wfn.org | Global Service, Witness, Mission Committee Report

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

19-June-1997 
GA97085 
 
           Global Service, Witness, Mission Committee Report: 
         Most of Resolution on Middle East Accepted by Assembly 
 
                           by Midge Mack 
 
SYRACUSE--Commissioners Wednesday approved most of the centerpiece of the 
work of the Assembly Committee on Global Service, Witness and Mission 
(GSWM),  refining a comprehensive 25-page resolution on the Middle East 
first  prepared by the Committee on Social Witness Policy. Committee 
members had struggled many hours with delicate wording seeking to 
strengthen the impact of the document  described by  committee moderator 
Victor Aloyo as balanced, well documented, and consistent with Presbyterian 
Middle East policy of past years. 
 
    One committee amendment asked more aid to be available to the 
Palestinian Authority, and for easing economic sanctions against Iraq in 
such a manner that does not support Iraq's ability to make acts of 
aggression against its neighbors.  Another directed the stated clerk to 
send the resolution to a) U.S. government leaders;  b) all congregations 
and presbyteries with an appropriate study guide, and c) direct World Wide 
Ministries division to develop a mission contacts guide for those traveling 
in the Middle East. 
 
    The report was arrested when the committee's time ran out before an 
$18-20 thousand dollar financial impact for item b) above was voted, and 
will be finalized Saturday. 
 
    Part of the report already approved included Overture 97-60 in which 
the Assembly voted to invite its counterpart Presbyterian Churches in 
Brazil and South Korea to join it in a three-way dialogue on social justice 
and the emerging global economy.  The initiative came from a group within 
the PCUSA called the Bi-National Service Community, made up of former 
missionaries who have lived a major part of their lives in second countries 
and are committed to building relationships of justice between the peoples 
of their two countries. 
 
    The Assembly has already approved Commissioners' Resolution 97-10 and 
response began yesterday with a special mailing on its way to congregations 
undergirding an earlier appeal from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to 
fund food aid to North Korea.  The stated clerk will also send messages to 
the President, Secretary of State, and the East Asia committee of the U.S. 
Congress urging them in the strongest way to provide increased food aid to 
North Korea in the spirit of humanitarian principle. Commissioners' 
Resolution 97-8, a call for a special Presbyterian Disaster Assistance 
(PDA) appeal to all congregations to fund church rebuilding in the 
flood-stricken Red River Valley was approved.  Amended wording "that 
subsequent PDA appeals for U.S. disasters include information on the extent 
of church damage and offer Presbyterians the opportunity to designate gifts 
for either general relief and/or church rebuilding," was included.  Prior 
PDA policy has limited relief monies to people rather than for buildings. 
 
    Overture 97-75 from the Presbytery of Shenango calling for intensified 
efforts by the PCUSA for peace and justice in the Sudan, was amended with 
direction to register protest against increasing persecution of Christians 
and the rise of slavery.  It was then approved with commendation of 
Shenango Presbytery's mission partnership in Sudan. 
 
    Twice during the Wednesday proceedings the Assembly paused for prayer, 
the first time for the church and people of Hong Kong and again a few 
minutes later for the people of Sudan. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--