wfn.org | Actions of the 210th General Assembly (1998) (con't)

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16-September-1998 
98293 
             Actions of the 210th General Assembly (1998) (con't) 
 
                                To sessions 
 
    Strongly encourage sessions to review church personnel policies that 
exclude church educators from being members of the churches in which they 
serve. (22.0246, p. 393) 
    Request pastors and sessions to find ways within the life of 
congregations to participate in the commemoration of the anniversary of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights through worship, Bible study, 
intercessory prayer, and utilization of the annual General Assembly Human 
Rights Update, which calls special attention to Human Rights Day each year 
on December 10; and in making available for every member a copy of the 
"Universal Declaration of Human Rights" for study and understanding. 
(25.0409, p. 478) 
    Encourage middle governing bodies, sessions, and individual members to 
pray for all victims of human rights abuse and for those who persecute 
them, also seeking ways to act on behalf of these victims. (25.0433, p. 
481) 
    Encourage the whole church - congregations, sessions, and presbyteries 
- to study the Nicene Creed during the year of presbytery voting and 
afterward. (38.0037, p. 581) 
    On providing for the convening of a special conference on "The Nature 
of the Unity We Seek in Our Diversity"; call upon sessions, presbyteries, 
synods, and theological institutions to consider seriously undertaking 
similar conferences prior to the convening of the 211th General Assembly 
(1999). (Overture 98-65, p. 690) 
 
                            To congregations 
 
    Encourage local congregations to use television, radio, newspapers, and 
Web sites as tools to evangelize their local communities. (22.0066-.0067, 
p. 90) 
    Encourage congregations to consider electing Christian educators as 
elders. (22.0245, p. 393) 
    Call the congregations and middle governing bodies of the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) to give attention to and heed the "Message of the 23rd 
General Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches." (23.0102, p. 
441) 
    Urge congregations to provide ministries to and with immigrants within 
their communities and be active in shaping the local and regional policies 
that guide the implementation of the 1996 welfare legislation and of recent 
changes in immigration laws (23.0113, p. 443) 
    Encourage congregations to engage in programs that bring the 
generations together for interaction and appreciation of persons of other 
generations. (25.0354, p. 474) 
    Encourage the whole church - congregations, sessions, and presbyteries 
- to study the Nicene Creed during the year of presbytery voting and 
afterward. (38.0037, p. 581) 
    Commend the Standards of Ethical Conduct, together with References and 
Examples, to congregations as a model for their study, approval, and use 
with sessions, new members, adult education classes, personnel committees, 
and employee contracts. (43.0025, p. 628) 
    Encourage and recommend to General Assembly agencies, synods, 
presbyteries, and congregations not already so engaged to validate vendors 
and suppliers with Project Equality as an action tool in utilizing existing 
economic power to eradicate race- and gender-based discrimination in the 
workforce. (Overture 98-24, p. 665) 
    Call upon presbyteries and congregations of the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) to support the goals of the Jubilee 2000 efforts by sending 
statements of support to key policy makers in the U.S. government and 
multilateral lending agencies. (Overture 98-42, p. 675-76) 
    Affirm to the youth of our denomination the good purpose and blessing 
of God in the expression of sexuality within the bonds of marriage; commend 
to families and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the need 
to communicate to our children and youth a clear message of sexual purity 
in relation to Christian discipleship, and to encourage our children and 
youth to take the step of making personal commitments of sexual purity. 
(Overture 98-45, p. 677) 
    Urge local churches to make use of a variety of study materials from 
General Assembly entities, and other available resources, and discuss 
end-of-life issues with reference to the church's life of preaching, 
ministry, and care in ways that reflect our Reformed and theological 
heritage. (Overture 98-50, p. 680) 
    Approve "Open One Room" as our national campaign and urge all 
Presbyterian churches to open at least one room for ministry to the poor 
and homeless; and to further ask all Presbyterian churches to encourage 
other denominations or churches in their own communities to do likewise or 
to partner together for this ministry, to magnify the results of such a 
campaign throughout the United States; call upon Presbyterian churches to 
work with policy makers to create fair and just economic and housing 
policies, and to create funding to implement those policies, which will 
benefit every citizen of this nation, including the poor and homeless. 
(Overture 98-55, p. 683) 
    Encourage governing bodies and congregations to celebrate the fiftieth 
anniversary of the One Great Hour of Sharing in appropriate ways. (Overture 
98-79, p. 696-97) 
    Urge our congregations to express again our compassion and concern for 
family tobacco farmers and manufacturing workers and to provide emotional 
and financial support and aid. (Commissioners' Resolution 98-2, pp. 737-38) 
    Urge Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations and institutions to 
pursue energy efficiency and conservation in their buildings and property. 
(Commissioners' Resolution 98-5, p. 740) 
    Urge congregations to pray for all those who as a result of this 
tragedy in Kosovo are now grieving, homeless, or hopeless. (Commissioners' 
Resolution 98-8, pp. 741-42) 
    That each congregation in our denomination, including the pastoral and 
session leadership, is challenged to devote a significant season of prayer 
for their congregation to (1) seek God's face in favor; (2) praise the 
works and power of God; (3) humbly confess our lack of time; lack of 
commitment; and lack of passion, love, and faith to share Christ with 
another person; (4) pray for our neighbors, community, children, youth, and 
schools; (5) prepare themselves for ministering to others; and (6) after 
the above steps have occurred, challenge each member, adult and child, to 
bring one person to Christ this coming year. (Commissioners' Resolution 
98-22, p. 748) 
 
