Overture Overview

Jack Marcum

Ever wonder what image Presbyterians project to the rest of the world via our various contacts, as individuals and congregations, and through publications and the Internet? I was thinking about that the other day as I visited the PC(USA) Web site (www.pcusa.org) to search through the list of overtures submitted by middle governing bodies for consideration at this year's General Assembly. To the uninitiated with a tolerance for minutiae and an interest in the arcane, a scan through the 83 overtures would provide a revealing if skewed window into the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Here are some things I discovered:

• Four overtures were sent by synods. More than half (41) of the remaining 79 overtures came from presbyteries that made only a single submission. Only Baltimore (7), San Joaquin (6), Milwaukee (4), and Utah (3) sent more than two.

• Relatively few overtures concern broad issues of governance or ministry. Most address a specific paragraph or two in the Book of Order, or a focused topic of social policy. The most far-reaching, in title if not reality, is "On Declaring That There Exists in the PC(USA) an Irreconcilable Impasse Regarding Biblical Interpretation, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Ethics, Leadership, Sanctification, and the Church."

• The church's position on sexuality, particularly homosexuality, is explicit in a fifth of the overtures, and several others, if approved, would also have important implications for sexuality-related issues. In the later category would be one to change the Book of Order to have elders and deacons examined on their faith prior to their elections.

• Around four in ten overtures propose constitutional amendments, the large majority of which (26) would occur to the "Form of Government" section. Four others focus specifically on the "Rules of Discipline," about as many on the "Directory for Worship."

• A small number of overtures are very similar to each other. One overture even addresses this situation, proposing changes in the standing rules of General Assembly that would allow one presbytery to withdraw an overture similar to one already submitted by another presbytery, but still attach a rationale for approval.

• Overall, eight overtures request changes in (or closer observance of) the standing rules of General Assembly. Five of these originate in San Joaquin, and range from regulating cell phone use in plenary sessions to having observers present for the random assignment of commissioners to committees.

• Four overtures ask the General Assembly to create task forces, and a fifth requests formation of a special committee. Several others request studies through other means, sometimes unspecified, sometimes using existing staff.

• Another grouping includes overtures that increase flexibility. One would allow congregations to provide the Lord's Supper to shut-ins on any day. Another would provide an alternative to the annual joint meeting of session with the Board of Deacons.

• Controversial issues from a decade or more ago resurface in solitary overtures: one to study abortion, the other to approve ordination as ministers for Christian educators.

One interesting feature of the PC(USA) Web site is a counter following each overture, indicating how many different visitors have stopped to take a look. At this writing in mid-April, the hands-down winner is the aforementioned "On Declaring That There Exists an Irreconcilable Impasse" overture with 1,048 hits. Running a distant second, with 691 hits, is a companion overture "On appointing a Task Force to Explore Amendments to the Book of Order to Permit Congregations That Cannot Comply with G-6.0106b to Disaffiliate from the Church While Retaining Real Property."

Take a look for yourself by going to 212 GA Overtures. New overtures will have been added after this essay was completed, especially on policy issues, since their deadline for submission was later than mine.

While you're there, stop for a moment to reflect on the image someone with no previous awareness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) might take away from scanning the various overtures. I just hope the calls for proclaiming the Gospel and furthering social justice aren't entirely overlooked among the preponderance of regulatory proposals.

Email the author: Jack Marcum