General Assembly refers revision to OGA
Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman, June 27, 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The proposed revision of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Form of Government has been referred to the Office of the General Assembly for a period of consultation with presbyteries and congregations.
The vote of the Assembly on Thursday was 624-88 with five abstentions.
The FOG revision began with the vote of the 217th General Assembly (2006) to form a task force to rewrite the Form of Government in the PCUSA’s Book of Order.
Commissioners agreed to the referral with the following comment:
“The referral to the Office of the General Assembly is for a period of consultation and study with churches and presbyteries through a system or systems designed and implemented by the Form of Government Task Force and members of the 218th General Assembly Committee on Form of Government Revisions. The participation of every presbytery in the period of consultation and study will be strongly urged. New members of this expanded task force are to be chosen from the 218th General Assembly (2008) Assembly Committee on Form of Government Revisions by the Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008), in consultation with the moderator and vice moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) Assembly Committee on Form of Government Revisions.
“The new task force will revise the Form of Government Task Force Report, taking into account the concerns and suggestions gleaned from the consultation and study process. The guidance of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, the overtures, and the testimony received by the 218th General Assembly (2008) Assembly Committee on Form of Government Revisions and the committee’s comments are referred to the task force for serious and studied consideration.
“The revised report of the Form of Government task force is to be submitted to the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly no later than October 15, 2009, for distribution to the church at large no later than January 15, 2010, for consideration by the 219th General Assembly (2010).”
A substitute motion to disapprove the FOG revision failed.