                    To the whole church 
 
    Call upon the whole church to pray that God will guide, direct, and 
empower our racial ethnic church growth effort. (22.0550, p. 415) 
    Communicate the opportunities for denominational revitalization and 
spiritual growth represented by the Racial Ethnic Church Growth Report by 
calling the whole church to engage enthusiastically in the recommended 
strategies for evangelism. (22.0550A, p. 415) 
    That Presbyterians, acting through presbytery partnerships, 
congregational initiatives, or as individuals respond to the call to go to 
particular places in Latin America where sisters and brothers  are in 
crisis to provide ministries of accompaniment, and that the Worldwide 
Ministries Division provide encouragement, coordination, and support for 
such efforts. (23.0111, p. 443) 
    Encourage the church to recognize and celebrate the United Nations' 
"International Year of Older Persons." (25.0350, p. 474) 
    Encourage Presbyterians who are involved in ministries with and for 
older persons to become members of the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry 
Network, a covenant group in the Congregational Ministries Division. 
(25.0352, p. 474) 
    Encourage middle governing bodies, sessions, and individual members to 
pray for all victims of human rights abuse and for those who persecute 
them, also seeking ways to act on behalf of these victims. (25.0433, p. 
481) 
    Caution the church against limiting our response to combating only 
institutional racism within its structures, and urge the church to renewed 
vigilance and action against racism and hate crime in the society. 
(26.0019, p. 504) 
    Approve the First Catechism and the Study Catechism, and commend them 
to the church for use in its ministries of teaching and worship. (41.0017, 
p. 598) 
    Encourage Presbyterians and others to continue to visit the region 
(Israel) and learn about the conditions of its people and the challenges 
before the church, and to share information throughout the church and 
society where possible. (Overture 98-8, pp. 655-56) 
    The 210th General Assembly (1998) reminds the church that authoritative 
interpretation can be helpful in clarifying some parts of the Constitution 
without taking the valuable time of the presbyteries. The 210th General 
Assembly (1998) would also advise this and future General Assemblies that 
making a binding authoritative interpretation on controversial issues is 
unwise and that these issues are better handled through the amendment 
process. The 210th General Assembly (1998) commends to the church the 
suitability of our current system for determining constitutional law for 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). (Overtures 98-10, 98-17, and 98-35, 
disapproved with comment, pp.60-61) 
    Ask and encourage all Presbyterians to (a) engage in urgent 
intercessory prayer for the people of Colombia, and for the church's 
activities on behalf of those in great need and for missionaries serving 
there; (b) become aware of issues and events in Colombia beyond what is 
commonly available in the mass media through in-depth materials provided by 
such organizations as Americas Watch, Amnesty International, and the United 
Nations Human Rights office in Bogota; (c) support the ministry of the 
Presbyterian Church of Colombia and its ecumenical response to this 
situation through financial contributions to the Extra Commitment 
opportunities of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and relief response 
through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (account #9-2000129) that provide 
housing, education, and employment for the displaced; (d) take part in 
delegations or work groups that will support the churches in Colombia and 
that will facilitate deeper understanding of Colombia's reality, (e) engage 
in advocacy with the U.S. government by insisting that members of Congress 
demand  that  the Colombian government abide by human rights requirements 
included in the law appropriating U.S. foreign aid. (Overture 98-20, pp. 
662-63) 
    Renew a call to Presbyterians to participate in the current debates 
over Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity through adult 
forums, study groups, and other appropriate vehicles, in order to further 
promote the historic commitment of the church to social justice. (Overture 
98-24, pp. 665-66) 
    It is our hope that dialogue can, will, and must continue on this 
topic. (Overture 98-37, which was disapproved with comment, p. 68) 
    Affirm to the youth of our denomination the good purpose and blessing 
of God in the expression of sexuality within the bonds of marriage; commend 
to families and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the need 
to communicate to our children and youth a clear message of sexual purity 
in relation to Christian discipleship, and to encourage our children and 
youth to take the step of making personal commitments of sexual purity. 
(Overture 98-45, p. 677) 
    Remind Presbyterians and other citizens of the United States of the 
actions taken by previous General Assemblies to set forth the compelling 
reasons for population stabilization through fewer births; call upon all 
Presbyterians and all Presbyterian governing bodies and agencies, 
especially those concerned with education and support for family and 
community life, to show, in Christlike manner, respect and appreciation for 
persons who conscientiously choose not to conceive children, and to avoid 
all references to these persons that might be taken as indicating that 
their choice in this regard is selfish, irresponsible, or contrary to 
Christian faithfulness. (Overture 98-49, pp. 679-80) 
    Approve the "Shirts Drive" with the message "End Homelessness for All 
Women" or "All People" printed on them as our national campaign and 
encourage Presbyterians to wear them and spread the message to end 
homelessness for all women and children throughout the nation. (Overture 
98-55, p. 683) 
    Urge everyone to honor, respect, and abide by our Constitution. We also 
urge mutual forbearance. (Overture 98-59, which was disapproved with 
comment, p. 68) 
    Call on Presbyterians to support the people of Iraq through their 
prayers and advocacy. (Overture 98-60, pp. 687-88) 
    Call on members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to assist in the 
relief of the suffering of the people of Kosovo by contributing to 
[Presbyterian Disaster Assistance] account #9-2000136. (Commissioners' 
Resolution 98-8, pp. 741-42) 
    Encourage Presbyterians to contact their Congress members in support of 
the Equity in Prescription and Contraceptive Coverage Act (S766 and HR2176) 
and to consider contraceptive coverage or lack thereof when choosing 
insurance coverage. (Commissioners' Resolution 98-13, p. 743) 
    Call upon all Presbyterians to intentionally work toward removing 
handguns and assault weapons from our homes and our communities; seek ways 
to develop community strategies and create sanctuaries of safety for our 
children, so that all of our children may come to identify and value 
themselves and others as the precious children of the family of God that 
they are, and that they may come to learn peace for their lives and peace 
for this generation. (Commissioners' Resolution 98-19, p. 746) 
    Call the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to pray for the people of Burma 
and to encourage world pressure for the genuine democratic government to be 
installed. (Commissioners' Resolution 98-21, pp. 747-48) 
 
