wfn.org | Committee Recommends PUB's Arrangement Be Upheld

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99046 
22-June-1999 
 
                       Committee Recommends 
                  Publishing Corp's Arrangement  
                   with Lay Committee Be Upheld 
 
              Benefits for Same-Sex Couples Debated 
 
FORT WORTH   With terms like "editorial control" and "micro-manage" bandied 
about, the committee on Pensions, Benefits and Presbyterian Publishing 
Corporation soundly defeated a `measure Monday night calling for the 
General Assembly to put the brakes on a business venture between the 
church's publishing company and the Presbyterian Lay Committee. 
     Meanwhile, proceedings may heat up even more today as the committee 
tackles whether to recommend that a church agency explore implementing 
policy providing employees in same- sex relationships with the same 
employment benefits accorded to married couples. 
     The two proposals, one a resolution and the other an overture, were 
highly debated into the night as public hearings to gain comment were held 
here at the Radisson Plaza Hotel. 
     The measure pertaining to the Presbyterian Lay Committee, known as 
Commissioner's Resolution 99-6, was brought to the body by John C. Bush, 
Presbytery of Northern Alabama and Nancy J. Whiteley, Presbytery of 
Shenandoah.  
     Robert Knight of Newton Presbytery described the resolution as 
representing "editorial control" and suggested that it could set a 
dangerous precedence. 
     "One you've decided who can and who can't use the services of the 
church then who's next?" 
 
                       Pipeline pipe bomb 
 
     The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC), the official 
denominational publisher of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),  recently 
launched a new enterprise that markets, distributes and warehouses books 
produced by theologically diverse groups for a nominal fee. 
     The service, called the Presbyterian Pipeline, grew out of an 
agreement between PPC and the  Presbyterian Lay Committee, which publishes 
the conservative "Presbyterian Layman" newspaper and a confirmation 
curriculum it prefers to that of the PC(USA). The Lay Committee and the 
Layman, which are independent of the church, have been criticized by some 
of undermining the denomination with their differing views. 
    "I'm grateful for the decision of the committee. I think they did the 
right thing," said Parker T. Williamson, executive editor of  "The 
Presbyterian Layman." "I think it would have been a tragedy in the life of 
the Presbyterian Church if this committee had gone along with a move to 
censor those of us who represent a position that is contrary to the 
position they hold. We believe that the position we hold is both solidly 
Reformed and in the Christian tradition. We also believe that tradition is 
held by most Presbyterians in this denomination."  
     Earlier in the evening the committee heard allegations of bitterness 
by some favoring the resolution, describing the Layman as attacking and 
lying about issues surrounding the denomination in an attempt to divide the 
church.  
     Noting that he believes in "diversity" and the "free exchange of 
ideas," Bill Galvin of Baltimore Presbytery said "there's a problem when 
certain groups consistently undermine the work of the church ... and in 
fact lie." 
     He said he was "shocked and appalled that an organization of our 
church is aligned with this organization." 
     It's not the first time PC(USA) officials have examined its 
relationship with the Lay Committee. In 1995 the General Assembly Special 
Committee on Reconciliation met a number of times with the Lay Committee 
and reported to the 1995 Assembly that its "destructive activities" in fact 
"...undermine the work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and do great 
damage to the integrity of Christ's body, the church...," the resolution 
stated, citing Assembly  minutes. But no action was taken since it was 
concluded that the Assembly had no jurisdiction over the Lay Committee. 
     This year was no different as the resolution was easily defeated 34-7 
before three comments by the committee were approved as part of its 
recommendation to the Assembly: 
    *  "The committee should not attempt to micro-manage the decision of 
the board of directors of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. They 
were deliberately set apart from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) according 
to the General Assembly." 
    *  "The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation can offer to advertise, 
catalog, warehouse and will order for special organizations within or 
relating to the Presbyterian Church  (U.S.A.). The Presbyterian Publishing 
Corporation does not endorse the materials produced by any 
group...providing a detailed service." 
     *  "The resolution as written places the General Assembly Council 
(GAC) in the role of the critic of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and the 
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation in the role of the censor of the 
Presbyterian Lay Committee. These are roles neither body wants...and the 
Presbyterian Lay Committee is excluded from this consultation." 
 
                           Same-sex benefits 
 
     In its overture, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities requested that the 
Presbyterian Board of Pensions (BOP) explore the feasibility of 
implementing a policy by providing same-sex couples in "long-term committed 
relationships" the same benefits provided to married couples and to report 
its findings to next year's General Assembly. A recommendation on the 
matter is expected to come today as discussion is set for 3:15 in the Texas 
Ballroom of the Radisson. 
     The Presbytery noted that a rapidly increasing number of corporations 
are granting domestic partner benefits to their employees in same-sex 
relationships, including health, dental and vision-care insurance, 
beneficiary designations for pensions and other benefits. 
     Advocates called overture 99-74 a matter of "civil rights" while those 
against the overture argued that it's in contradiction of church policy. 
     "Friends, this is about health-care and bereavement rights. This is 
about insurance for loved ones," said Jane Spahr of San Rafael, Calif, an 
evangelist who contrary to long-standing PC(USA) policy advocates for the 
ordination of gays and lesbians. "This is a civil rights matter.  This is 
what everyone should have access to. This is not about ordination. This is 
about loving someone either of opposite gender or the same gender. It's 
about rights of kindness." 
     Bob Henley, Presbytery of Southern Kansas, urged committee members to 
vote against the measure, saying that it would be asking BOP to "contradict 
standards by the church's Book of Order.  
     "The strategy violates the call to sabbatical...that could become a 
battlefield," he said. 
     In other business, the committee unanimously: 
     *  approved the election of Davis Perkins to a second term as 
president and publisher of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. The 
publishing company's board of directors reelected Perkins to another term 
on Feb. 22. If confirmed by the Assembly, Davis' term would extend until 
the 2002 General Assembly. Perkins became the corporation's first president 
and publisher in 1994. 
     *  approved a Board of Pension's recommendation for a 10 percent 
increase in retirement and survivor's pension benefits for those receiving 
such benefits as of Dec. 31, 1998.  The increase, if upheld by the General 
Assembly, will go into effect on Aug. 1. Also approved a 10 percent 
increase in the accrued credits of both active and inactive members of the 
pension plan as of Dec.  31, 1998. It would also be effective Aug. 1 if 
approved by the Assembly. 
     *   approved a three percent increase in disability benefits for 
disabled members receiving benefits as of Dec. 31, 1998, effective Aug. 1 
subject to Assembly approval. 
 
Evan Silverstein 

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