Comprehensive assessment of per capita available online
The Layman Online, July 10, 2003
A comprehensive assessment of per capita is now available as a resource for members and leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) through The Layman Online.
“Responding Faithfully: Making Decisions about Financial Support of PCUSA Governing Bodies in Times of Disorder” covers the history of per-capita apportionments to local church sessions to support higher governing bodies – presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The 42-page analysis includes documents that review General Assembly decisions, rulings by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (the denomination’s highest court), authoritative interpretations, legislative history and other material. It also includes excerpts from Scripture, The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order that affirm the denomination’s historic view that per-capita payments by church sessions are voluntary, not compulsory.
The document was written by Peggy McQuade Hedden, an attorney and a Presbyterian elder in Columbus, Ohio, before Mrs. Hedden became chairman of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.
Readers are invited, at no charge, to download, print and disseminate copies of “Responding Faithfully.”