruce Reyes-Chow, a minister from nearby San Francisco, who advocated outreach to young adults through "missional" and "emergent" ministries. Chow is 39 years old, and presented a clear contrast to the three much older men. He was the overwhelming favorite of the Youth and Theological Student Advisory Delegates, but took two ballots to gain a majority vote from the generally older commissioners. Reyes-Chow was outspoken in his support of progressive church politics (read: gay ordination), but vowed to be "excruciatingly fair" in his moderatorial duties.
It seemed to me as an observer, however, that this moderatorial contest generated amazingly litte energy or enthusiasm. Even the supporters of the winner were subdued in comparison to past campaigns. Perhaps it is because an open race for Stated Clerk garnered the pre-Assembly buzz, or perhaps it is because we are growing tired of fighting our ideological battles, or perhaps we have come to realize that the Moderator's role is mostly symbolic and makes little difference in the realpolitik world of the denomination.
For Plains and Peaks readers, there is a healthy presence of folks from our Presbytery at the Assembly, but one that is not present is one of our two minister commissioners, Wayne Nickerson. Wayne was called away to New Hampshire shortly before the Assembly to deal with a family emergency, which he hoped would not prevent his attendance at the Assembly, but ultimately required that he withdraw. The benefit of having four commissioners, however, means that our Presbytery is still well represented by the Rev. Stephen Roosa, Elders Joe Tunner and Sylvia Dooling, plus YAD Kelsey Day and TSAD Christopher Williams. Keep Wayne and his family in your prayers, however.
Tomorrow (Sunday) will be highlighted by the mass opening worship service, the new moderator's reception, and the begining of committee work (in the evening). Oh, and the Committee on Business Referrals may finally get to make its report.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Saperstein's Top Ten
Stated Clerk Cliff Kirkpatrick has his list of the top ten issues before this Assembly. Here is mine:
1. The fog over the (n)FOG: The proposed new Form of Government is a direct and faithful response to what GA 217 requested. Yet it has been met with suspicion on the right and apathy on the left. The bigger question is, Why is there no enthusiasm for this proposal when it addresses the stated concerns of the church?
2. PUP, part II: It took almost two years to clarify the actions of the 217th General Assembly (the Bush decision got it 95% correct), and people are confused and angry. The John Knox overture (05-12) seeks to reassert the flawed arguments of the PUP task force two years ago and undo both the work of the 217th Assembly in amending (i.e., correcting) the core recommendation, and the GAPJC in interpreting it. For an analysis of the action of GA 217, go to http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/Default.aspx?tabid=512&DMXModule=1288&Download=inline&mid=1288&EntryId=295
3. The Stated Clerk election: Gradye Parsons is the official nominee (deservedly so) and the process is stacked in his favor. However, there is a history of the Assembly rejecting official nominees (1984, 1988, 1992). Challengers Ed Koster and Casey Jones are capable and honorable men. Oddball William Tarbell (who has abused the church judicial process with vexatious litigation) is at best a vanity candidate. No matter what happens, look for the process to be changed yet again for 2012.
4. Bureaucratic showdown: Definitely for GA junkies only. The Foundation squares off against the GAC and the OGA in the battle over control of obsolete funds. The best analysis I have seen is by blogger Michael Kruse http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/2008/06/my-thoughts-on-the-general-assembly-council-and-presbyterian-foundation-controversy.html.
5. The PJC and gay marriage: The Baltimore Overture (04-08) becomes the flashpoint in the fallout over the GAPJC decision in the Spahr case, made more timely (and confused) by California's recognition of gay marriage.
6. The financial crunch from denominational decline: This is the elephant in the living room that affects almost every item of business. How do we fund and conduct mission in an age of consumerism, institutional distrust, and social marginalization? As mission partnership funding ends, what will be the future of synods and presbyteries dependent on these funds?
7. The church for future generations in the US: A corollary of #6. Denominational decline will accelerate as our most faithful givers die off, and fewer young adults replace them. Not just a Presbyterian problem, but there are no clear answers in sight.
