Overture 04-41. On Amending G-9.0503 Regarding Voice and Vote for Immigrant Fellowships—From the Presbytery of Des Moines.

The Presbytery of Des Moines overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendments to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:

Shall G-9.0503a(2) be amended by adding a new paragraph “(a)” to read as follows:

“a. For immigrant fellowships the presbytery may, if it determines that its strategy for mission with that constituency requires it, grant a fellowship voice and vote in the meetings of presbytery on an annual basis.”

Rationale

The Presbytery of Des Moines and the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley, in partnership with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the General Assembly, have jointly shared in a ministry to Sudanese immigrants for five years.

The Presbytery of Des Moines and the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley both support the General Assembly’s strategy for racial ethnic evangelism.

The Sudanese members of the new immigrant fellowships that have been formed have a long history of being Presbyterian.

The Sudanese fellowships and the presbyteries both desire fuller inclusion of the fellowships in the life of their respective presbyteries, but have been impeded by the current requirement for forming congregations and ordaining elders.

Section G-11.0404f grants special circumstances for recognizing the ordination of and enrolling a new immigrant ministry.

Concurrences to Overture 04-41 from the Presbyteries of Missouri River, National Capital, and Santa Fe.