ACSWP: 40 percent of churches
struggling to pay minimum compensation
By Carmen Fowler, The Layman , January 22, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy has reported that 40 percent of the denomination’s churches are struggling to meet the minimum presbytery requirements for clergy compensation.
The comment was made by the PCUSA’s Office of Joint Vocation Director Marcia Myers in her report on the “Theology of Compensation” report, which calls the church to confront the traditional idea of “success” and the differential gap between affluent and struggling congregations.
“We are calling the church back to values we have always articulated but seeking to live those out in new and creative ways,” Myers said.
The presentation was one of several made during the joint meeting of ACSWP, Advocacy Council for Racial Ethnic Concerns (ACREC) and Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC) Friday morning in Louisville. Also meeting in Louisville this weekend is the General Assembly’s Task Force on Civil Unions and Marriage.
Other discussions and reports included:
- An ACWC report on its three working groups for the issues of health, sexuality and faith. The advocacy council, at this time, does not have any resolutions for the 219th General Assembly, but it is monitoring actions of prior assemblies. The council also reported that it’s concentrating efforts on the issues of youth, technology and pornography, with an emphasis on identifying resources for parents. The group also discussed resources on sexual addiction and the problems it poses for families and communities, as well as monitoring the denomination’s work on health care legislation in Washington, D.C.
- ACWC member Belinda Rice reported that the committee will ask the GA to mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Her report also included updates on the issues of violence against women in Juarez, Mexico, pay equity and the goal met of all PCUSA seminaries having programs on sexual misconduct.
- The ACWC theologies working group’s report included bringing recommendations to GA on “women of color” and an updated book on women’s theology information that will not be ready for GA due to a lack of funding. ACWC also discussed informing the GA of seminary education that includes preparing pastors to deal with sexual concerns in their congregations.
- ACREC reported that the GA has not met its goal of a 20-percent increase in racial ethnic immigration church growth by 2010. The committee also discussed the “Climate for Change” report going to the GA and the need to fund and support medical outreach efforts in New Orleans’ inner city. An ACREC report on changing its name will be delayed until 2012 for more study, while an ecclesiology study was requested for “The Nature of the Church.”
- ACSWP also had updates on the strategic response to HIV/AIDS, gun violence issues, the “Nature of Human Life” paper, GA support of public education, an economic crisis response paper and a human rights report.
- The required Advice and Counsel (ANC) process, which involves a review of items that come to GA, including overtures, commissioner resolutions and recommendations to GA. The PCUSA Stated Clerk’s office has asked that the ACSWP, ACWC and ACREC offer advice and counsel based on the social justice policies and statements of the denomination. “We are the social justice memory of the denomination and the living memory of our respective committees,” said Ron Kernaghan, ACSWP’s co-chair. “So, training and preparation is essential.” ANC will meet May 9-12, he added.