8. Slaying the six-headed beast: There is little coordination and accountability among the six GA entitites between Assembly meetings. A task force is being formed by this Assembly to study the problem, but look for the territorial battles to become more open at this Assembly.
9. Dealing with schism: Issues related to the dismissal of disaffected churches will crop up: the ACC is advising the Assembly that presbyteries ought not dismiss churches to "transitional presbyteries" (07-13); the Stated Clerk candidates will undoubtedly be asked to address the property trust clause and the so-called "Louisville Papers"; and the New Wineskins Association will find a way to be heard.
10. Social witness policy, Israel, and anti-semitism: A late blooming issue made prominent by the pro-Israel lobby's public campaign against the PCUSA. A preliminary document on "Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias" issued by the Office of Interfaith Relations was replaced by one which offers a more balanced approach to the Israel-Palestinian issue (and is also more faithful to PCUSA social witness policy). It's not officially before the Assembly, but look for Commissioner's resolutions and a flood of bad press. The new document can be read at http://www.pcusa.org/interfaith/vigilance.htm.
1. The fog over the (n)FOG: The proposed new Form of Government is a direct and faithful response to what GA 217 requested. Yet it has been met with suspicion on the right and apathy on the left. The bigger question is, Why is there no enthusiasm for this proposal when it addresses the stated concerns of the church?
2. PUP, part II: It took almost two years to clarify the actions of the 217th General Assembly (the Bush decision got it 95% correct), and people are confused and angry. The John Knox overture (05-12) seeks to reassert the flawed arguments of the PUP task force two years ago and undo both the work of the 217th Assembly in amending (i.e., correcting) the core recommendation, and the GAPJC in interpreting it. For an analysis of the action of GA 217, go to http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/Default.aspx?tabid=512&DMXModule=1288&Download=inline&mid=1288&EntryId=295
3. The Stated Clerk election: Gradye Parsons is the official nominee (deservedly so) and the process is stacked in his favor. However, there is a history of the Assembly rejecting official nominees (1984, 1988, 1992). Challengers Ed Koster and Casey Jones are capable and honorable men. Oddball William Tarbell (who has abused the church judicial process with vexatious litigation) is at best a vanity candidate. No matter what happens, look for the process to be changed yet again for 2012.
4. Bureaucratic showdown: Definitely for GA junkies only. The Foundation squares off against the GAC and the OGA in the battle over control of obsolete funds. The best analysis I have seen is by blogger Michael Kruse http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/2008/06/my-thoughts-on-the-general-assembly-council-and-presbyterian-foundation-controversy.html.
5. The PJC and gay marriage: The Baltimore Overture (04-08) becomes the flashpoint in the fallout over the GAPJC decision in the Spahr case, made more timely (and confused) by California's recognition of gay marriage.
6. The financial crunch from denominational decline: This is the elephant in the living room that affects almost every item of business. How do we fund and conduct mission in an age of consumerism, institutional distrust, and social marginalization? As mission partnership funding ends, what will be the future of synods and presbyteries dependent on these funds?
7. The church for future generations in the US: A corollary of #6. Denominational decline will accelerate as our most faithful givers die off, and fewer young adults replace them. Not just a Presbyterian problem, but there are no clear answers in sight.
8. Slaying the six-headed beast: There is little coordination and accountability among the six GA entitites between Assembly meetings. A task force is being formed by this Assembly to study the problem, but look for the territorial battles to become more open at this Assembly.
9. Dealing with schism: Issues related to the dismissal of disaffected churches will crop up: the ACC is advising the Assembly that presbyteries ought not dismiss churches to "transitional presbyteries" (07-13); the Stated Clerk candidates will undoubtedly be asked to address the property trust clause and the so-called "Louisville Papers"; and the New Wineskins Association will find a way to be heard.
10. Social witness policy, Israel, and anti-semitism: A late blooming issue made prominent by the pro-Israel lobby's public campaign against the PCUSA. A preliminary document on "Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias" issued by the Office of Interfaith Relations was replaced by one which offers a more balanced approach to the Israel-Palestinian issue (and is also more faithful to PCUSA social witness policy). It's not officially before the Assembly, but look for Commissioner's resolutions and a flood of bad press. The new document can be read at http://www.pcusa.org/interfaith/vigilance.htm.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Which Assembly are you attending?
