GA06058
General Assembly Procedures
After a long day comes the recommendation to approve the closing of PHS at Montreat
by Janet Hilley
Overture Advocate Steve Pharr from Salem Presbytery speaks on behalf of an overture to preserve the Presbyterian Historical Society's office at Montreat. Photo by Joseph Williams
BIRMINGHAM, June 17 — The General Assembly Procedures committee voted late Saturday night to recommend approval of a recommendation from the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) to close the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) at Montreat, NC. The vote was 27-14, with 6 abstentions.
The committee's recommendation included an amendment directing COGA, the Montreat Conference Center, Columbia Theological Seminary and the Friends of the Historical Foundation at Montreat to develop programs and resources together.
Earlier in the day, the committee had voted to recommend that the Assembly disapprove the COGA recommendation to close the Montreat facility. However, a motion to reconsider that action led to the eventual reversal of the initial vote.
Committee members expressed appreciation for the difficult work of COGA over the past two years as they sought options for continuing the PHS Montreat office, and acknowledged the deep feelings of loss on the part of those working to keep the facility open. |
