Commentary: A preview of the
2010 PCUSA General Assembly
By Carmen Fowler, The Layman, January 21, 2010
I like to think in terms of principles and categories and I see things in terms of trends and lists. So, taking into account the way my mind works, here is my preview of the 2010 PCUSA General Assembly:
General Assembly Deadlines
Deadlines for items to be considered by the 219th General Assembly are as follows:
- March 5: 120-day deadline for amendments to, or interpretation of, the Book of Order.
- May 4: 60-day deadline for overtures with financial implications.
- May 19: 45-day deadline for all other overtures
Presbytery deadlines for proposed General Assembly business or overtures vary. Please contact your presbytery for information on presbytery meeting schedules.
Timing, setting and environment
- July 3-10: No one will miss the fact that the July 4th celebration of our national independence falls into this range. One should anticipate many groups laying claim to the independence theme and seeking to capitalize on the patriotic emotion that surrounds this holiday. For those who oppose U.S. sanctions and U.S. military action, the opportunity to offend those who are proud to be American will be impossible to resist.
- Minneapolis: Few will miss the fact that Twin Cities Presbytery is one of the most liberal and progressive presbyteries in the PCUSA. Minneapolis was the site of the Re-Imagining God Conference, the place where the Episcopalians elevated a homosexual, Gene Robinson to bishop, the home presbytery of Paul Capetz (see page 18), and most recently the site of last summer’s national meeting where the Lutherans decided to set aside the Biblical and historical standards of ordination to accommodate non-celibate people into church leadership (see page 16-17).
- As is always the case, the overwhelming majority of voting commissioners (>75 percent) will be making their first trip to a GA meeting. Additionally, half of the 40 members of the General Assembly Mission Council (formerly the GAC) are also “new” since the GA met in 2008. As commissioners and GAMC members are still elected for “representation” requirements, not because they have particular expertise or qualified experience to make decisions about the denomination, the experienced members of the GA staff, advisory committees, and task forces are the “experts” and bear tremendous influence in the GA process.
Trends and categories
- “Missional” – if you are not familiar with the Missional Church Movement or the term “missional,” you will want to become educated on the subject as it will be the most oft-used word at this assembly.
- 217th GA action on Peace, Unity and Purity report.
- 218th action on the Authoritative Interpretation’s.
- 219th consideration of the New Form of Government (nFOG). Commissioners to the 219th GA will be challenged to consider sweeping changes to our polity. The Book of Order has been re-written by the nFOG Task Force. The task force was influenced by the actions of the 217th GA related to the Report on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church (PUP). You may recall that the PUP report advocated for “local option” and a mandate that we all respect one another’s “sincerely held beliefs.” The nFOG seeks to constitutionalize what PUP advocated.
What can you do?
Pray: Presbyterian Elders in Prayer is organizing prayer initiatives prior to and during the meeting of the General Assembly.
Assembly business in broad categories
Theology
- Biblical authority; essentials; pluralism;
- ecclesiology
- Confessions: Heidelberg/Belhar
- Israel/Palestine
Ethics
- Ordination standards (G-6.0106b)
- Marriage definition: Read the Mt. Nebo paper at www.theird.org
- Church property
- Abortion
- Hate Crimes
- Health Care Reform
- War
Polity
- nFOG: Read The Presbyterian Coalition’s analysis for more information.
- Presbyterians For Renewal’s 17th Synod model proposal
- Expect other missional polity models
- Relationship of the PCUSA to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)
Prepare:
- Read and study in preparation to engage in conversations with your pastor, session, presbytery commissioners, and the wider culture.
- Elect accountable commissioners from your presbytery: Encourage your commissioners to defend the current definition of marriage and encourage your commissioners to defend the current standards for ordination.
- Propose that your session ask your presbytery to concur with the action of Beaver Butler Presbytery in response to the 218th General Assembly.
- Propose that your session send an overture to your presbytery:
– Missional Form of Government as an alternative to nFOG.
– Removing the “trust clause” from chapter 8 of the Book of Order.
– Repealing “The Social Creed” passed by the 2008 GA.
– Removing abortion coverage from the benefits plan. - Participate Saturday, July 3 – Saturday, July 10, Minneapolis, Minn.
Watch for information about PLC events at GA:
- Church Property Law event featuring Lloyd Lunceford.
- Release of the 2nd edition of The Guide to Church Property Law.
- Author signings at the PLC booth, including Russ Stevenson signing Forgotten Foundation (2009) and Lloyd Lunceford signing 2nd edition copies of The Guide to Church Property Law (July 2010).
I will be at the assembly throughout the week and look forward to visiting with you, praying with you, and standing with you for the truth.
Carmen Fowler is president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of its publications.