Summary report on the June 20-23 meeting

Overview: the big questions
The Advisory Committee held its summer meeting at the Louisville General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) offices to consult with members of the staff leadership on particular issues and broader directions for its social policy development and communication. The committee worked through a substantial agenda, relating to many basic mission commitments of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and raising at many points questions about the relation of the Gospel to social and environmental justice. The committee heard good news that approximately a fifth of congregations have specific committees on social concerns or mission and that many more study issues such as those dealt with by ACSWP and justice ministries of the GAMC. At the same time, the Advisory Committee recognized the gap that endures in many members’ minds between “the Gospel” and the “world,” a gap that ACSWP, program offices and governing bodies need to address in light of our Reformed tradition. This led to frank discussion of the most effective focus, scope and methods for ACSWP’s work, both on particular policy statements and on the theological underpinnings of the General Assembly’s social witness stances. In particular, the committee revisited the relationship between its “advisory” policy role vis-à-vis the General Assembly and its responsibilities to provide study guides and other educational resources to congregations to assist them to interpret those policies.

Main Items of Business:
The committee heard a presentation on the substantial draft policy statement, “Comfort My People,” reviewed the document in both plenary and small group sessions and received the report from the Task Force that prepared it. (The title echoes God’s words in the book of Isaiah, addressed to a people in exile, with serious mental illness understood as a kind of exile.) The committee commended the task force for a job well done. An amended version of the report will now go to the next preparation stage, a consultation in September to which each synod will be asked to send a person knowledgeable about the church’s mission and witness in the area of mental illness. The Advisory Committee thanked the chair of the task force, Brenda Gales, Tom Davis, another Task Force member, and Susan Dunlap, the consultant writer, all of whom came to the meeting. Nancy Troy of Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) was among those commenting on the draft report, which inevitably prompts discussion of faith and forms of healing or recovery possible for very difficult conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression. ACSWP’s scope itself inevitably relates to the church’s ministries of compassion as well as its ministries of justice and society-wide efforts to prevent or ameliorate such conditions.

The Advisory Committee worked on and eventually approved draft outlines of two resolutions, one on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the other on the Iraq war and its long-term impacts. In relation to the first, the committee heard from Jean-Marie Peacock, vice-moderator of the 2004 General Assembly and a minister coordinating reconstruction efforts in the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana. Susan Ryan of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) reported that more than 25,000 PC(USA) members have volunteered to date but also identified continuing challenges to our careful administration of funds there and preparation for other “multi-layered” disasters. Teresa Sauceda also reported on the Advocacy Committee for Racial-Ethnic Concerns’ hearing on February 16 and other information they have gathered, including material from the conference held in New Orleans in January by PHEWA. Other staff present with mission responsibility in this area included Vanessa Hawkins, associate for Black Congregational Enhancement, DeBorah Gilbert White, associate for Cultural Proficiency, Bridgett Green, associate for Racial-Ethnic Young Women’s ministries, and Tiffany Gonzales, intern for the Advocacy Committee on Racial-Ethnic Concerns.

In relation to the prospective resolution on Iraq, the committee was guided by Peacemaking and Middle East program staff and its desire to build on rather than re-do existing policy, such as the 2004 General Assembly’s now over-confirmed judgment that the Iraq war was “unwise, immoral, and illegal.” What are the continuing ethical responsibilities of the United States to the Iraqi people, even if the disastrous occupation is concluded under effective international authority? What is the state of the church in Iraq and in other majority-Muslim countries where Christians are linked to the practices of the United States and Israel? Planning for dialogue with Muslims on “prospects for peace” is thus among the long-term elements to be taken into account in the resolution’s focus. In distributing this draft outline well in advance of the General Assembly, ACSWP recognizes that many changes will occur in a very tragic situation and that Christian witness to end the war will continue. How does this international concern relate to the nature of violence in US culture? The Committee welcomes reflections and sermons on our Christian responsibilities from across the Church and will be working especially with our UN office in developing this vital piece on the lessons of this war for future international mission and witness.

The Advisory Committee discussed how to restructure its 20-year practice of providing lengthy “human rights updates” in light of current resource constraints, while continuing to honor the church’s longtime commitment to human rights. In light of the every-other-year meeting schedule of the General Assembly, the solution seems to lie in using more digital and fewer human and financial resources. (Last year’s resolution against torture, for example, includes a brief survey of international human rights concerns while focusing on the most important developments.) The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, an opportunity to review the significant role played by ecumenical churches in advancing these standards for human behavior. Since this report was always a joint effort of the World Mission area coordinators, the U.N. and Washington Offices, and ACSWP, its re-conception is also a joint effort. The World Mission website will, however, contain postings of timely information on human rights concerns and links to coordinated efforts of partner churches, such as the United Church of Christ of the Philippines, faced with on-going attacks on pastors and lay-members.

