wfn.org | Commissioner resolutions reworked by Procedure Committee

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Note #6633 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-June-2001
GA01075

Commissioner resolutions reworked by Procedure Committee

by Frank Buhrman

LOUISVILLE, June 12 - Three commissioners' resolutions to the 213th General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) faced a skeptical Procedures
Committee Tuesday at the denomination's annual meeting in the Kentucky
International Convention Center.

	Committee members saw merit in providing information about affinity groups
to Assembly commissioners and special study entities, but they responded to
an overture from Timothy Stern (Presbytery of Baltimore) and Janet Fishburn
(Presbytery of Newton) with their own resolution.

	The committee's proposal calls on the groups, some of which espouse and
promote positions on issues facing the church, to submit one-page statements
summarizing their goals, operations and "theological emphases," their annual
budgets and the size of their staffs. A proposed request for a list of major
donors was deleted.

	The reports would be sent to General Assembly commissioners and, if it
comes into being, provided to the commission or task force that has been
proposed to study divisions within the church.

	Two other commissioner resolutions received less positive receptions. One
would have required entities submitting overtures to show that they had
consulted with an Assembly entity about budgetary or workload implications.
The committee voted against that proposal but commented that the Office of
the General Assembly should create a process in which such consultation
could take place in an "easier and more constructive manner."

	The final resolution asked for means by which commissioners could "dialog"
with candidates nominated for General Assembly Council and the Permanent
Judicial Commission prior to voting for or against them. The Assembly's
nominating committee felt that the information already provided was
sufficient, and the committee agreed, voting almost unanimously against the
overture.

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