wfn.org | Assembly Reverses Decision to Cut Funding for NNPCW

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20-June-1998 
GA98129 
 
       Assembly Reverses Decision to Cut Funding for NNPCW  
 
                         By Julian Shipp 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - In a stunning move Saturday, the 210th General Assembly 
(1998) voted 314-183 with three abstentions to reverse its previous 
decision to withdraw funding and support for the National Network of 
Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW) during the final report of the Assembly 
Committee on Health and Educational Issues. 
   On Friday , the General Assembly voted 262-236 with two abstentions to 
reconsider its previous decision to withdraw funding and support for the 
organization. The Assembly's decision resulted in a two-minute protest with 
approximately 20 NNPCW demonstrators standing on the floor of the Assembly 
and singing "This Little Light of Mine."   
   On Thursday, the Assembly voted 306-217 and four abstentions to withhold 
support and financial aid from NNPCW. Approximately two hours of debate and 
requests for personal privilege to speak from commissioners occurred Friday 
and Saturday.  
   The Assembly's action referred Commissioners's Resolution 98-10, 
Overture 98-64 and "all related items" to a seven person task force to be 
appointed by the GAC including the moderator and vice moderator of the 
210th General Assembly (1998). 
   The task force will then evaluate the resources and programs of NNPCW to 
ensure consistency with Scripture and the constitution and submit a 
complete report to the 211th Assembly (1999). The Assembly also ruled that 
funding for NNPCW will be continued at current levels for the next 12 
months. 
   Commissioners' Resolution 98-10 calls for the cessation of funding and 
support for NNPCW, invites the organization to "fully integrate with Campus 
Ministries or to organize as a special organization of Presbyterians." 
Overture 98-64 (National Capital Presbytery) calls for full funding for a 
staff associate, a young adult intern, programming and two meetings per 
year for the network's coordinating committee for its work involving future 
young women in college. 
   NNPCW presently receives funding from the PCUSA's National Ministries 
Division (NMD) offices of Higher Education, Social Justice, Evangelism and 
Church Development and the Women's Ministries Program Area. 
   Concerns over the sexuality perspective in the NNPCW curriculum titled 
"Young Women Speak: Issues for Study by College Women," and diverse 
internal issues raised by NNPCW were sticking points for many 
commissioners. However, proponents of NNPCW argued the organization offers 
a much-needed space for youth dialogue on a variety of issues.  
       Assembly rules on abortion, youth sexual abstinence 
   By a vote of 376-135 with four abstentions, the Assembly directed the 
Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) to assess the current 
implementation of the General Assembly's policy on abortion and report its 
findings to the 212th GA (2000). The Assembly also authorized the moderator 
to appoint a committee of no more than nine persons to be "representative 
of the viewpoints recognized by the 1992 abortion policy itself, but 
especially representing the distinctly pro-life perspective which holds 
that a decision to kill an innocent human being is not a Christian option." 
   ACSWP and the committee will examine and review the current policy of 
the PCUSA on abortion in light of the Scriptures and confessions of the 
PCUSA, provide clear guidelines and directions for the implementation of 
the abortion policy, bring the proposal to the 211th General Assembly 
(1999) and further design or identify a system of accountability so that 
denominational entities are held accountable for their activities and 
publications presenting all aspects of the policy. 
   By a vote of 299-217 and three abstentions, the Assembly approved a 
recommendation to increase the current funding to the National Ministries 
Division Office to provide adequate staffing, office space, and 
administrative support for the Presbyterian Health Education and Welfare 
Association (PHEWA) to accommodate new networks. The financial implications 
are: $10,346 (1998), $95,611 (1999) and $113,687 (2000) from the GAC 
Mission Budget, 
   By a vote of 322-185 and three abstentions Friday, the Assembly also 
approved Overture 98-45 from Holston Presbytery on affirming to the youth 
of the denomination "the good purpose and blessing of God in the expression 
of sexuality within the bonds of marriage." The overture also commends to 
families and congregations of the Presbyterian Church the need to 
communicate to children and youth a message of sexual purity in relation to 
Christian discipleship.  

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