Information for Commissioners

Your Role and Responsibility

The first four chapters of the Form of Government outline the principles of representative government in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including “Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek together to find and represent the will of Christ.” (G-4.0301d)

Assembly commissioners are free to deliberate together, seek Christ's will and by majority vote reach decisions on the business before them. Commissioners may not be instructed on how to vote or on what positions to support. They are not the representatives of the people that elected them, but instead they represent the " . . . unity of the synods, presbyteries, sessions, and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)." (G-13.0101)

Mailings

Expect to receive many mailings from various organizations and individuals. They seek to share information or express their concerns about business before the assembly.

Prior assemblies have supported the principle of enabling groups and individuals to communicate their concerns directly, trusting the wisdom and discernment of commissioners and advisory delegates in this matter.

Questions?  Please contact:
G.A. Meeting Service
(888) 728-7228, x2417
Email

Where and When

Most assembly meetings and events will be held in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in downtown San Jose, California, or in one of the nearby assembly hotels.

The assembly convenes at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, and will adjourn by noon on Saturday, June 28.  You are expected to attend all sessions.

The 215th assembly directed that an introduction to anti-racism training be provided at this assembly for commissioners and advisory delegates; it is scheduled for 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20. If at all possible, please plan to travel to San Jose in time to attend this important session.  For those able to be present, lodging expenses will be covered from Friday, and the meal per diem will begin with Friday dinner.

Review the full Schedule of Events, which includes the docket of official meetings, assembly worship, etc. and information on numerous optional activities.

Making Travel & Housing Arrangements

One of the first things you should do now is complete the practical arrangements for getting to San Jose. The Office of the General Assembly (OGA) has made arrangements with a travel agency and eight assembly hotels in San Jose to make this easy and cost effective.

Please read the Expense Reimbursement Procedures and Policies carefully before you proceed with your travel plans.

Travel
To book your airline tickets and have the fee charged to the assembly, contact The Travel Authority by phone at (877) 868-4023, or by email at presga@thetravelauthority.com. Tell the agent that you are an assembly commissioner and your home airport. He/she will suggest flight options, send you confirmation of the booking and charge the cost directly to the assembly.

Make your travel plans as soon as possible (and before May 9) for the best choice of flights and lowest fares.

Housing
Allowable room charges at the assembly hotels are paid directly by the assembly.  For a reservation in one of the assembly hotels, you need only complete your assembly registration, where you will indicate your travel dates, your preference among the assembly hotels, room type requirement, special needs, etc.

Six of the eight assembly hotels are located within a few blocks of the convention center. Finalize your travel plans and complete your registration as soon as possible if you want to be sure of assignment to one of these.

Please do not contact these hotels directly.  If you make your own arrangements at any other hotel, the charges are NOT reimbursable.

How to Register

Register online and use your user name and password from the registration packet you received from the G.A. Meeting Service.  Contact the G.A. Meeting Service at (888) 728-7228, x2417, or email with questions or if you are not able to register online.)

Ground Transportation
Assembly shuttles will provide transportation from the San Jose airport to the assembly hotels on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (June 19 - 22), and from the convention center to the airport on Saturday.  More information on these arrangements will be provided later.

Participants who choose to fly into San Francisco or Oakland are responsible for any ground transportation costs from those airports to San Jose.

Six of the assembly hotels are located within two blocks of the San Jose Convention Center. For two uptown hotels located about three miles away, guests will use the light rail line that has stops at the convention center and at these properties. Assembly shuttle service will operate to these hotels only in the evening.

Meals in San Jose
Some group meals will be provided for commissioners during the assembly, including the G.A. Breakfast on Monday, June 23. 

Commissioners and advisory delegates will receive a credit card with a preset limit of the per diem amount for their other meals during the assembly.  See the expense reimbursement policies for more information.  There are numerous restaurants and other dining outlets in and near the convention center and the assembly hotels.

Assembly agencies and other organizations sponsor optional events during the assembly for those interested in learning more about their ministry and work.  These are usually scheduled over a meal break so that commissioners may participate.  Many of these are ticketed meal events that involve a fee to cover the cost of the meal.  These tickets can be purchased when you complete your assembly registration, so please review the Schedule of Events before you begin that process.

Some events, including most of the mission tours, coincide with assembly committee or business meetings; these are planned for those who are not required to attend all the assembly meetings.

Changes and Cancellations
If at any time prior to the assembly you find that you are unable to serve as a commissioner, immediately contact your presbytery so that plans for an alternate can be made.

Training and Orientations
Watch the orientation videos prepared by the Office of the General Assembly (OGA).

Most presbyteries plan an assembly orientation session, providing an opportunity to meet with your fellow commissioners and advisory delegate(s), review the information you are receiving and ask questions of those who have been through this before. Contact your presbytery office to confirm the date and time of its planned orientation.

The first assembly business meeting on Saturday will include the Stated Clerk's orientation for commissioners and advisory delegates; you will move through three orientation events that focus on the common mission, common work and common life of the PC(USA).

The Schedule of Events includes information on optional pre-assembly events planned by special interest organizations. If you decide to take part in any of these, you are responsible for any additional fees and travel, lodging and meal costs.

Serving On a Committee

All commissioners and advisory delegates are assigned to one of the assembly committees by a random selection process. You will be notified of your committee assignment in mid-April.

The assembly committees meet Sunday through Tuesday to consider the business referred to them and develop recommendations for assembly action.

Assembly Business and PC-biz

The assembly will act on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities and through overtures from synods and presbyteries. 

These reports and recommendations will be available electronically through PC-biz, the electronic system that is the primary way that commissioners and advisory delegates will access assembly business before, during and after the assembly.  Reports will NOT be printed and mailed in advance.
 
As the reports and recommendations to the assembly are received and formatted, they are posted there.  You should read as much of this material as possible before you arrive in San Jose.

During assembly business sessions, most official participants will use laptop computers to access an Intranet and to read and track the business and the assembly’s actions on it in real time.

You will need a laptop computer in San Jose in order to function most effectively as a commissioner.  See the FAQs in the Resource tab at PC-biz for the minimum specifications. If you do not have access to one that you may take to the assembly, please first contact your presbytery to inquire about borrowing one. The OGA will arrange to rent laptops on site for those who cannot bring one, but in the interest of good stewardship of the church’s funds, we hope most will have another source.
 
When you register, please indicate if you will need to have a laptop provided or to borrow a wireless card.

Look for additional information about PC-biz in the coming weeks.