wfn.org | Hearings on Relationships Between Denomination

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

16-April-1997 
97156 
 
      Hearings on Relationships Between Denomination  
        and Special Groups Scheduled for General Assembly 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The General Assembly's Special Committee on Relationships 
of Accountabilitiy between the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and 
Presbyterian Groups will conduct open hearings during the upcoming General 
Assembly in Syracuse "to seek information and opinions from groups or 
individuals who want to contribute to the committee members' understanding 
of the issues." 
 
     Two hearings will be held -- June 15 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. and June 16 
from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. -- at the Hotel Syracuse near the Assembly hall. 
 
     The committee was formed by last year's General Assembly in response 
to Commissioners' Resolution 96-36, which called for a study of ways "to 
provide for establishment of relationships of accountability between the 
PC(USA) and any groups wanting to be considered part of the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.)." 
 
     Prior to 1993, such "special organizations" related to the General 
Assembly through Chapter Nine of the "Book of Order."  The presbyteries 
voted to eliminate those provisions from the church's constitution and 
there has been no official means for church-related organizations to relate 
formally to the denomination since then. 
 
     The Assembly asked for the committee to report back this year, but the 
committee has asked for permission to report in 1998 so that it can conduct 
the open hearings at this Assembly as part of its data gathering.  The 
committee, chaired by former General Assembly Council member Claudette 
Zobel of Chicago, will continue to meet in Syracuse after its hearings 
until June 18. 
 
     For more information on the hearings, contact the Rev. Zane K. Buxton 
in the Office of the General Assembly at (502) 569-5432. 

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