The Advice and Counsel Team of the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns came to the 217th General Assembly (2006) with 25 Advice and Counsel Memoranda (A&Cs), two resolutions and a self-study report. These documents provided advice to nine of the 14 committees. Below is an overview of issues dealing with women or those that require a gender lens.

Social Justice

The Assembly voted to direct the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) — in correlation with ACWC — to develop a comprehensive and creative policy on ending homelessness. The Assembly also voted to challenge each Presbyterian congregation and presbytery to embrace a comprehensive approach to "advocacy and welcome" for immigrants. Also approved was a paper on "Just Globalization" from ACSWP.

International Issues

The Assembly agreed with ACWC to approve five overtures in Committee 11. Two were supporting the people in Sudan, the Darfur region and promoting peace. One was to support the Congolese people. One appointed a special committee to explore the radical reduction of the impact of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The last overture was to condemn international trafficking in and sexual abuse of children.

Christian Education

The overtures involving the creation of a fourth ordained office of Christian Educator were referred to the Office of Theology and Worship, which will prepare a study. ACWC will be involved in this discussion.

Abortion

Three overtures came to the floor this year on the subject of abortion. The Assembly adopted a new statement attempting to affirm the 1993 policy and add to it, although there are several contradictions among the new statement and the 1993 policy.  The pastoral, well-written resources from recent years (When Pregnancy Involves Loss, for example) have now been replaced with a short statement. One other overture “standing clearly against abortion” was substituted with an alternate resolution asking each presbytery “create task forces to replicate [Presbytery of Mississippi’s] process of prayer and study, that hearts and minds may be open to God’s wisdom through Scripture, other resources and one another, and to direct the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to communicate this action to the presbyteries.” The Assembly approved the alternate resolution. The Assembly disapproved the overture asking for financial support for or against abortion.

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