The recommendations of the Church Orders and Ministry Committee will now go to the Assembly plenary. The General Assembly plenary convenes on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 PM eastern time.
My understanding of what happened in this committee is that we were hurt only by 07-05
being approved. I believe that we did well with the outcomes of the other agenda items.
3:50 PM The committee will now observe communion together.
3:49 PM The vote to disapprove 07-16 is 44-6-4.
3:46 PM The motion was not approved 6-43-5. Now voting to disapprove.
3:44 PM People are speaking against the approval of the motion.
3:39 PM ACSWP ADVICE AND COUNSEL
Items
07-02, 07-03, 07-06, and 07-16 from the Presbyteries of Stockton,
Central Florida, Washington, and Foothills, respectively, overture the
220th General Assembly (2012) to reinstate, as a standard for
ordination, the requirement that candidates live either in fidelity
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or to live in
chastely in singleness.
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) advises that Items 07-02, 07-03, 07-06, and 07-16 be disapproved.
3:36 PM The last item of business is 07-16.5. Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. In a service of Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith (W-4.9001).”
3:35 PM The motion to approve 07-05 was approved. I don't like this but at least it has to go through plenary.
3:35 PM Voting now.
3:32 PM A young guy is saying that there is a disruption in the covenant. He and several young women were talking in the hallway just now, and one was crying. This was in response to the man who spoke about people leaving the Church.
3:15 PM A young adult is speaking about fear and of how statements are being made about trying to "give" those who are feeling fear a little something to keep them from leaving the church. She said that she does not think that our Church should live in fear. Now a man is talking about how many people have left the denomination, but "so be it."
3:11 PM The elderly female commissioner is discussing the "elephant in the room." Some in her small group feel that homosexuality is a sin and must stop. Others in her small group do not feel that way. She believes that this is what this overture is addressing.
3:11 PM Still debating.
3:09 PM One of the commissioners pointed out this paragraph in the ACC's response: ""Although it is not clear from the rationale, the intent of this overture may be to restore in substance, if not in precise wording, the prohibition from ordination and/or installation for those sexually active outside heterosexual marriage. The phrase “repentance of sin” is reminiscent of the phrase, “repent of any self-acknowledged practice the confessions call sin” that was removed from the Book of Order by action of the assembly and presbyteries in 2010–2011. The Advisory Committee on the Constitution advises the 220th General Assembly (2012) that the insertion of the phrase “repentance of sin” will not have the effect of restoring the recently removed prohibition. Whether a candidate’s manner of life demonstrates the Christian gospel in the church and the world ultimately remains a matter for the council responsible for the ordination and/or installation to determine, under the provisions of G-2.0104b.
3:03 PM A commissioner is sharing his discomfort on the possible inclusion of this wording.
3:00 PM A motion to disapprove 07-05 is being voted on. The motion to disapprove is lost 22-27-4. A motion has been made to approve 07-05.
2:59 PM
The
Presbytery of San Jose overtures the 220th General Assembly (2012) to
direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the
presbyteries for their affirmative or negative vote:
Shall G-2.0104a of the Book of Order be amended as follows: [Text to be added is shown as italic.]
“a. To
those called to exercise special functions in the church—deacons,
ruling elders, and teaching elders—God gives suitable gifts for their
various duties. In addition to possessing the necessary gifts and
abilities, those who undertake particular ministries should be persons
of strong faith, dedicated discipleship, and love of Jesus Christ as
Savior and Lord. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the
Christian gospel in the church and in the world. This includes repentance of sin and diligent use of the means of grace. They must have the approval of God’s people and the concurring judgment of a council of the church.”
2:59 PM
2:53 PM ""Although it is not clear from the rationale, the intent of this overture may be to restore in substance, if not in precise wording, the prohibition from ordination and/or installation for those sexually active outside heterosexual marriage. The phrase “repentance of sin” is reminiscent of the phrase, “repent of any self-acknowledged practice the confessions call sin” that was removed from the Book of Order by action of the assembly and presbyteries in 2010–2011. The Advisory Committee on the Constitution advises the 220th General Assembly (2012) that the insertion of the phrase “repentance of sin” will not have the effect of restoring the recently removed prohibition. Whether a candidate’s manner of life demonstrates the Christian gospel in the church and the world ultimately remains a matter for the council responsible for the ordination and/or installation to determine, under the provisions of G-2.0104b.
