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A couple things are important to remember: at this stage, the actions mentioned below do not represent the decisions of the General Assembly; they are the committees’ recommendations to the Assembly. The full Assembly will consider and act on the committees’ recommendations Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning. In addition, any action that calls for an amendment to the PC(USA)’s Book of Order and/or Book of Confessions would require the approval of the presbyteries in order to be implemented.
Committee on Middle Governing Bodies
- The proposal from the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly to form a “General Assembly Commission on Middle Governing Bodies” was recommended for approval, but only after that proposal was amended to define the commission’s powers more narrowly.
- Both the overture from Santa Barbara Presbytery for a non-geographic synod and the overture from Beaver-Butler Presbytery proposing flexible presbytery membership were recommended for disapproval.
- The committee recommended that the Assembly approve an amendment that would replace section G-6.0106b of the Book of Order and replace it with new language that removes the “fidelity and chastity” clause. (This action was approved by a margin of 36-16.)
- The proposed new Form of Government was recommended for approval, but in a form that is significantly improved over the version submitted by nFOG Task Force. Of specific interest are improvements related to both per capita and representation.
- The Majority Report from the Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage was recommended for approval overwhelmingly by the committee.
- The committee also recommended disapproving overtures affirming the biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman, while recommending the approval of amendments to the Book of Order proposed by the presbyteries of Boston, Baltimore, and Hudson River (changing “man and woman” to “two people” in references to marriage) by a vote of 34-18.
- The committee is also proposing a new authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order that would allow pastors local option to perform – and sessions local option to sanction – same-sex marriage ceremonies in states where such is legal. This “interpretation” states that the language of “man and woman” with reference to marriage, in the Book of Order, is merely “descriptive” (of one kind of marriage) and as such does not preclude marriages between persons of the same sex. (Note: an “authoritative interpretation” approved by the General Assembly does not require the approval of the presbyteries.)
- The committee recommended the approval of the controversial report from the Middle East Study Committee, entitled “Breaking Down the Walls,” but only after making several significant amendments to the report.
- The committee unanimously approved the report of the special committee on the Heidelberg Catechism including their request to continue their work for an additional two years, coordinating that work with both the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church.
- The committee also is recommending to the Assembly that the Belhar Confession be sent to the presbyteries for addition to the Book of Confessions.
- Finally, this committee has approved a recommendation to the Board of Pensions that benefits be provided to same sex partners of non-ordained church employees. The Board of Pensions has estimated that this change will mean an increase of 1% in pension and health dues across the board.