NNPCW supporters try to influence committee’s work
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, October 19, 1999
LOUISVILLE – Supporters of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women conducted what one observer called an “orchestrated effort” to influence the Advisory Committee on the News’ work on the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Open Meeting Policy.
The committee met Oct. 15-16 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville. Part of the agenda included a request from the General Assembly Council executive committee to develop a supplementary policy covering non-business meetings and gatherings.
Network members and supporters sent more than 40 e-mails and letters to the Presbyterian Center, most addressed to Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick. All were copied to Gusti Newquist, intern for the Network and Barbara Dua, associate director of Women’s Ministry Program Area.
Committee members received the printed versions of the e-mails on Friday and were asked to read the letters that night as “homework” before the committee discussed the Open Meeting Policy on Saturday.
Jerry L. Van Marter, coordinator of the Presbyterian News Service called the e-mails an “orchestrated effort” when responding to Committee Member Pat Brown’s wishes that the committee communicate back to the writers. “I feel very strongly that people need to know they have been heard,” said Brown.
It’s not official, but use it anyway
“Even short of having [the policy] become official, there’s nothing to says you can’t distribute it to the stated clerk and all the people you know are now planning large group gatherings that might benefit from this advice from the committee,” said Ann Gillies, the denomination’s coordinator of media services, in response to Brown.
The proposed policy must be reviewed by the General Assembly Council’s executive committee and the Council before it is submitted to the General Assembly for approval. Until adopted by an Assembly, the current Open Meetings Policy remains the policy of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
“That’s not what I’m speaking to,” replied Brown. “I’m trying to say to the people, We’ve heard you. We considered this,” and relay to them the recommendations the committee is sending to the General Assembly Council.
Van Marter said that if committee chair John Silbert would write a cover letter saying “Thank you for your correspondence. We’ve heard you. We’ve tried to respond. Here’s what we’ve devised that we are submitting to the GAC,” then he and other staff would see that everyone who wrote would receive the letter.
“I’d really like to respond to the people,” said Van Marter. “Even though it was an orchestrated effort, I would still like to respond to the people who took the time to do it.”
‘I just know better’
Committee member Joanne Hull thought she was the cause of all the e-mails, because of an incident that happened at the recent General Assembly Council meeting in Puerto Rico.
Hull described the incident during Friday’s meeting. She said that following the report of the Network’s Leadership event at the Council meeting, she requested a copy of the Network’s open meeting policy from Barbara Dua.
Hull said that Dua informed Network intern Gusti Newquist of the request, who, in turn informed someone else. That person sent out an e-mail informing Network supporters that Hull would be advocating their case.
“I was appalled,” said Hull. “My simple request for information was turned into this,” she said, picking up the thick stack of e-mails.
“I don’t come with their perspective. I’m an independent thinker,” she continued. “As chair of the Congregational Ministries Division I try not to be associated with any particular group.”
Hull was assured by Brown that she wasn’t the cause of the e-mails. “I just know better,” Brown said.
The Network’s e-mails to the Advisory Committee on the News followed its recent Leadership Event in which it barred two members of the press from a majority of the meeting. The reporters, representing Voices of Orthodox Women, protested their eviction, claiming that it constituted a violation of the General Assembly Open Meeting Policy.