ACSWP reviewed progress from its on-going resolution teams: Nature and Value of Human Life, Pay Equity, Voting Rights and Electoral Reform, and Homelessness and heard two reports on meetings involving regional church leaders; with regard to GA resolutions on Smithfield Foods in North Carolina and investments in Palestine and Israel, involving Caterpillar Tractor in Illinois. Another resolution, on a Social Creed (a short consensus statement of principles and directions) for the 21st Century, being prepared in coordination with the National Council of Churches of Christ, will undergo relatively limited modification on its way to the NCC Governing Board. Study materials to go with the 2006 resolution, Just Globalization, are being prepared in light of a small ecumenical consultation held with a range of economists and ethicists in early May in Chicago. ACSWP’s study of Voting Rights and Electoral Reform and the newly authorized resolution on New Orleans, will be done in cooperation with ACREC. In addition to their work on legislative matters summarized by Elenora Ivory, the Washington Office hosted the first meeting of the Voting Reform study group. The study of Pay Equity in society and the church is being conducted in consultation with ACWC.

The discussions reported among Presbyterians in North Carolina related to Smithfield Foods’ labor practices in Tar Heel, N.C., and in Illinois related to the use of Caterpillar bulldozers in Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine, received affirmation from the committee. At the same time, they may illuminate the need for the committee to invest greater efforts in the issues of institutional communications to members and interpretation of policy. In both areas the PC(USA) has raised moral questions about the actions or impacts of major employers whose economic presence looms large in the lives of local Presbyterians, posing unavoidable conflicts of loyalty and challenges to values and communities.

Committee members were self-critical and analytical in looking at ways that long-terms gaps in communication among the governing bodies of the church can be bridged. This discussion, assisted by Barry Creech of the communications office, looked at the specific loss of vehicles like Church & Society magazine and the general, culture-wide ways that the prophetic and moral dimensions of faith are often split from personal growth and care-giving. If our faith is ever-reforming and based in the full message of Jesus Christ, how does ACSWP help strengthen the consciences of PC(USA) members and the integrity of the church as a whole?*

Toward the end of its meeting, the committee authorized its several theological educators, ethicists and staff to develop an accessible policy education piece focused on John Calvin’s ethical thought, including his considerable teaching and biblical interpretation on social and economic matters. This piece would reflect the efforts of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of John Calvin’s birth in 1509 and would be designed to complement work of the Theology, Worship and Education program area described by its director, Joe Small. Rev. Small spoke to the differences in approach between his program area and ACSWP and was gracious to suggest possible joint work in curriculum where our efforts may overlap. The committee also viewed a proposal from Prof Hal Brietenberg for an ethics curriculum for high school students who have been confirmed in the church.

Meetings with Staff Leadership:
The committee was pleased to be able to hear from Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council, and a good number of other GAMC staff: Curtis Kearns, executive administrator; Sara Lisherness, director of the Peace & Justice Program Area; Victor Makari of the Middle East Office; Mark Koenig, new coordinator of the Peacemaking Program; Barry Creech, who guides communications strategy for the GAMC; Robina Winbush, director for Ecumenical Relations in the Office of the General Assembly; Susan Ryan, coordinator of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance; Nancy Troy, associate for the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association; and Joe Small, director of the Theology, Worship and Education program area. Executive Director Valentine reviewed the new GAMC structure and goals, invited ACSWP members to share their perceptions and gave members a strong sense of the guidance of peace, justice and the other GAMC goals across all program areas. Many of the seven ACSWP members present were acquainted with some of the staff, but Ms. Valentine was best known (and warmly welcomed) by ACSWP members Gordon Edwards and Esperanza Guajardo, two of the three GAMC members who also serve on ACSWP.

The committee also heard reports from its usual liaison areas: the Advocacy Committee for Racial-Ethnic Concerns (ACREC), the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC), the Washington Office, the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) public witness section and the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI), an interagency committee that includes an ACSWP member. Because the meeting was held in Louisville, staff officers for the Advocacy Committees were able to be present; normally, elected members serve as liaisons. Thus Teresa Chavez Sauceda of ACREC and Molly Casteel of ACWC were present, in addition to Elenora Ivory, director of the Washington Office, Vernon Broyles, volunteer for public witness in the OGA and Bill Somplatsky-Jarman, associate for Mission Responsibiity Through Investment. Shorter visits were made by yet other staff, contributing their insight on parts of the business. Although all the acronyms can be an alphabet soup, it shows the range of organizational units with which the Advisory Committee must properly interact and communicate.

The Advisory Committee’s next meeting will be held October 24-27, 2007, in New Orleans, where fact-finding on the Church’s possible role in continuing post-Katrina re-development will constitute a central activity. The committee had initially planned to spend some time on a “hands-on” work project, but time constraints may now make this more difficult.

This is not a complete record of the meeting; nor is it the Presbyterian News Service coverage. It is designed to give a reasonably quick treatment, with thanks to all who participated in the meeting and study teams.

ACSWP Staff
*Among the questions: Is there still a consensus within the church about the corporate nature of the church’s witness for peace and justice? Or is there a new convergence between “mainstream” and “evangelical” views on many peace and justice topics, exemplified in figures such as Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo and Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals?