The A&C group
wrote 32 Advice and Counsel Memoranda in response to 19 presbytery
overtures to the General Assembly, one report and two Commissioner
Resolutions that were submitted for consideration at the Assembly
itself. The General Assembly commissioners fully agreed with
ACWC's advice 63 percent of the time, partially agreed with
ACWC on 18 percent of the issues and disagreed 20 percent of
the time.
Two of the topics
that ACWC resourced were identified among the "Top Ten" assembly issues — constitutional
amendments on sexual misconduct and overtures relating to
abortion. Eleven constitutional amendments on sexual misconduct were
introduced which increased protection for the victim while
setting clearer standards of communication and discipline
for the church. All of the actions proposed moving toward
restoration of community and healing for the victims during
and after the judicial process. The commissioners and ACWC
were generally in agreement. However, a few differences and
presbytery implementation issues suggest that advocacy is
still necessary in this area.
Three abortion items were very hotly
contested. ACWC supports the current policy of PC(USA), which
trusts women's decision-making capacity in difficult circumstances
while encouraging the church to maintain a pastoral role of
support. This position was barely supported by the General
Assembly's agreement with a minority report to send a recently
created brochure, "When Pregnancy Involves Loss," and
other pastoral resources to all congregations.
Other reproductive health options,
1) to make available safe, economical, accessible and effective
emergency contraceptives, and 2) to support international agencies
providing family planning and thus providing education and
resources for women around the world, were not supported by
General Assembly. While PC(USA) retains strong policy supporting
contraception and family planning, we must continue education
in this area, particularly among youth.
Recognizing that HIV/AIDS is increasingly
affecting women, ACWC joined the Advocacy
Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns (ACREC) in encouraging
a new special offering to raise more funds to prevent the spread
of the disease and work towards treatment for those affected.
The commissioners agreed that more funds were needed but voted
to use the Extra Commitment Opportunities process instead.
Concern for the "additional costs" that
co-pastors incur with the use of current rules of the Board
of Pensions led both ACWC and the General Assembly to
agree on the importance of modifying those rules.
ACWC advised not to adopt "A Christian
Declaration on Marriage," because it did not acknowledge
that domestic violence and abuse are just causes for divorce
and because it overstated the economic benefits of marriage
while ignoring couples in unjust economic situations. The commissioners
chose to ask congregations to "join in a year of prayer
for marriage renewal and reconciliation" instead of adopting
the declaration.
ACWC supported efforts to increase the representation
of Youth Advisory Delegates at General Assembly, as
the number of commissioners will soon be increasing. The Assembly
did not vote to increase youth representation, but allowed
advisory delegates to maintain current privileges which include
voice and vote in committee.
The General Assembly also elected all proposed
members of ACWC.
Overall, ACWC celebrates the results of this
General Assembly. The outcome also cautions women to be aware
of these and other issues in their area of witness. We all
must be advocates, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in
our own areas for women's concerns. This must continue across
generations or we will lose the advances that have been made
both in the United States and across the world. |
