wfn.org | Assembly adopts major policy paper

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

06-July-1996 
 
GA96115 
 
    Assembly adopts major policy paper 
 
ALBUQUERQUE - The General Assembly approved the report of the committee on 
Faith and Sustainable Development July 5, which calls for an improvement in 
the quality of life for all with an emphasis on the structural adjustment 
of policies and programs affecting poor women in developing countries. 
 
    "Hope for a Global Future: Toward Just and Sustainable Human 
Development," was presented to the Assembly by the denomination's Advisory 
Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP). The document examines the 
social, economic and ecological effects of U.S. economic policies on some 
of the world's poorest nations. 
 
    "We feel that this is a very important document," said Florence 
Johnson, committee moderator of Pittsburgh Presbytery. "We pretty much went 
through this document paragraph by paragraph." 
 
    Even so, approval of the document did not come without compromise. For 
example, after spending more than one hour defeating an attached minority 
report, the Assembly questioned the financial implications of the paper, 
particularly a proposed $133,286 from unrestricted mission funds to 
establish a four-year emphasis, including salary and benefits, for a 
full-time staff position to propel the paper's policies forward in the life 
of the church nationally and locally. 
 
    The proposal was defeated by a vote of 315 to 154, since no new money 
will be available for Faith and Sustainable Development now that it has 
been approved by the Assembly. Moreover, in order to implement the paper in 
accordance with its original recommendations, the budget of one of the 
denomination's three division's would have had to have been adjusted 
accordingly based on priorities. 
 
     Commissioners speaking against creating a new full-time staff position 
reasoned it is more economical to let existing staff assume the 
responsibility of carrying out the paper's policy. Those favoring creating 
an additional position argued that many of the world's people are in need 
of receiving the paper's recommendations now, and consider that it is 
unwise to burden the Presbyterian Center staff in Louisville with 
additional duties. 
 
    Even so, the Assembly did approve $22,500 for the report's printing and 
distribution costs, some of which may be performed in-house and/or 
electronically, thus saving even more money. 
 
    The Rev. Peter A. Sulyok, ACSWP associate, said he was pleased that the 
paper was adopted as a policy statement and not a study document as earlier 
proposed, since the church now has "policy to guide it in its work and 
mission." 
 
 Julian Shipp 

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