wfn.org | Assembly Committee on GA Procedures Undertakes Full Docket

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

GA99034 
21-June-1999 
 
             Assembly Committee on General Assembly  
                Procedures Undertakes Full Docket 
 
FORT WORTH-Seemingly energized by the tasks and issues before them, the 
members of the Assembly Committee on General Assembly Procedures, moderated 
by Elder Phil Barnes, began their work this morning following an 
orientation Sunday evening. 
     The following motions were moved, seconded and carried: 
   * The Minutes of the Presbyterian Historical Society were approved, with 
a word of affirmation for the good work the PHS is doing; 
   * The budget of the Presbyterian Historical Society was approved, 
following words of introduction and explanation by Frederick Heuser, Jr.; 
   * Recommendation of Overture 99-26 (Recording Individual Votes of 
Presbyteries on Constitutional Amendments in Minutes) was approved, 
following a presentation by overture advocate, Herb Valentine; 
  *  Standing Rule Amendments 12.036-.037; 12.038; 12.039; and 12.040 were 
approved; 
  *    The invitation from the Presbytery of Sacramento to host the 217th 
General Assembly (2005) was accepted, with a promise from that presbytery's 
executive for good weather.  
  *   She also  noted that it would be the first time for the General 
Assembly to meet in northern California; and 
  *  The incorporation into the Minutes of the 1998 Per Capita 
Apportionment Budget and 
  *   Statement of Activities, and the Comparative Statement of Financial 
Position, was approved. 
     The balance of the committee's afternoon session was spent receiving 
substantial preparation, education and background for its consideration of 
the Special Committee for Review of the General Assembly.  Ann Petersen, a 
commissioner to the 209th General Assembly (1997) and a practicing 
attorney, gave a comprehensive presentation on the history and background 
for the work of the Special Committee for Review.  A variety of 
representatives from the General Assembly Council were on hand  to offer 
their responses to the special committee's report, summarizing its 
strengths and weaknesses.   
     The membership of the Assembly Committee on General Assembly 
Procedures, in noting the absence of General Assembly executive director, 
John Detterick, in these proceedings, unanimously passed a motion to invite 
him to appear before the committee.  Major features of the Special 
Committee report, as summarized by Gay Mothershed, chair, and Keith Groty, 
are: 
  *  Renames the General Assembly Council as the Mission Agency, 
  *  Affirms the centrality of mission as determined by the General 
Assembly and assigned to the Mission Agency, 
  *  Affirms John Detterick as executive director of the Mission Agency, 
  *  Creates a Council of the Assembly, 
  *  Ensures coordination of the church's work in strategic planning; 
budgeting, funding and 
  *  accounting; program development and delivery; review and evaluation, 
  *  Ensures the functions of Committee of the Office of the General 
Assembly continue through assignment to the Council of the Assembly, 
  *  Affirms stated clerk, Cliffton Kirkpatrick, as the head of staff of 
the Council of the Assembly, 
  *  Provides a time line and process for transition, including continuity 
of elected members representing Committee on the Office of the General 
Assembly, 
  *  Enhances the year-long role and responsibility of the General Assembly 
commissioners, 
  *  Provides for oversight and direction to the Office of the General 
Assembly between meetings of the GA, 
  *  Ensures the actions of the General Assembly are accomplished through 
the agencies of the PC(USA), 
  *  Emphasizes empowerment rather than regulation, 
  *  Provides a process for dispute resolution between agencies of the 
General Assembly, 
  *  Recommends necessary changes to the Book of Order. 
     The Committee on General Assembly Procedures was scheduled to begin 
its consideration of the Special Committee for Review report beginning 
Monday evening, June 21. 
 
Emily Enders Odom                 

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