At every Assembly there are at least three different meetings taking place, simultaneously, and often unnoticed. The key to Assembly watching is being aware which Assembly you are attending. The first is the Assembly-as-public-relations event. The grand worship services; the recognitions of service or achievement in the mission of the church; the "family reunion" activities; the promotion of different aspects of denominational life in the exhibit hall -- all of these are part of the Assembly spectacle. It is possible to miss all the business and politics, and still have an inspiring Assembly experience. When I attended my first Assembly in Atlanta in 1983, this is what I remember most.
The second Assembly, which parallels the first is the Assembly as decision-making body. The work of the committees, the overtures, reports, and requests, the debates on the floor of plenary all contribute to this second kind of meeting. When people ask, "What did the Assembly do?" the answers usually are framed in terms of the actions of the Assembly on these legislative items. This Assembly has some fascinating and important items before it: a proposed new Form of Government; a proposal to redefine marriage; a new Social Witness creed; and a controversial statement on anti-Semitism are just a few.
The third Assembly, and the one that attracts most GA junkies like me, is the Assembly as political arena. As the longest regularly meeting democratically elected Assembly in world, it is no surprise that the Assembly is fraught with political intrigue. There are, of course, the ideological battles to be waged over issues such as gay ordination and abortion policy which have captured the most attention in recent years. But there are other, more subtle political fights, such as the one between the Presbyterian Foundation and the General Assembly Council that will be waged in Committee 8 (Mission Coordination and Budgets). And perhaps the wild card at this Assembly will be how the agents of schism such as the New Wineskins Association will try to lobby and spin the Assembly to try to woo those outside the Assembly to defect to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Each of these Assemblies has interest and excitement in its own right. My reports will try to touch on all three Assemblies taking place in San Jose.
The second Assembly, which parallels the first is the Assembly as decision-making body. The work of the committees, the overtures, reports, and requests, the debates on the floor of plenary all contribute to this second kind of meeting. When people ask, "What did the Assembly do?" the answers usually are framed in terms of the actions of the Assembly on these legislative items. This Assembly has some fascinating and important items before it: a proposed new Form of Government; a proposal to redefine marriage; a new Social Witness creed; and a controversial statement on anti-Semitism are just a few.
The third Assembly, and the one that attracts most GA junkies like me, is the Assembly as political arena. As the longest regularly meeting democratically elected Assembly in world, it is no surprise that the Assembly is fraught with political intrigue. There are, of course, the ideological battles to be waged over issues such as gay ordination and abortion policy which have captured the most attention in recent years. But there are other, more subtle political fights, such as the one between the Presbyterian Foundation and the General Assembly Council that will be waged in Committee 8 (Mission Coordination and Budgets). And perhaps the wild card at this Assembly will be how the agents of schism such as the New Wineskins Association will try to lobby and spin the Assembly to try to woo those outside the Assembly to defect to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Each of these Assemblies has interest and excitement in its own right. My reports will try to touch on all three Assemblies taking place in San Jose.
An Insider's Perspective
The purpose of this blog is to provide to the readers (principally members of the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks) an insider's perspective on the 218th GA. For those unfamiliar with me, I am the Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks, which consists of 42 congregations in Northeast Colorado and the Nebraska panhandle (http://www.plainsandpeaks.org/). I also serve on the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, the constitutionally-mandated body of elected volunteers with polity expertise who advise the Assembly on constitutional matters. Mostly, however, I am a "GA junkie" who has attended ten assemblies in a variety of capacities over the years. The opinions here are exclusively my own, and should not be taken to represent the presbytery, the ACC, God, or anyone else. The blog is for information, not conversation. You may send comments to my email (dmsaperstein@gmail.com), and if they are helpful I may reference them in a future post. However, I don't want this to devolve into yet another forum for venting by reactive yahoos.
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