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Commissioners had questions, we have answers |
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A number of questions surfaced during this year's Commissioner's Orientation session. See the answers in this written report. [Read more] |
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These resources will help you interpret the Assembly |
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Continuing the Journey (Data CD)
Contains highlights and reviews of the 216th General Assembly (2004). Materials include photos, news releases, a searchable database of GA actions, an outline of a PowerPoint presentation for interpreting the GA back home, and more. Free copy provided to commissioners and advisory delegates.
 #OGA04033 - $5.00
[See more resources] |
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Stand against gay-ordination
upheld |
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Assembly turns
back bid to set aside '78 ‘authoritative interpretation'
The 216th General Assembly voted Friday
evening to retain an “authoritative interpretation”
of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that forbids
the ordination of “self-affirming, practicing homosexuals”
as officers of the church.
The Assembly's Committee on Church Orders
and Ministry had proposed that the interpretation, adopted in
1978 and re-affirmed several times by General Assemblies and
church courts, be declared to be no longer binding on sessions
and presbyteries. [Read more] |
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Kirkpatrick re-elected as stated
clerk |
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The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick,
the General Assembly stated clerk, easily won re-election to
a third four-year term Friday morning in a first-ballot victory
over three evangelical challengers.
Kirkpatrick received 349 votes, nearly 66
percent. |
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The Rev. Robert “Bob”
Davis, a pastor from Escondido, CA, who is also executive director
of the conservative renewal organization, the Presbyterian Forum,
finished second with 137 votes. The Rev. Linn “Rus”
Howard, a pastor from Venetia, PA, finished third, with 25, and
Elder Alex Metherell, of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport
Beach, CA, trailed with 19. [Read more] |
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Families paper approved |
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The General Assembly overwhelmingly
approved a much-rewritten report on the ever-changing American
family Thursday night. After a brief
discussion, the commissioners endorsed “Transforming Families,”
which sets Presbyterian Church (USA) policy for ministering
to families, by a vote of 482 to 23, with four abstentions.
The Assembly's National Issues Committee had recommended approval.
Last year's Assembly had a far different experience
with the original version of the report, authored by the denomination's
Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) in response
to an order from the 1997 Assembly. [Read
more] |
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Youth Advisory Delegate Sarah Filson
from Monmouth Presbytery offers her viewpoint during the Health
Issues floor debate. Photo by Danny Bolin
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Bid to change abortion policy
fails
The General Assembly voted Thursday to have
PC(USA) officials issue a pastoral letter on problem pregnancy
calling attention to existing “excellent” resources
available to women dealing with such pregnancies and asking
congregations to help find adoptive families in the faith community
for children whose mothers cannot care for them.
The commissioners earlier voted by the slimmest
of margins — four votes — not to consider the majority
report of the Assembly Health Issues Committee, but instead
to take up a minority report recommending the pastoral letter.
[Read more] |
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Theological task force report approved
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The General Assembly approved
the interim report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity
and Purity of the Church Wednesday, endorsing its call for sessions
and presbyteries to bring Presbyterians of differing theological
views together in covenant to discuss its affirmations.
The report was presented by Jenny Stoner, a co-chair of the
task force, and members Mark Achtemeier and Stacy Johnson.
Achtemeier, a professor of theology at Dubuque Theological
Seminary, said: “Do we make purity our main principle
— or accept compromises, and make peace and unity our
priorities? None of the above. This is a false approach. This
is all about us.” [Read more] |
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Budget panel's business sails through
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With little debate and just
one amendment, the General Assembly acted on the recommendations
of its Mission Coordination and Budget committee “in record
time,” committee Moderator Catesby Woodford said from the
podium Thursday night. The Assembly
approved a commissioner's resolution to “strengthen Hispanic-Latino
ministry” in the church through the hiring of more Spanish-speaking
staff and implementation of a new Hispanic strategy in the 2007-2008
budget. [Read more] |
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Worship plates a smash hit
The Sunday worship service at the 216th General
Assembly was a high point for the 8,000 people who attended,
and the more than 2,000 volunteers who made it possible.
For the Rev. Michelle Junkin, it was a dream
come true.
Junkin, an associate pastor of Ginter
Park Presbyterian Church and one of Richmond-area artists who
created the vividly-painted “charger” plates that
were put under the pewter Communion sets in the Richmond coliseum.
The other artists were the Rev. Janet James, an associate pastor
of Second Presbyterian Church, and Janice McMurray, an active
Presbyterian lay person. [Read more] |
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Three local artists Rev. Michelle, Phillip
Junkin, Janice McMurray and The Rev. Janet James created the painted
chargers used on the communion table during Sunday's opening worship
service. Photo by David P. Young |
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Arizona elder chosen as moderator
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Elder Rick Ufford-Chase,
a 40-year-old border mission worker from the Southside Presbyterian
Church in Tucson, Arizona, was elected moderator of the 216th
General Assembly Saturday night. Ufford-Chase
will be the first Presbyterian Church (USA) moderator to serve
for two years.
He apparently impressed the commissioners
with his deep commitment to risky, life-on-the-line mission
work.
Ufford-Chase founded BorderLinks, a
bi-national organization that tries to connect and educate people
of faith on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. He has served
BorderLinks for 17 years. [Read more] |
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Photo by Danny Bolin |
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