MLP General Assembly Legislative Summary, July 6

Civil Unions & Marriage

The General Assembly disapproved overture 13-04 to amend W-4.9001 to change the definition of marriage from a "man and a woman" to "two people" by 308-338-2. The two minority reports related to this overture were also disapproved. For more information, visit the plenary overview.

Attempts to reintroduce overtures 13-05 and 13-02 were disapproved. These authoritative interpretations would have allowed Teaching Elders and Certified Ruling Elders to perform weddings for same gender loving couples in those states which have made it legal, and for whom a legal marriage license has been issued.

13-NB, a legislative item crafted in the Civil Union & Marriage Committee calling for study, was approved by 489-152-0. It answered all of the overtures in the committee.


Part 2 of 4 | Part 3 of 4 | Part 4 of 4

Church Orders & Ministry

An attempt to reinstate previous ordination standards was disapproved by the General Assembly. Overture 07-02 was the minority report for overture 07-17. The General Assembly disapproved substitution of the minority report for the majority report by 169-487-6.

The General Assembly approved overture 07-17 by 405-230-7. The overture makes the statement that faithful Presbyterians hold different views about what the Scriptures teach "concerning the morality of committed, same-gender relationships."

Overture 07-05 adding the words "this includes repentance of sin and diligent use of the means of grace" to G-2.0104a was approved by 329-275-9. This will go to the presbyteries for ratification.

MLP General Assembly Legislative Summary, July 4

The General Assembly approved overture 18-03, the Report of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism to the 220th General Assembly (2012). It was approved by voice vote. The proposed amended Heidelberg Catechism will now be sent to the presbyteries for ratification.

The General Assembly approved overture 18-01, On Amending The Book of Confessions to Include the Confession of Belhar. It was approved by 395-264-6.

MLP General Assembly Legislative Summary, July 3

The Civil Union & Marriage committee approved overture 13-04 to amend W-4.9001 to change the definition of marriage from a "man and a woman" to "two people" by 28 to 24. Overture 13-05, the authoritative interpretation, was disapproved by 24 to 26. The committee also approved legislation calling on the PCUSA to study the meaning of Christian marriage:

In a desire to promote the peace, unity and purity of the church, I move the whole Presbyterian Church USA enter into a season of serious study and discernment concerning the meaning of Christian Marriage in the two year period between the 220th General Assembly and the 221st General Assembly.  I would further move the Office of Theology and Worship prepare and distribute educational materials to all presbyteries and congregations.

These materials should include the relevant scripture key methods of biblical interpretations current understanding of our constitution and some suggested guidance for prayerful and reconciling ways of listening to one another.

We would ask that all presbyteries report to the Office of General Assembly on how this was conducted in their congregations at least three months prior to the 221st General Assembly. 

This motion is offered in the hope and trust that  such discernment will genuinely seek the rule and will of God be done in our Presbyterian Church as it is in heaven under the guidance of the triune God.

More detail is available on MLP's live blog of the Civil Union & Marriage committee. You may also read and listen to the Overture Advocate speeches.



Attempts to reinstate previous ordination standards were disapproved in the Church Orders & Ministry committee. More detail is available on MLP's live blog of the committee. Overture 07-05 adding the words "this includes repentance of sin and diligent use of the means of grace" to G-2.0104a was approved by 28-20-5. Watch the committee video.

The Church Polity committee moved to disapprove all overtures that preemptively allowed churches to leave the denomination with their property if they disagree with G-2.0104b and other parts of the Book of Order without consulting the presbytery. Watch the committee video.

The Mid Councils Review committee moved to disapprove overtures that would allow union churches and presbyteries to reject certain standards in the Book of Order including G-2.0104b and non-geographic presbyteries based on opposition to G-2.0104b and other parts of the Book of Order. Watch the committee video.

The Confessions of the Church committee approved overture 18-01 on the Confession of Belhar. Watch the committee video.

The Board of Pensions, Foundation, Presbyterian Publishing committee moved to disapprove with comment overture 20-11, On Amending G-2.0804 Regarding Freedom of Conscience Regarding the Benefits Plan. Watch the committee video.

MLP General Assembly Legislative Summary, July 2

The Church Orders & Ministry Committee passed Overture 07-17, On Honoring Christ in Our Relationships with One Another from the Presbytery of Sacramento with amendments. Please view the live blog for more details.

The Civil Union & Marriage Committee conducted open hearings, heard from Overture Advocates and started a discernment process about the legislation. Please view the live blog for more details.

The Confessions of the Church Committee passed Overture 18-03, Report of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism to the 220th General Assembly (2012). The Belhar Confession will be considered tomorrow.

MLP Board Member Madeline Jervis provided the following report from the Mid-Councils Review Committee.

It was an orientation and learning session throughout the day. In the afternoon they were learning about the missional purpose of non-geographic presbyteries. Members of the commission thought that non-geographic presbyteries would break us out of our old patterns. We believe these should be for missional purposes only. It is unfortunate that recent political developments have caused people to forget about our missional purpose.

Overture advocates from Stockton and Santa Barbara are calling for flexible boundaries for union congregations and presbyeries to hold on to their freedom of conscience so that when there is a conflict between the standards of the relevant denominations, the church leaders can make “wise and godly” decisions about which standard they will apply.

There was strong resistance to dissolving the synod structure.