July 3: Church Orders & Ministry Committee

All times are Eastern time.

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).”

July 2: Church Orders & Ministry Committee

All times are Eastern

9:40 PM  Tomorrow's business will possibly be contentious, so please continue to pray!  Sleep well.

9:39 PM  Leadership team is expressing thanks to committee for their patience and questions today.  Closing for the night with prayer.

9:37 PM  Comment states, "We further request that this statement be brought before each presbytery at a stated meeting in which the report from the 220th General Assembly is given."  Comment is accepted 43-10-1.

9:35 PM  Motion carried 39 yes, 14 no, 1 abstaining.  Now they need to vote to add a comment to the motion.

9:31 PM  Now voting to approve 07-17 (which will include 07-18 & 07-24) as amended.

9:29 PM  Now voting to approve the amendment as stated below, which I thought they did before.  Approved 35-18-1.   ???  The press table is quite confused.

9:27 PM  More discussion.

9:21 PM    Approved - 39-8-6.  The amendment passes, so it will amend the original main motion.

9:19 PM  Voting again.

9:18 PM  Problem - there are 54 people on the committee, but 55 votes.

9:15 PM  ""Therefore, while holding persons in ordered ministry to high standards of covenant fidelity in the exercise of their sexuality, as in all aspects of life, we acknowledge that the PCUSA does not have one interpretation of Scripture in this matter.  We commit ourselves to continue reseptful dialogue with those who hold differing convictions, to welcome one another for God's glory, and not to vilify those whose convictions we believe to be in error.  We call on al Presbyyterians to join us in this commitment."  This was approved 43-7-5.  This now becomes the amendment.

9:14 PM  Want to learn about polity?  Come to GA!