The following acronyms and abbreviations may be encountered in Presbyterian publications, including General Assembly minutes. Those with more than one meaning have multiple entries. We update the list periodically to keep it as current as possible.

If you would like to make suggestions for this list, please contact PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or send us a note with your comments.

- G -

GA: General Assembly (OGA)

GAAP: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (MSS, PILP, FDN, GAMC BOP)

GAMC: General Assembly Mission Council - Elected member body that oversees and administers the mission program of the General Assembly between meetings of the General Assembly; meets three times a year.

GAMCNC: General Assembly Mission Council Nominating Committee

GAMCOR: General Assembly Committee on Representation - Advises the General Assembly on the implementation of principles of full participation and inclusiveness in all of its entities; advocates and monitors the representation of persons of all racial ethnic groups, women, different age groups, persons with disabilities, diverse geographical areas, and different theological positions within the Reformed tradition.

GAMCX: General Assembly Mission Council Executive Committee

GANC: General Assembly Nominating Committee - General Assembly Mission Council Nominating Committee - Recommends to the General Assembly nominees to fill vacancies on all entities elected by the General Assembly except where another nominating procedure is required; 16 members, one from each synod, are appointed to a five-year term by the moderator of the General Assembly on a staggered basis.

GAPJC: General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission - As the most inclusive governing body of the church, the General Assembly is given the power "to decide controversies brought before it and to give advice and instruction in cases submitted to it, in conformity with the Constitution." In cases of judicial process, the General Assembly exercises this function through its Permanent Judicial Commission. The rulings of the Permanent Judicial Commission are final. (G-13.0103, D-5.0000) (OGA)

GASL: General Assembly Synod Staff Leadership Forum

GBEAR: Governing Bodies and Ecumenical and Agency Relations (former OGA group)

GDP: Gross Domestic Product (PHP, WMD)

GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms (ACSWP, NMD)

GNP: Gross National Product (PHP, WMD)

GOBI strategy: Growth monitoring; Oral rehydration therapy; Breast feeding for nutrition; and Immunization against the preventable childhood diseases (WMD, PHP, Health Ministries, PDA)

GP: General Presbyter

GRCC: Ghost Ranch Conference Center - Ghost Ranch Center/Plaza Resolana: One of three national conference centers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Ghost Ranch is located in Abiquiu, N.M., with a satellite campus, Plaza Resolana located in Santa Fe..

GSW: Global Service & Witness (WMD)

- H -

HCHR: High Commissioner for Human Rights (United Nations)

HDI: Human Development Index (WMD)

HEC: Horizons Editorial Committee (NMD, PW, Women)

HEMT/UMHE: Higher Education Ministries Team of United Ministries in Higher Education

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (NMD, WMD, Health Ministries)

HIPPA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 - Privacy Act (HR, PWO)

HMO: Health Maintenance Organization (BOP)

HR: Human Resources

HR: Human Rights

- I -

ICESCR: International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (NMD)

ICN: Interchurch Committee for Northern Ireland (WMD)

ICPD: International Conference on Population and Development

ICRC: International Committee on the Red Cross (WMD)

ICWA: Indian Child Welfare Act (NMD, PWO)

IDEA: International Designs for Economic Awareness

IDF: Israeli Defense Force (WMD, PPP, PWO)

IDP: Internally Displaced People (WMD)

IHMO: International Health Ministries Office (WMD)

IMC: International Missionary Council (WMD)

IMF: International Monetary Fund (MSS, WMD, FDN, PILP, BOP)

IMS: Internet and Media Services (GAMC/OC)

INS: Immigration and Naturalization Service (United States) - (WMD, PPP)

INSTRA: International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (NMD)

IPA: Independent Practice Association HMO's (BOP)

IPAR: Presbyterian Associate Reformed Church (Mexico)

IPB: Presbyterian Church of Brazil

IPEN: International Presbyterian Education Network (WMD)

IPIB: Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil

IRCA: Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (NMD, PWO, WMD)

IRCR: International Commission of the Red Cross (WMD)

IRRC: Investor Responsibility Research Center (PILP, FDN, BOP, GAMC, Mission Funding)

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization (ACSWP, OGA, NMD)

IYWIP: International Year for the World's Indigenous People