wfn.org | Polity committee votes down mediation overture 96-48

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03-July-1996 
 
GA96053 
 
Polity committee votes down mediation overture 96-48 
 
ALBUQUERQUE--By a vote of 22 - 10 with two abstentions, the Church Polity 
committee voted not to recommend consideration of overture 96-48, an 
overture that would allow alternate forms of resolution in disciplinary 
cases after allegations have been filed. The committee had already voted to 
disapprove overture 96-28 when they heard from overture advocate, Betsy 
Masie, that 96-48, drafted by the Synod of the Pacific, was a new, improved 
version of 96-26. 
 
Minority report emerges on overture 96-48 
 
    On the final day of committee meetings, a minority report emerged from 
the Church Polity committee on the subject of overture 96-48 which had been 
voted down by the committee. The minority report calls attention to the 
limitations of the present Rules of Discipline, the desirability of using 
alternative forms of resolution of disputes for the sake of individuals, 
because of the financial costs involved, and for the protection that it 
provides to both the accused and accusers. The minority report also 
provided for an extension in the time limits to allow for the use of 
alternative forms. Any settlement would be reported to the Permanent 
Judicial Commission. 
 
Church polity actions on overtures 
 
    The evening session resumed with consideration of communications and 
more overtures. Commissioners will encounter the following recommendations 
from the committee, most of them as part of the consent agenda of the 
committee: 
 
    Overture 96-3 from the Presbytery of Atlanta, would raise the number of 
persons required to call a special meeting of presbytery. After listening 
to overture advocate David Dickey of Whitewater Valley Presbytery, which 
had sponsored a similar overture, the committee voted not to approve by a 
vote of 32 - 1. 
 
    Overture 96-27 from the Presbytery of San Francisco would retain the 
words "ruling elder" and "teaching elder." After hearing from the overture 
advocate, the committee voted 16 - 13 with three abstentions to approve the 
overture. 
 
    Overture 96-54 would provide for alternative means for active members 
of presbytery to report terms of call. Discussion centered on the 
difficulty of receiving from seminaries the salaries of professors. The 
committee voted to recommend approval of the overture by a vote of 21 - 8 
with five abstentions. 
 
    Overture 96-58 from Central Florida Presbytery would require proof of 
insurance for those not covered by Social Security. An initial move to 
approve the overture was defeated, and then the committee voted to 
disapprove: 24 - 5 with 5 abstentions. 
 
    Overture 96-81 from the Presbytery of Trinity that would weaken the 
role of the Advisory Committee to the Constitution at General Assemblies 
was defeated by a vote of 28 - 4 with two abstentions. The committee felt 
that the role of the ACC is important, and that they had freedom to 
disagree with the ACC recommendations, and therefore the overture is not 
needed. 
 
Polity committee approves resolution similar to old Chapter Nine 
 
   What was expected to be a short session turned into an extended 
consideration of commissioner's resolution 96-36 to appoint a task force to 
establish accountability between the PCUSA and related Presbyterian 
organizations. When commissioner Tim Hart-Andersen spoke to the committee, 
his proposal sounded so much like a reinstatement of the former Chapter 
Nine provisions of the Book of Order that resource person, Joe Small of 
Theology and Worship was invited to explain the history of Chapter Nine 
organizations. He explained that the "accountability" problems that emerged 
resulted in petty regulations. 
 
    John Huffman moved not to concur with commissioners' resolution 96-36 
because of the recent history of Chapter Nine organizations. After extended 
discussion, the motion was defeated by a vote of 12 - 19  with one 
abstention. Following this a motion was introduced to approve the 
resolution with the caveat that the task force report to the 209th General 
Assembly. This motion passed 22 - 11 with one abstention. 
 
 
Synod Minutes Review 
 
    What has sometimes been a perfunctory activity in examining Synod 
Minutes by the Church Polity Committee turned into a serious review 
involving all members of the committee, and commendation by the resource 
person. All minutes were approved, some with comments and/or exceptions, 
except for the minutes of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, which were 
disapproved and returned to the synod for resubmission. 
 
    The committee also recommended reviewing the guidelines and changing of 
the checklist for the review of synod minutes to reflect current practice 
and policy. 
 
 
Bob Bolt 

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