Committee 8 — Mission Coordination

Item 08-04 — Limiting staff participation in elected bodies, from Presbytery of San Joaquin.
Staff participation not to exceed 25 percent of elected membership. Writers are concerned that large numbers of staff will have undue influence on meeting outcomes and that elected members would be hindered from making decisions themselves.

Item 08-12 — Joint resolution regarding the Women of Color Consultation Report, from Advocacy Committee on Racial Ethnic Concerns and Advocacy Committee on Women's Concerns.

Committee 9 — Social Justice Issues

Item 09-16 — On being faithfully engaged in the ministry of ending homelessness, from the Presbytery of New York City
Urges the Assembly to direct ACSWP (in collaboration with others) to develop a comprehensive and creative policy on ending homelessness. The advisory committee would report a proposed policy on ending homelessness and provide recommendations for the implementation of this policy to the 218th General Assembly (2008) so that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may be more faithfully engaged in the ministry of ending homelessness.

Item 09-12 — Humane reform of national immigration laws, from the Synod of the Southwest
Calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to recognize that our present national immigration policies are not working effectively along our southern border with Mexico and to discover other communities of faith and people of conscience to enter into intentional dialogue with them to develop ways to promote humane reform of national immigration laws.

Item 09-15 — Advocacy and welcome for all immigrants, from the Presbytery of New York City
Calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to reaffirm the 216th General Assembly's Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the U.S. (2004). Affirms the denomination's solidarity with all of its brothers and sisters regardless of race, creed, color, nationality or residency status.

Item 09-10 — Resolution on Just Globalization: Justice, Ownership, and Accountability, from Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy

Item 09-17 — Requesting the federal funds to pay for Hurricane Relief not reduce existing programs needed for poor or vulnerable citizens, from the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
Calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to request the Federal Government to provide funds sufficient to pay for the rebuilding assistance authorized by Congress. This overture also asks that such funds not reduce existing programs needed for poor or vulnerable citizens. Calls that copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States and all members of Congress.

Committee 10 — Health Issues

Item 10-01 — On late term pregnancy, from the Presbytery of Redstone

Item 10-02 — On financial support for or against abortion, from the Presbytery of Beaver Butler
Calls on all funding from mission and/or per-capita funds to any group that has a particular stance either for or against abortion to cease.

Item 10-03 — Standing clearly against the practice of abortion while extending the love of Christ to those who have suffered its practice, from the Presbytery of Mississippi
Calls for the church to oppose abortion except in cases where the continuation of the pregnancy would result in either the death of the mother or unborn child and cases of rape.

Item 10-05 — Teen suicide and self-injury, from the Presbytery of St. Augustine
Calls for the church to engage in discussion regarding suicide, provide or publicize resources to raise awareness about teen suicide and include youth suicide in the revision of the 1981 study Nature and Value of Human Life by ACSWP.

Committee 11 — Peacemaking and International Issues

Item 11-32 — On support for Congolese People in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), from the Presbytery of East Virginia
Calls for a bipartisan congressional delegation to help promote free and fair elections in 2006. Cites our historic connection with the Presbyterian Church in the Congo and in Kinshasa through missionaries Sheppard and Lapsley.

Item 11-25 — On condemning international trafficking in and sexual exploitation of children, from the Synod of the Northeast
Calls for the condemnation of sex trafficking, especially with regard to children. Urges the Stated Clerk and Moderator to send letters to Congress supporting legislation that demands the end of sex trafficking (HR2012 and S937), and letters to UN offices supporting their efforts to stop trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Urges PC(USA) members not to do business with companies that have not signed the "Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Commercial Exploitation in Travel and Tourism." Also, asks for funding for EPCAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism) which advocates and provides care for children who have been victims of the sex trade. Further commends companies that have signed the above code of conduct.

Item 11-27 — On appointing a special committee to explore radical reduction of the impact of Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, from the Presbytery of Northern New York
Calls for a committee to create a "framework for collaboration" for relevant organizations to combat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria kills 1.2 million annually in that region, and its impact is worst among the extremely poor, pregnant women, children under five and the elderly. This committee would report its findings to the 218th GA in 2008.

Item 11-28 — On supporting the peace process in Sudan, from the Presbytery of Trinity
Asks the GA to reaffirm our connection to Sudan, to raise awareness, pray and advocate for the peace process there, and to add the names of companies supplying war materials to the government of Sudan to Mission Responsibility Through Investment's (MRTI) divestment list.

Item 11-37 — On advocating for positive change in Darfur and all of Sudan, from the Presbytery of the Palisades
Calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to ask the Sudanese government to take the necessary steps to restore peace, stability and community in all regions of Sudan, but particularly in the region of Darfur, which has been, and continues to be, subject to the extremes of human rights atrocities and genocide. Also asks the denomination to make available educational materials on the crisis in the region.

Committee 12 — Church Growth and Christian Education

Item 12-01 — On creating the Office of Minister of Christian Education, from the Presbytery of Mission
Calls for the creation of a new ordained office, Minister of Christian Education. Not meant to replace Certified Christian Educator. Argues that the only form of ministry (among those listed in G-6.0104) that is not "covered" by an office is that of education (p. 3 of the overture). Most of the overture lists the wording changes that would need to be made in the Book of Order if this new office was approved.

Item 12-02 — On amending the Book Of Order to create a fourth office to be known as Educating Elder, from the Presbytery of Shenandoah
Calls for the ordination of Certified Christian Educators who serve the church "in a position beyond the congregation." The main rationale seems to provide a layer of accountability for those who are often at the frontlines of leadership development, especially in smaller congregations. The presbytery is concerned that they are not accountable to the presbytery in "competence in the fields of theology, Bible, polity, and worship and sacraments."

Item 12-03 — On amending G-14.0701 to name Certified Christian Educators as mandated reporters in cases of abuse of minors or adults lacking mental capacity, from the Presbytery of Genessee Valley
Extends the section already mandating those employed in the church to include Christian educators.

Item 12-08 — On combating the decline in members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia
Calls for a research task force that will study churches that are growing and report back with recommendations by the 218th GA.

Item 12-11 — On sexuality curricula and other materials being consistent with the biblical and confessional teaching, from the Presbytery of Shenango
Asks for any materials printed or released by the PCUSA to "use the Biblical and confessional teachings that sexual relationships belong only within the bond of marriage of a man and a woman ... "

Item 12-16 — On adding new section G-110404g regarding new immigrant ministers, from the Presbytery of North Central Iowa
The addition would authorize presbyteries to recognize the ordination of ministers of immigrant ministries from "developing countries with different practices of ordination and to recognize the 'good standing' of such ministers" with a ¾ vote of members present.

Committee 13 — Theological Issues and Institutions

Item 13-02 — On referring The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing back to the Office of Theology and Worship for further consultation, from the Presbytery of Shenandoah
Asks that the paper be re-presented at the 2008 GA in order for it not to be overshadowed by the PUP report, and in order for more study on the doctrine's implications for the church's practice.

Item 13-05 — The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing, from the Office of Theology and Worship

Item 13-10 — On the development of a denominational e-hymnal, from the Presbytery of Miami
Recommends the "creation of an internet-based denominational resource for congregational singing" as part of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians' work.

Committee 14 — Review of GA Permanent Committees

Item 14-info — Agency Summary, Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns
One of four permanent General Assembly Committees being reviewed.

Item 14-Self-Study — ACWC Self-Study
One of four permanent General Assembly Committees being reviewed.