New standards established after award controversy
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, September 27, 1999
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – In response to the controversy over Women of Faith Awards being presented to two lesbian activists and a leader in the ReImagining God movement, the General Assembly Council has called for standards for awards given under its aegis. The new process will require that denominational standards be considered in determining the merit of nominees for awards.
The Awards Task Force, made up of Bill Chapman, Helen Morrison and Dwight White, identified nine awards certified as “within the scope of the work of the General Assembly Council.” The Women of Faith Award is included in the nine.
Chapman said there was no standard process or no review process for awards “which got us into the excitement at Fort Worth,” although the General Assembly Council did review the process just before the 1999 General Assembly and voted 41-40 to authorize the three Women of Faith Awards.
For the new standards, the General Assembly staff was instructed to formulate policies and procedures in the selection process for each award, to be approved by the appropriate division. The Women’s Ministries Program Area approved the 1999 Women of Faith Awards.
The item causing the most discussion was the review of award nominees by the division steering committees.
An original recommendation read: “That each selection committee submit proposed recipients for each award to the steering committee of the appropriate division over the names of those serving on the selection committee, prior to informing the proposed recipients of their selection, and that divisional steering committees review the proposed recipient(s) for conformity with current PCUSA Constitutional standards and policies before the selection goes forward.”
Following much debate in the executive committee, the wording was amended by a 5-4 vote to read “…and that divisional steering committees review the proposed recipient(s) in light of the ongoing commitment of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to be both reformed and always reforming as well as to PC(USA) constitutional standards and policies before the selection goes forward.” It was also added that written rationale for the proposed selection be submitted to the steering committee along with the names of the proposed recipients.
A final amendment added the provision that the Awards Task Group be designated to act as an interim review board for the awards to be presented at the 212th General Assembly.
Quote is extended
The standards were debated again at length during the plenary session of the Council’s meeting.
The Council approved an amendment offered by Jeff Bridgeman, who asked that the full quote “Reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God,” be included in the review section (emphasis added).
Another amendment, offered by Cynthia Walton, was also approved to continue the quote to read: “Reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God and to the call of the Spirit” (emphasis added).
“I do not have a problem with the amendment because the Spirit does not contradict the Word of God,” said Bridgeman.
Following much discussion on what happens if the steering committee disapproves of the award nominee, the task force was sent out of the meeting to formalize an appeals process.
The final amendment was proposed by the task force and approved by the council: “In the event the selection committee’s nominee is not accepted by the Division Steering Committee, the selection committee may appeal that decision to the appropriate Division. Any further appeal is to the General Assembly Council, whose decision shall be final. Appeals are limited to questions pertaining to compliance to award criteria.”
Related article:
Douglass, Russell and Spahr receive Women of Faith awards
The Layman Online
June 20, 1999
Editorial:
Peculiar honors: Let’s be clear about who gave what to whom
The Presbyterian Layman
July/August, 1999