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[PCUSANEWS] 'Resolution on Africa' approved


From PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>
Date 30 May 2003 11:45:51 -0400

Note #7792 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

'Resolution on Africa' approved
GA03103

'Resolution on Africa' approved

Calls for 'opening ourselves afresh' to people of troubled continent

by Nancy D. Borst

DENVER, May 29 - Commissioners to the 215th General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) on Thursday approved a "Resolution on Africa," a
document that was five years in the making and was considered one of the
major items of business before the Assembly.

	The Assembly voted to include background material on the resolution
in the minutes of the GA, but did not agree to spend an estimated $17,820
from the 2003 per-capita budget to have printed copies sent to every PC(USA)
congregation.

	The resolution calls on Presbyterians to "open ourselves to Africa
afresh" and to join "with African sisters and brothers in the struggle for
peace, justice, and the wholeness that is God's will for all people." Some of
its recommendations would strengthen mission and other partnerships in
Africa; increase funding for self-development of people, HIV/AIDS abatement
and action against the other "diseases of poverty" (tuberculosis and
malaria); and advocate for human rights.

	Acting on the recommendation of the Assembly Global Ministries
Committee, the commissioners voted 462-31 to approve an overture on Cuba that
calls for a restoration of Board of Pensions payments to retired PC(USA)
employees and their families living in the Communist country.

	The Rev. Dora Arce Valentin, moderator of the Presbyterian Reformed
Church in Cuba, appealed to the commissioners to help retirees without full
access to their pensions because of U.S. Treasury regulations on payments to
Cuba. Valentin appeared before the Global Issues Committee earlier in the
week.

	The Assembly agreed with a committee recommendation to remove from
the overture references to the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba and the
restoration of normal diplomatic relations. Jim Cook, a committee member,
said "this is not the right time" to mix political issues with the need for a
restoration of desperately needed pension payments.

	World tensions were at the heart of debate on a commissioner's
resolution calling for prayer for Taiwan and action in response to the
SARS-virus epidemic there. The committee amended the measure to "affirm the
urgent need of the Taiwanese people for health services and information," but
removed any specific advocacy, on the advice of the Worldwide Ministries
Division (WMD).

	Marian McClure, the WMD director, told the commissioners that the
PC(USA)'s relationships with China and Taiwan must be handled with care. She
warned against using more specific language without first consulting with
Christians in China and with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The Assembly
agreed, and defeated a substitute motion with sharper language by a vote of
435-55.

	The Assembly agreed by voice vote to spend an estimated $47,100 of
2004 per-capita funds to send an eight-member delegation to Taiwan and China
in connection with a directive to "continue to monitor" issues regarding
Taiwan and relations between the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the China
Christian Council, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the People's Republic
of China.

	In other action, the Assembly approved:

	* An overture calling for action to prevent migrant-worker deaths
along the U.S.-Mexico border; 

	* A measure calling for U.S. ratification of the Convention on
Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol;

	* An overture opposing the Free Trade Area of the Americas in its
current form;

	* A suggestion that the PC(USA) spend about $7,000 to create a
printed resource on the history of the Middle East and the current political
situation there. The commissioners amended the overture to use the specific
term "study guide" to describe the documents.

	* Recommendations for addressing the problem of prostitution around
U.S. military bases;

	* A policy statement, "Presbyterians Do Mission in Partnership," a
guide for PC(USA) relations with overseas partners.

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