wfn.org | Actions of the 208th General Assembly (1996)

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22-August-1996 
 
 
96300      Actions of the 208th General Assembly (1996) 
 
              by the Office of the General Assembly 
 
Editor's note: The 208th General Assembly (1996) took 49 actions that it 
addressed to various parts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Those 
actions were directed to the whole church, governing bodies, sessions, 
and/or congregations.  They are printed here as they were received from the 
Office of the General Assembly (with their General Assembly reference 
numbers). -- Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
                   Directed to the whole church 
            
     The church is called to a year of prayer marked by self-examination, 
confession, repentance, and thanksgiving. (15.016-.017) 
  
     The church is called to affirm that the goal of the life and mission 
of the church at each level is faithfulness to the crucified and risen 
Jesus Christ and to share the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus 
Christ with all people. (15.024) 
  
     The church is called to affirm that in the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) we are all accountable to one another and that the authority for 
our mutual accountability is the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
(15.025) 
  
     The church is called to affirm its commitment to the visible unity of 
the Church of Jesus Christ and its participation in ecumenical partnership 
and mutual accountability with Christian churches around the world. 
(15.026) 
        
     The church is called to affirm that we have the gift of unity in Jesus 
Christ; that our struggles in the midst of theological confusion and crisis 
risk obscuring that unity and diminishing our mission and calling. (15.027) 
        
     The church is called to recognize the hope of the church is in the 
intervening mercy and justice, healing presence, and power of the Holy 
Spirit; encourage congregations and presbyteries to identify practical ways 
in which this ministry can be enhanced. (15.028) 
        
     The church is encouraged to join with other denominations and churches 
in celebrating 50 years of participating in common partnership through 
Church World Service and by adding its vote to the common resolution. 
(34.074) 
  
     Sessions, congregations, ministers, and elders are urged to a ministry 
of compassion and healing for those whose sexual practices bring alienation 
and pain to many parts of the church, and compassion and healing for those 
who feel alienation and pain by the actions of their church. (Overture 
96-114) 
  
     The church is encouraged to join with other denominations and churches 
in working toward the goal of the AD 2000 movement: "A church for every 
people and the gospel for every person by the year 2000 and beyond." 
(34.048-.050) 
  
     Presbyterians are urged to get to know Latin Americans, to pray for 
them, to stand in solidarity with them, and join them in fellowship, 
celebration, and mission by becoming informed about Latin American issues, 
participating in travel study seminars, inviting Latin American 
interpreters to speak, serving as a mission volunteer with Latin Americans, 
sponsoring a refugee family from Latin America, getting involved in hunger 
and peacemaking projects with Latin Americans, and working for just public 
policies in Latin America. (34.014) 
  
     Members are called to pray for this advance of the gospel (through new 
church development and redevelopment). (33.150d) 
  
     Presbyterians are urged to pray for peace in the Middle East, and to 
join in advocating public policies mentioned in the report "Concerns for 
the Arab-Israeli Peace Process." (34.084-.118) 
  
     Presbyterians are urged to express condemnation of violent acts in 
Guatemala to governmental leaders and to send letters of encouragement to 
the Guatemalan Church members. (34.077-.083) 
  
     Individuals are urged to support ministries for those in need. 
(36.127) 
  
     To honor the 50th anniversary of UNICEF, Presbyterians are encouraged 
to support the work of UNICEF in their communities, volunteer as 
appropriate and possible, support community and government programs, and 
foster education about the conditions of children through information 
available through UNICEF and the Children's Defense Fund. (36.030-.035) 
  
     Presbyterians are urged to pray for the people of Iraq and people 
throughout the Middle East who are affected by the conflict experienced in 
their region; to advocate change in sanctions policy and practice of the 
United Nations; to learn about the humanitarian needs of Iraq; and to 
support the humanitarian efforts of the world community. (Overture 96-026) 
  
     Presbyterians are reminded that the population problem is here, not 
just in countries with higher fertility rates, and therefore that they too 
have the responsibility to prayerfully consider the size of their families 
and to moderate consumption. (36.552) 
        
     Members are asked to respect and appreciate the rich diversity of 
Christian worship around the world; to honor truth, beauty, and authentic 
morality. (36.589) 
  
     Members of the church and governing bodies working with MRTI and the 
Presbyterian Hunger Program are called to educate themselves about child 
labor abuse related to overseas subsidiaries and contract suppliers of U.S. 
corporations, and to mobilize themselves in urging U.S. companies to adopt 
and implement "codes of conduct" that prohibit the use of child labor, 
respect the rights of their workers, and uphold sound environmental 
practices. (Commissioners' Resolution 96-37) 
  
     Presbyterians are urged to commit themselves to meaningful dialogue on 
the issue of racial justice and cultural diversity. (33.090) 
       
     Presbyterians are urged to become more active in politics and consider 
candidates' entire platform in determining whether to support the 
candidate.  (36.433) 
 
     Individuals are urged to study and promote use of "Stewardship of 
Public Life" and other state and national networks. (36.434) 
  
                   Directed to governing bodies 
       
     In order to further strengthen governing body partnerships, at least 
one of the three appraisals currently required by the General Assembly 
Nominating Committee for nomination will come from the governing body of 
membership (session or presbytery) or its designated body. (15.144) 
  