                To theological institutions, seminaries, 
              Presbyterian-related colleges and universities 
 
    Encourage all presbytery committees on preparation for ministry and 
committees on ministry, along with our theological institutions, to address 
the theology of stewardship, fiduciary responsibilities, and personal 
financial management as integral aspects of preparation for ministry. 
(20.0322, p. 233) 
    Encourage the theological seminaries to include courses in older adult 
ministry in their curriculum and to provide opportunities for exposure to 
older adult ministries through field education experience and internships. 
(25.0356, p. 474) 
    Encourage seminaries affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 
to include these Standards of Ethical Conduct in their curricula. (43.0031, 
p.  628) 
    On providing for the convening of a special conference on "The Nature 
of the Unity We Seek in Our Diversity;" call upon sessions, presbyteries, 
synods, and theological institutions to consider seriously undertaking 
similar conferences prior to the convening of the 211th General Assembly 
(1999). (Overture 98-65, p. 690) 
    Encourage Presbyterian-related colleges and universities to take 
initiatives that creatively bring Christian faith and practice to bear on 
scholarship and teaching in the arts and sciences and in professional 
education; and that these initiatives be reflected in (1) formal 
consideration of the institutional missions of these colleges and 
universities; (2) faculty recruitment and development; (3) support for new 
efforts in curriculum; and (4) funding of scholarship which embodies these 
concerns. (Commissioners' Resolution 98-18, pp. 745-45) 

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