The Kiskiminetas Presbytery approved an overture seeking to change the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s definition of marriage to once again reflect that marriage is between “one man and one woman.” That definition was changed March 17 of this year when a majority of PCUSA presbyteries ratified the vote of the 221st General Assembly (2014) to change…
By Benjamin E. Williams Special to The Layman As the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) meets in Detroit in June, it will – among other hot-button issues – be again considering its relations with Israel. One of the most disturbing overtures concerns our hymnbooks and liturgical resources. A Palestinian-American Presbyterian wrote to…
It was the closest vote of the 2012 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). By the narrow margin of 333-331, commissioners turned aside a proposal to divest PCUSA holdings in three companies that sell non-lethal products to the Israeli military. Instead the commissioners chose an approach that emphasized “active investment” to build up the…
The Layman The Presbytery of San Gabriel has asked the 221st General Assembly to issue a new Authoritative Interpretation, (AI) “regarding the dismissal of congregations to ecclesiastical bodies of other denominations.” However, that language used in Overture 46’s title may be a little misleading. The proposed AI reads: “Presbyteries may dismiss congregations to other ecclesiastical…
The Layman A Presbyterian Church (USA) presbytery is asking this summer’s General Assembly (221st) to call for a “an immediate moratorium on all executions in all jurisdictions that impose capital punishment.” Overture 026 from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta also asks for Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons to communicate the call for a moratorium – including…
The Layman In the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Book of Order, the questions for ordination and installation of church officers refer to Scripture several times. Since, “in each case, the Scripture is elevated to an authoritative status” a presbytery has overtured the 221st General Assembly to change the denomination’s constitution to require church councils to be…
The Layman A two-year study to discern how to advocate for “effective drug policies grounded in science, compassion and human rights” has been proposed to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) by San Francisco Presbytery. Overture 029’s rationale states that the denomination “has clearly recognized the moral mandate to reexamine our nation’s…
The Layman An overture to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) seeks to clarify what is actually meant by “essentials of the Reformed faith.” The rationale of Overture 032, from the Presbytery of Upper Ohio Valley, states that candidates for ordained office in the Presbyterian Church (USA) are asked whether they receive…
The Layman In 2008, the 218th General Assembly voted to change the name of Youth Advisory Delegates (YADS) to Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADS), and this summer, that name could be changed again. The Synod of the Covenant has forwarded an overture (020) to the 221st General Assembly, meeting June 14-21 in Detroit, Mich., to…
The Layman An overture from the Presbytery of Homestead is asking the 2014 General Assembly to require synods and presbyteries to seek consultation before any possible reorganization of synod or presbytery boundaries. Overture 028 asks the GA to respond to any plan for comprehensive reorganization of synod or presbytery boundaries by encouraging presbyteries to consult…