wfn.org | [Ga212reports] No Subject

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

Note #3 from PCUSA NEWS to GA 212 REPORTS:

	This is Jerry Van Marter of the Presbyterian News Service with news from
the 212th General Assembly in Long Beach, California, for Saturday, June 24.

	The 558 commissioners and thousands of visitors to the 212th General
Assembly streamed into the Long Beach Convention Center this afternoon for
the 2:00 p.m. convening of the Assembly.

	They heard the "State of the Church" reports by outgoing moderator Freda
Gardner, stated clerk the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, and General Assembly
Council executive director John Detterick.

	Committee on the Office of the General Assembly chair John Bartholomew
announced the appointments of two new senior staff members in the Office of
the General Assembly: the Rev. Gradye Parsons as director of Assembly
administration and planning and the Rev. Robina Winbush as director of
governing body, ecumenical and agency relationships.  Parsons, who is moving
into a new position that combines responsibilities of a number of other
jobs, is currently executive presbyter for Holston Presbytery in Tennessee. 
Winbush, a pastor in New York State and former staff member in the Global
Mission Ministry Unit of the General Assembly, succeeds the Rev. Eugene
Turner, who is retiring at the end of this year after 38 years of service to
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in a variety of positions.  Turner was
honored with a standing ovation by the commissioners.

	Detterick unveiled a new churchwide publication, "Glimpses," which will be
mailed in bulk to each congregation quarterly.  The bulletin-insert size
publication is the successor to "Presbyterians Being Faithful To Jesus
Christ," a tabloid-sized newsletter that has been published for the last
three years and mailed directly to 600,000 Presbyterian households.

	In the most dramatic moment of the opening session, the Assembly voted to
honor a moratorium recommended by last year's Assembly on amendments to the
ordination standards of the church's "Book of Order."  As a result, all
proposed amendments to G-6.0106b -- the commonly called "fidelity and
chastity" provision -- of the "Book of Order" will be deferred to next
year's General Assembly.  The vote was close in the Bills and Overtures
Committee -- 12-10 -- and on the floor -- 257-225.

	This is Jerry Van Marter.  Thank you for calling VoiceLine.  For more news
from the 212th General Assembly, call VoiceLine Sunday, June 25, after 7:00
p.m., Pacific Daylight Time.  For commentary on the 212th General Assembly
by noted pundit Dave Steele, call VoiceLine each morning.  Pray for peace. 
Good by.

_______________________________________________
Ga212reports mailing list
Ga212reports@bread.ecunet.org
http://www.bread.ecunet.org/mailman/listinfo/ga212reports