GA06086

GA acts on Trinity paper

Assembly votes to 'receive' and commend to the church

by Bill Lancaster

BIRMINGHAM, June 19 — The 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a recommendation today to receive and commend to the church for study the paper, "The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing." The vote was 282 to 212, with 7 abstentions.

The original recommendation from the General Assembly Council called for the Assembly to approve the paper. An amendment during the debate changed the word to "receive" when some commissioners expressed concern that the word approve meant endorsement. While a majority of the commissioners were uncertain about endorsing it, they were ready to commend it to congregations for study.

Even if approved, the paper would not have had the weight of the confessions and statements of faith found in the PC(USA) Constitution. It would have had only the endorsement of this particular General Assembly.

A second amendment added words to the section on baptism that support only the use of the words "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" in baptism. Specifically, the amendment added the phrase, "with the exception of the baptismal formula itself." The full sentence now reads, "With the exception of the baptismal formula itself, we are also free to supplement this language with additional Trinitarian images to reflect the expansive grace, love, and communion of the one God."

Only 48 percent of the commissioners supported a minority report that would have sent the paper back to the Office of Theology and Worship for further consultation with churches.

After the amended main motion was approved, a motion to reconsider failed by a vote of 222-260.

In other action, Catherine Gonzales was given the Excellence in Theological Education Award. She is a retired professor of church history and historical theology at Columbia Theological Seminary.

The Assembly elected Davis Perkins to a fourth term as president of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and confirmed William J. Carl as the new president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

The body also approved starting the eight-year process toward producing a new Presbyterian hymnal and a new Internet-based hymn resource.

By voice vote they approved an amended recommendation on the authority of Scripture and a recommendation on the Sacraments called, "Invitation to Christ: Sacramental Practices."

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