wfn.org | Committee Hears Report on Moderatorial Campaign Expenses

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

18-June-1997 
GA97058 
 
       Committee Hears Report on Moderatorial Campaign Expenses 
 
                        by Julian Shipp 
 
SYRACUSE--The 210th General Assembly (1998) could be asked to make changes 
to the standing rules regarding the election of the moderator following a 
report by the Assembly Committee on Bills and Overtures, which is required 
to receive an itemized statement of expenses from the candidates prior to 
the opening of the Assembly. 
 
    On June 17, the committee heard a report from Valerie Small, manager 
for General Assembly nominating committee and moderatorial staff services; 
Kerry Clements, assistant stated clerk; and Trey Woodruff, a member of the 
Bills and Overtures Subcommittee on Moderatorial Expenses of  Florida 
Presbytery. 
 
    Clements said moderator candidates are required by the Standing Rules 
of the General Assembly to limit their campaign spending by $500 and that 
all three candidates submitted itemized statements of their expenses 
indicating that they did so. 
 
    "I am not aware of any (moderator campaign violations of the spending 
level)," Clements said. 
 
    However, Woodruff and other committee members said they have concerns 
over campaign rules and procedures, including gray areas they say need to 
be clarified regarding spending limits and funding avenues and the possible 
violation of the rule regarding the distribution of campaign materials at 
the General Assembly, which are supposed to be limited to printed materials 
placed in mailboxes. 
 
    For example, Kristy Forbes, a Bills and Overtures Committee member and 
Theological Student Advisory Delegate (TSAD) of Austin Seminary, said she 
received letters at her residence endorsing at least two moderator 
candidates before the Assembly opened. 
 
    "My main concern was that I did not want to elect a moderator and then 
later find out that they had not stayed within the rules and then have to 
elect a new moderator," Woodruff said. "That was something that happened at 
my university and I did not want to see that happen here." 
 
    Ironically, even if a violation did occur, enforcement could prove 
difficult since the current rules carry no provisions for punishing 
offenders. Small said all moderatorial candidates are briefed on the 
standing rules of the Assembly and made aware of the limits on campaign 
spending, but the process is largely based on "the honesty and integrity of 
the candidates and their campaign group." 
 
    "That's not a comfortable situation for us to be in, we need to add 
more rules and regulations," Small said, adding conversations on this issue 
are ongoing in various program areas in the denomination. 
 
    Clements said the Office of the General Assembly has been aware of 
concerns regarding the moderatorial election for more than one year and has 
made initial proposals to the Committee on the Office of the General 
Assembly. 
 
    Bills and Overtures Committee members said they would like to see 
several reforms, including creating procedures for candidates who violate 
the rules, ensuring that the rules are applied fairly and equally to all, 
raising the level of funding to adjust for inflation and requiring 
candidates to certify compliance with the rules during the opening 
Assembly plenary before the moderatorial elections begin. 
 
    Clements said the Bills and Overtures Committee could recommend that 
the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) or the stated clerk review the 
standing rules and adjust them to reflect their concerns. 
 
    While any changes to the standing rules of the Assembly almost always 
come from the stated clerk, there have been occasions when the Committee on 
the Office of the General Assembly recommends changes on its own. 

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