New statement underscores importance of positive and respectful relations with the Jewish community

From the Office of Interfaith Relations of the General Assembly Council:

"Since 2004, Presbyterians and Jews in many places across the United States have met to discuss reactions, concerns and differences regarding Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly policy decisions on Israeli-Palestinian peace and related issues. These conversations have been sometimes confrontational and heated, almost always open and frank and often productive of a deeper understanding of each other and of our concerns and commitments.

"We Presbyterians aspire to build positive and respectful relations with our neighbors in the Jewish community...."

Read the entire statement, Vigilance against Anti-Jewish ideas and bias.

GAPJC issues decision and preliminary order

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has issued a preliminary order and a decision from the two cases they heard on April 25, 2008.

In one case, the GAPJC issued a preliminary order in which they accepted the case of Moody, et al v. Synod of Mid-Atlantic, to be heard at a later date.

Read the decision of the other case, Spahr v. Presbytery of Redwoods.

A revised version of Advisory Opinion #7 is now available that reflects this recent decision of the GAPJC in Spahr v. Presbytery of Redwoods.

New Web site offers resources for interpreting GA per capita

What is per capita? Why is it important? What do General Assembly per capita dollars provide?

Find the answers to these and other frequently asked questions about per capita on a new Web site that focuses on this funding source, which is how Presbyterians mutually share the costs of coming together to discern the Spirit’s leading for the future.

Explore the new Web site on per capita.

Stated Clerk among signers of NILI letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rice

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick is among 28 Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders who sent a letter on March 20, 2008, to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, commending her for her "active support for current diplomatic efforts led by Egypt to turn what was for several days an informal, temporary and fragile cessation of hostilities between Palestinian forces in Gaza and the Israeli Defense Force into a formal, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire covering Israel, Gaza and the West Bank."

Read the letter by religious leaders to Condoleezza Rice.

Stated Clerk signs CIW petition calling for end to modern-day slavery

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has signed a petition of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in which he pledges "to cease to patronize Burger King now and other food industry leaders in the future if these companies do not work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to improve the wages and working conditions of the men and women who harvest their tomatoes, and support an industry-wide effort to end human rights violations and modern-day slavery in all of Florida's fields."

Read the CIW petition and the Stated Clerk's entire statement.

Photo directory of presbytery and synod staff is valuable resource

A photo directory of presbytery and synod executives and stated clerks is available online through the Office of Governing Body Relations. The directory is intended to facilitate relationships, identify someone at a meeting or simply to know the person on the other end of the telephone or email.

Browse through the photo directory of presbytery and synod executives and stated clerks.

Final report of the Form of Government Task Force

The task force's final report, study guide, and additional resources can be found on the Form of Government Task Force Web site.