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GA06128
Pastoral letter approved
To explain role of Authoritative Interpretation of 1993
by Evan Silverstein
BIRMINGHAM, June 21 * The 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved Wednesday the sending of a pastoral letter to each of the denomination's 11,000 congregations explaining the role of an authoritative interpretation of the church's Constitution.
The action, approved as amended 288-207 with three abstentions, directs the stated clerk of the General Assembly to send the letter, and according to the overture, "a copy of the ‘Policy Statements and Recommendations' from the 1978 report, ‘The Church and Homosexuality' (also known as the Authoritative Interpretation of 1993)."
This process carries a financial implication of $10,000 for editing and designing the two-page pastoral letter, the eight-page policy statement's booklet, envelopes and mailings.
Stockton Presbytery proposed the pastoral letters in an overture that was recommended to commissioners by the Assembly Committee on Church Orders.
A brief study guide, to be prepared by the denomination's Office of Theology and Worship at a projected cost of $7,260, is also to be sent electronically to each congregation.
In the wake of Tuesday's action adopting the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church, the Assembly did not approve any of the overtures it received seeking to change the church's "fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness" standard (G-6.0106b) for church officers. Including overtures and concurrences, 22 of the 173 presbyteries had sought such action.
The Theological Task Force report urged this Assembly not to take any action changing that standard.
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