     Governing bodies are urged to give priority commitments of time, 
energy, and resources to the development and support of leaders in the 
denomination's evangelism efforts. (Overture 96-53) 
  
     Governing bodies are called to share in a three-year study to expand 
the strength, growth, and influence of the PC(USA) locally and throughout 
the world. (Overture 96-118) 
  
     Individuals and sessions are encouraged to pray for victims of human 
rights abuse and those who persecute them. (36.151) 
  
     Governing bodies contemplating covenant relationships with particular 
communities abroad are urged to seek those whose projects are designed by 
the local community and controlled by its people.  (36.517) 
  
     Governing bodies are encouraged to continue the use of the churchwide 
study document published in 1994 titled "Sustainable Development, Reformed 
Faith, and U.S. International Economic Policy: Churchwide Study Document." 
(36.538) 
 
                       Directed to sessions 
 
     Persons elected to General Assembly entities are to be commissioned by 
the endorsing governing bodies in a service of worship. (15.088) 
 
     Governing bodies are to make provisions for General Assembly-elected 
persons to report back to the endorsing body.  Governing bodies are 
encouraged to provide them a definitive status within the structure, such 
as corresponding or ex-officio members of a particular committee or 
council. Elected persons have an obligation to communicate to General 
Assembly entities the needs and concerns of endorsing bodies. (15.091-.094) 
 
     Sessions are urged to study and promote use of "Stewardship of Public 
Life" and other state and national networks. (36.434) 
  
     Congregations and sessions are requested to continue to study the 
issues of ordination and human sexuality to seek more clarity to discern 
God's will; to open themselves to the leading of God's Spirit, especially 
in those spaces between our differences where a more complete understanding 
of God's truth is being sought; to place a special emphasis on dialogue in 
which there is a "climate...that is open and non-incriminating, and that 
would not result in jeopardizing the reputation or standing of any partner 
in dialogue." (Recommendation from the Assembly Committee on Ordination and 
Human Sexuality) 
 
     Sessions that have not adopted "Commitment to Peacemaking" are urged 
to consider adopting it. (Comment: Congregations are advised that the 
"Commitment to Peacemaking" can be adapted to their individual 
circumstance.)  (32.326) 
  
     Sessions are requested to assure greater level of registration and 
voting; promote public dialogue on political issues to restore climate of 
civic discourse. (36.429-.430) 
 
                    Directed to congregations 
 
     Congregations are encouraged to study "The COCU Consensus," "The 
Churches in Covenant Communion, a Proposal for Continuing Participation in 
COCU," and the constitutional amendments to enable reconciliation of 
ministries in the Church of Christ Uniting. (16.014) 
  
     Every congregation is urged to actively participate in reaffirming the 
special churchwide mission emphasis "Year With Latin Americans." 
(34.010-.011) 
 
     Congregations are encouraged to use worship and study resources 
prepared for the "Year With Latin  Americans." (34.012) 
 
     Congregations are urged to get to know Latin Americans, to pray for 
them, to stand in solidarity with them, and join them in fellowship, 
celebration, and mission by becoming informed about Latin American issues, 
participating in travel study seminars, inviting Latin American 
interpreters to speak, serving as a mission volunteer with Latin Americans, 
sponsoring a refugee family from Latin America, getting involved in Hunger 
and Peacemaking projects with Latin Americans, and working for just public 
policies in Latin America. (34.014) 
  
     Congregations are urged to complete their Bicentennial  Fund Campaign 
commitments and to forward all contributions in a timely manner to the 
appropriate receiving site. (35.189) 
 
     Congregations are urged to observe the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
on Sunday, January 2, 2000, at the conclusion of a study to expand the 
strength, growth, and influence of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) locally 
and throughout the world. (Overture 96-118) 
 
     Congregations are called to support ending the arms race through 
education and advocacy.  (36.086) 
 
     Congregations are urged to support ministries for those in need and 
living in difficult circumstances.  (36.127). 
 
     The 208th General Assembly calls to the attention of all congregations 
the long-held support for the full range of human rights, and points to the 
connection between these rights and just and sustainable development. 
(36.501) 
  
     Congregations contemplating covenant relationships with particular 
communities abroad are urged to seek those whose projects are designed by 
the local community and controlled by its people.  (36.517) 
 
     Congregations are encouraged to continuing the use of the churchwide 
study document published in 1994 titled "Sustainable Development, Reformed 
Faith, and U.S. International Economic Policy: Churchwide Study Document." 
(36.538) 
  
     Congregations working with MRTI and the Presbyterian Hunger Program 
are called to educate themselves about child labor abuse related to 
overseas subsidiaries and contract suppliers of U.S.  corporations, and to 
mobilize themselves in urging U.S. companies to adopt and implement "codes 
of conduct" that prohibit the use of child labor, respect the rights of 
their workers, and uphold sound environmental practices. (Commissioners' 
Resolution 96-37) 
 
     Congregations are urged to provide opportunities for intercultural and 
interracial conversations on a denominational and interdenominational level 
in local communities. (33.091) 
  
     Pastors are urged to interpret to congregations the ramifications of 
"Politics and Faith." (36.427) 
 
     Congregations are urged to study the relationship between faith and 
politics. (36.428) 

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