2:51 PM 07-05 is being discussed. This replaces some language some of the language that was found in G6-0106b
2:48 PM Disapproval of 07-12 passes.
2:44 PM I love this. One of the older conservative women is worried that this amendment might prohibit women from speaking in church. She has strong opposition that gives people permission to do things that had been dealt with in the past.
2:43 PM A motion has been made to disapprove 07-12.
2:42 PM RECOMMENDATION
The
Presbytery of Wyoming overtures the 220th General Assembly (2012) of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the
following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative
or negative vote:
Shall
G-2.0104b be amended as follows: (Text to be deleted is shown with
strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.)
“Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully and obediently
to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.(F-1.02) The
council responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.2.0402;
G.2.0607; G.3.03060) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts,
preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of ordered
ministry. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a
the candidate’s willingness to lead a life in obedience to Scripture
whereby his or her faith and obedience are nourished and regulated
(Confession of 1967, 9.27), and the determination of the
candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as
expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and
installation (W-4.4003). Councils shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates held to the same standards as the candidates as a basis for their decision to ordain and/or install an officer of the church.”
2:41 PM Item 07-12 is being considered. An overture advocate is speaking to the committee.
2:38 PM A motion to approve 07-01 did not pass. A motion to disapprove is now being voted upon.
2:25 PM 07-01 is now under consideration.
2:23 PM Passed 53-0-0.
2:12 PM A motion has been made to approve 07-07 with amendments. They are lengthy, and so won't be included here.
1:59 PM Item 07-07 is before the committee. This concerns ordination exams.
RECOMMENDATION
The Presbytery of the Cascades overtures the 220th General Assembly (2012) to do the following:
1. Reexamine the viability of testing as a way of discerning a candidate’s suitability for ministry.
2. Reevaluate and reassess the process by which the exams are written, administered, and graded.
RATIONALE
It
has been forty-four years since the standard ordination exams were
established for candidates for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament
(teaching elder). Times have changed and we as a society have discovered
that people today learn and process knowledge in different ways,
especially those persons with learning disabilities as well as those who
come to us from whom English is a second language. Many of our
candidates are failing to pass the exams on the first, second, or even
third attempts.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATION
COMMENT
Item 07-07, Recommendation 02, 2013: $17,660; 2014: $10,260 (per capita - OGA)
(FI also applies to OGA Comment)
(FI also applies to OGA Comment)
The Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns advises that the 220th General Assembly approveItem 07-07 as amended:
Insert new Recommendations 3 and 4 to read as follows:
“[3. Assess the exams’ assumed cultural neutrality and revise exams as needed to address disparities in pass rates.
“[4.
Work with councils to develop effective, alternative methods of
examination, and to encourage their use to grow the pastoral leadership
pool for immigrant communities in need.]”
1:58 PM Motion passes 53-0-0.
1:57 PM Item 07-23:
The
Presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates
(PCCEC) recommends that the 220th General Assembly (2012) establish the
following process for determining PCCEC membership and to include the
“Guiding Principles” of the PCCEC (see Appendix A) in the Manual of the General Assembly’s Guidelines and Policies:
MEMBERS:
The Presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates
(PCCEC) will be composed of no fewer than twelve members and no more
than twenty-four members who are ruling or teaching elders in the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Any changes to this membership range will
require a two-thirds majority vote of the PCCEC before submission to
commissioners at a General Assembly for action on behalf of the
presbyteries.
•
Every two years, the PCCEC will review the number of members required
to complete its work and will set a specific number of members within
the range approved by the presbyteries by action of commissioners to the
General Assembly.
•
No more than half and no less than one-third of the members will be
elected by the General Assembly to four-year terms on a staggered
schedule. These members will be eligible to be reelected for an
additional term. Candidates for these positions are nominated through
the General Assembly Nominating Committee with consideration being given
to areas of needed expertise, to gender and racial ethnic
representation, to an approximate balance of ruling and teaching elders,
and to various subcultures within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with
regard to the overall composition of the PCCEC.
•
Remaining members of the PCCEC will be elected from among and by
examination readers designated by the presbyteries. To facilitate
representation from across the church, the PCCEC will group presbyteries
into regions. The reader representatives will be nominated from and
voted on by readers from their respective regional groupings of
presbyteries following procedures determined by the PCCEC. These members
will be elected and serve on a staggered schedule in four-year terms,
and will be eligible to be reelected for an additional term.
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