Findings from the Presbyterian Panel and other sources on topics expected to be on the docket for this year's General Assembly meeting in Fort Worth:
Biennial Assemblies
We haven't addressed this issue since the 1980s, but at that time large majorities supported this change, either as a permanent arrangement or on a trial basis. One in 10 members and elders opposed a shift (whether trial or permanent), as did one in three pastors and one in four specialized clergy.
New Church Development and Redevelopment
A couple of overtures request more funding for church development. One wants to designate 5 percent of unified moneys for this purpose, with a 60/40 split between starting new churches and redeveloping older ones. Our research suggests that a 50/50 or 40/60 split would be more in keeping with the preferences of individual Presbyterians, especially the laity: while 8 percent of members and 11 percent of elders put "great urgency" on starting new churches, 21 percent and 32 percent, respectively, put "great urgency" on congregational redevelopment.
Evangelism
Most Presbyterians view evangelism as an important part of the church's mission in the world today. When we delve into specifics, it's clear that the greatest support is for programs to develop congregational life and individual faith-sharing skills; relatively little support is found for regional evangelistic rallies or media campaigns.
Sexuality and Ordination
This perennial conundrum is back, principally in the form of changes to "Amendment B" that was approved by the presbyteries a couple of years ago. When we asked Presbyterian members about Amendment B (in its original wording) in 1996, almost two-thirds supported its passage. While we didn't ask clergy for their opinions on Amendment B, we know from general questions on the topic that two-thirds of pastors and a majority of specialized clergy oppose ordination of sexually- active homosexual persons.
Disagreement
An overture asks the assembly to set up a special committee to "consider issues behind our disorders and disagreements." In 1996, the Panel did an exhaustive survey (at the request of the General Assembly Council, on a referral from the 1995 General Assembly) on Current Issues in the PC(USA), including a detailed look at "sources of disagreement and conflict in the church." There's too much to summarize here, but we'll provide copies of the Report to commissioners on the committee that takes up this overture.
Tentmakers
A proposal to exempt tentmakers from Board of Pensions health coverage requirements if they have such coverage from their secular jobs would have relatively minor impact on the Board, since 1997 only 78 ministers (0.05 percent of the active total) had their primary call classified as tentmaker.
Working Conditions in Developing Countries
Majorities of Presbyterians would likely support an overture calling for the church "to address the injustice and deplorable working conditions in developing countries where workers are producing goods for American corporations." In a 1993 survey, majorities of 80 percent or greater indicated that U.S. companies with factories in Mexico have responsibility to see that the communities in which they locate "provide their residents with basic human services, such as adequate housing, clean water, and sewage systems." On the same survey, majorities of pastors and specialized clergy (and a fourth of members and elders) agreed that "it is unfair that average income in more-developed countries is 20-times greater than in less-developed countries."
Inclusive Language
An overture from Western New York asks for changes in wording in the Directory for Worship that would in effect require churches "to use language . . . which neither purposely nor inadvertently excludes people because of gender, color, or other circumstance in life." Stay tuned on this one. A recent Panel survey addressed this issue of gender and language about God, and we'll have results available by the assembly to inform this discussion.
Future Research
Research planned for later in 1999 will gather opinion on the appropriate public role of the Presbyterian Church, too late to help this year's assembly decide whether or not to approve a request to increase funding for the PC(USA)'s Washington Office.
Check the PC(USA) web page for further updates.
Email the author: Jack Marcum
Research Services