wfn.org | Two Nominees Elected to Permanent Judicial Commission

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

19-June-1997 
GA97102 
 
     Two Nominees From Floor Elected to Permanent Judicial Commission 
 
                        by Bob Gorman 
 
SYRACUSE--Commissioners on Thursday rejected two of the five nominees to 
the Permanent Judicial Commission made by the General Assembly Nominating 
Committee. 
 
    Committee nominee David Dobler, a former General Assembly moderator, 
lost to floor nominee Daniel M. Saperstein, a pastor in Washington in the 
Synod of Alaska Northwest. Committee nominee Philip Hull, an elder from New 
York City lost to Mary Lou Koenig, an elder  from the Presbytery of 
Cayuga-Syracuse. 
 
    The votes were close. Saperstein out polled Dobler, 280-252, a ratio of 
53-47 percent. Koenig beat Hull, 269-248, at ratio of 52-48 percent.. 
 
    The Judicial Commission serves the church much like a Supreme Court, 
hearing  disciplinary cases and appeals from Presbytery Judicial 
Commissions and synods. 
 
    Comments from the floor about Dobler primarily focused  on his support 
of Amendment B. Many commissioners appeared concerned that he would lack 
objectivity on certain issues that might come before the commission. 
 
     After the votes, Saperstein, who was attending the General Assembly as 
an observer, said he was approached during the week by people concerned 
that Dobler's vocal support of Amendment B would cause potential problems 
for the church. 
 
     Hull's nomination  was challenged by a fellow member of his presbytery 
who said Hull was not qualified to serve the national church because he has 
no presbytery experience. Koenig's supporters noted her work as the former 
dean of students at Syracuse University where she was often called on to 
resolve disciplinary matters at the school. 
 
    Two commissioners noted that  neither Dobler nor Hull had received 
endorsements from their synods, but commissioners were reminded that  up to 
80 percent of the candidates considered for national church offices are 
self-nominated. 
 
    Members of the nominating committee defended their selections to the 
assembly, saying they were trying to balance the various views of the 
church on the commission. Supporters of Dobler and Hull believe that the 
Judicial Commission will now have a decidedly liberal bent. 
 
    Asked what the church could expect from him on the commission, 
Saperstein said he told those who wanted to nominate him that,  "I will 
serve Jesus Christ first and I will uphold the constitution." 
 
    Dobler  is in Europe and could not attend this year's assembly. 
 
    After Saperstein and Koenig were selected by  commissioners, they were 
elected with the nomination committee's other nominees, Patricia Norris of 
Grand Canyon, William F. Skinner of Prospect Hill, and James McClure of 
Chicago. 

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