wfn.org | Church Polity committee

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

01-July-1996 
 
GA96034 
 
    Church Polity committee 
 
    After an initial session of organizing, developing their agenda and 
reviewing synod minutes, the Church Polity committee, under the direction 
of the chair, Harriet Sandmeier, began to work on the overtures referred to 
it, overture 96-55 concerning the study for the  necessity of synods 
creating the most interest.  Items for Assembly action include: 
 
   Overture 96-14 to create a non-geographical Korean language presbytery 
within the bounds of the Synod of the Northeast was recommend for adoption 
by a vote of 32-2. 
 
   The community unanimously approved Overture 96-17 to transfer 
jurisdiction of Big Sioux Township of Union County, S. D., from the 
Presbytery of South Dakota to the Presbytery of Prospect Hill. 
 
   Overture 96-60 to transfer the Korean U.P. Church from the Presbytery of 
the Pacific to Hanmi Presbytery was approved 31-1 with one abstention. 
 
   A unanimous vote approved Overture 96-106 that corrected the 
jurisdictional oversight and transferred the Church of Meade, Kan., from 
the Presbytery of Southern Kansas to Cimmaron Presbytery. 
 
    OVERTURE TO STUDY SYNODS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR ASSEMBLY 
    BY COMMITTEE: 
 
   The mid-afternoon session was devoted to a consideration of Overture 
96-55 on studying the necessity for synods. The overture advocate, Joanne 
Rilling, an elder from the Presbytery of the James, expressed concern for 
the "they" versus "we" attitude that was experienced by those who proposed 
the overture. In addition she raised concerns about the size and 
effectiveness of synods. 
 
   Questions were raised of the advocate as to whether this was a concern 
for synods in general or focused on a particular synod, and whether other 
churches within the presbytery or other presbyteries within the synod had 
joined in the support of the overture. 
 
   It was observed that this topic has been studied several previous times 
by the General Assembly. 
 
   Resource person, Ken Grant, from the G.A. staff spoke to the recent 
history of the denomination and of the exploration of roles that is going 
on through the variety of synod styles and structures. 
 
   It was moved not to approve this overture. The motion was approved by a 
vote of 23-8 with 3 abstentions. 
 
(This report ends at the break of  3:15 on Monday, July 1.) 
 
 
Bob Bolt 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

--