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Members of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) call this week’s decision to hold a shortened, online General Assembly difficult, heavy, and necessary. COGA gathered Thursday for its second Zoom call of the week to continue its work on the 224th General Assembly (2020) online gathering.

The continued spread of the COVID-19 virus prompted COGA on Tuesday to cancel plans to hold the in-person assembly in Baltimore June 20–27, and to conduct the assembly virtually on June 19, 26, and 27. With an abbreviated assembly, COGA is focusing on addressing critical issues during those few days, recommending that other issues be considered at the 225th General Assembly (2022).

The list of critical items to be considered at the assembly gathering in June include:

  • Standing rules changes (suspending, approving temporary rules)
  • Moderator/Stated Clerk elections
  • General Assembly Nominating Committee (GANC) nominations
  • Critical business with legal and financial implications

In a statement released by COGA Moderator Barbara Gaddis and Vice Moderator Stephanie Anthony, the committee acknowledged that weighing what business comes before the assembly was a challenge.

“In making these decisions we recognize that these unusual times prevent us from living into the fullness of who we are. Part of the grief COVID-19 has invited into our lives is the inability to be fully ourselves within the parameters of what we can do with what we have in a particular time frame. In other words, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is much more than standing rules, budgets, and elections. As our Stated Clerk recently said, ‘We are not divorcing ourselves from the work of social justice.’ We are about justice. We are advocacy. We are theological and we are prophetic. But in these times of a pandemic, this decision is the necessary response in considering the health and well-being of the hosting community, commissioners, advisory delegates, observers, and staff.”

Recommendations dealing with opening worship at the online assembly, plans for exhibitors, and other business items have been tabled until next Thursday.

Read the full statement from COGA below.

STATEMENT FROM COGA

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in unprecedented times. Within a few short months, an unknown and unseen virus has ravaged nearly every corner of the planet. Loved ones who were healthy have been struck down. Families have had to grieve without having an opportunity to personally say goodbye.

Our churches are facing difficult times as pastors and staff find new, innovative ways to minister from a distance as the future of their churches remain in question.

For the first time in our denomination’s history, we are preparing for a General Assembly that will be totally online. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly has had to make some difficult decisions as we looked at numerous options ranging from a full assembly agenda to our final decision to shorten the assembly and to focus solely on critical business issues.

In making these decisions we recognize that these unusual times prevent us from living into the fullness of who we are. Part of the grief COVID-19 has invited into our lives is the inability to be fully ourselves within the parameters of what we can do with what we have in a particular time frame. In other words, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is much more than standing rules, budgets, and elections. As our Stated Clerk recently said, “We are not divorcing ourselves from the work of social justice.” We are about justice. We are advocacy. We are theological and we are prophetic. But in these times of a pandemic, this is the necessary response in considering the health and well-being of the hosting community, commissioners, advisory delegates, observers, and staff.

We ask the church to join us as we step into these uncertain times with the faith and certainty that God will sustain and embolden us into the future.