wfn.org | Assembly Acts on Polity Committee Recommendations

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

GA99125 
25-June-1999 
 
         Assembly Acts on Polity Committee Recommendations 
 
 
FORT WORTH-The 211th General Assembly Friday dealt with proposals on 
revision of the Form of Government by referring back to the Advisory 
Committee on the Constitution (ACC) the Foundational section of the draft 
revision for further revision.  They asked that it be submitted to the 
212th General Assembly for consideration as a study resource.  The ACC was 
discharged of the 1993 and 1997 referrals recommending revisions to the 
"Book of Order" thus effectively ending the revision process. ACC Task 
Force members Kitty Borchert, Barbara Campbell-Davis, Neal Lloyd, David E. 
Meerse, and Richard (Deke) Spierling were thanked for their extraordinary 
service. 
     The Assembly approved sending to the presbyteries the following 
proposed amendments to the Rules of Discipline: 
  *  That provisions providing for petition by an accused for review of the 
procedures of an investigating committee while an investigation in a 
disciplinary case is in progress.  These proposed provisions include 
designating two members of presbytery permanent judicial commissions (PJC) 
for purpose of review; modification of the quorum for the PJC to except 
the two additional members from the quorum; prohibiting sessions from 
appointing members of the session as members of an investigating committee; 
and setting forth the process for petitioning for and considering review. 
Current provisions provide for a petition for review of a decision by an 
investigating committee not to file charges against an accused but offer no 
means for review while the investigation is in progress.  
 *  That a minister who labors in other than a validated ministry within 
the bounds of a presbytery that is not the presbytery of membership submits 
to the jurisdiction of that presbytery for the purposes of discipline. 
Should there be a disciplinary process initiated in such a circumstance, 
the presbytery of membership shall be notified.  Each governing body shall 
enforce and recognize the judgments, decisions, and orders of every other 
governing body acting under the provisions of the Rules of Discipline. 
  *  That when an accused in a disciplinary case renounces the jurisdiction 
of the church, the clerk or stated clerk shall report to the governing body 
the name of the accused, the date of the renunciation, the date and fact of 
renunciation during an investigation or trial, and the charges filed. 
Under current provisions, the clerk or stated clerk reports the 
renunciation and the status of the matter at that time without naming the 
accused or the charges.   
  The Stated Clerk will send proposed amendments to the "Book of Order" to 
the 
  presbyteries on the following subjects: 
  *  Setting the criteria for granting the status of retired minister and 
permitting a presbytery to designate a retired minister as an honorably 
retired minister on recommendation of the Committee on Ministry if the 
Presbytery is moved to do so by affection and gratitude and authorizing the 
Stated Clerk to make the "Book of Order" consistent with this action  
  *  Requiring retired ministers who are engaged in ministries to have 
those ministries validated 
  *  Permitting governing bodies beyond the session to provide by rule who 
shall preside in the absence of the moderator. 
  The Assembly affirmed that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has the right 
under the Free 
  Exercise clause of the United States Constitution to govern itself free 
of government intervention.  It directed the Stated Clerk to provide 
financial and technical support and advice and counsel to congregations and 
presbyteries in certain kinds of property cases.  This action 
  fills gaps left by the disbanding of the former church property committee 
and responds to a growing number of cases. 
    Clarification of per capita questions was offered as a response to a 
request from the Presbytery of Central Florida.  The response states that 
the presbytery has the responsibility to pay the full amount of per capita 
allocations irrespective of collection from churches as long as funds are 
available within the presbytery.  The presbytery may use unrestricted funds 
to do so. 
  The General Assembly amended the Book of Confessions by replacing the 
current text of the Nicene Creed with a contemporary translation by the 
English Liturgical Commission.  The presbyteries approved this amendment 
with 135 voting in the affirmative, 37 in the negative, and 1 presbytery 
abstaining.  The Assembly's action concludes a two-year process of amending 
the Book of Confessions.  
  In other actions recommended by the Committee on Church Polity, the 
Assembly: 
       *  Approved changes in the boundaries between the Presbyteries of 
Nevada and Sacramento and transferred the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church 
from the Presbytery of Newton to the Presbytery of Newark and the 
University Presbyterian Church from Hanmi Presbytery to the Presbytery of 
the Pacific 
       *  Confirmed the tally of "Report of the Votes of the Presbyteries 
on Proposed Amendments to the Constitution" 
       *  Approved actions on Review of Synod Minutes 
       *  Approved authoritative interpretations of the Constitution on 
dual membership of congregations in language and geographical presbyteries 
and on the use of psychiatric and psychological evaluations and tort 
liability. 
  The Church Polity Committee concluded its report by inviting the Assembly 
to say the Nicene Creed and sing the Doxology. 
  
Nancy Rodman 

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