wfn.org | Hearings Slated in Fort Worth on Simplified Form of Government

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

25-May-1999 
99200 
 
    Hearings Slated in Fort Worth 
    on Simplified Form of Government 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--A General Assembly-mandated effort by the Advisory 
Committee on the Constitution (ACC) to simplify the Form of Government 
(FOG) in  "The Book of Order" of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will 
reach a critical stage when the ACC conducts an open hearing on its work to 
date June 20 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. during the 211th General Assembly in 
Fort Worth, Texas. 
 
    A second hearing will be conducted June 23 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., 
after the Assembly Committee on Church Polity has reviewed the ACC's 
report. 
 
    In 1993, the 205th Assembly directed the ACC to pursue revision of the 
FOG section of "The Book of Order," separating "foundational" material from 
sections that are "more manual" in character. 
 
    The 1997 Assembly approved working definitions of "foundational 
principles," "binding policy" and "advisory practice."  The ACC has been 
reorganizing the FOG since than based on those three categories of 
material. 
 
    The twin goals of the project have been to make "The Book of Order" 
simpler and the FOG more permissive by granting greater discretion to 
sessions and presbyteries in implementing the Form of Government. 
 
    According to ACC officials, two samples are being presented to this 
year's Assembly.  The first displays the current content of the FOG broken 
out into the three categories and rearranged for greater clarity. 
 
    The second sample "reflects a start from scratch revision" of material 
determined to be foundational. 
 
    The Assembly is being asked to direct the ACC to pursue one option or 
the other.  The Assembly also has the option to call a halt to the project. 

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