wfn.org | Re: [Ga212reports] News from the 212th General Assembly for Tuesday, Ju

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

Note #14 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 Wednesday, June
28.

	The General Assembly reconvened in plenary session this morning at 10:15
a.m. to begin working its way through its Assembly Committees' reports.

	The Assembly okayed a recommendation of its Assembly Committee on
Educational Institutions and approved the elections of two new seminary
presidents: the Rev. Jeffrey F. Bullock as president of the University of
Dubuque Theological Seminary and the Rev. Laura Mendenhall as president of
Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.  The Assembly also expressed
its concern over the gender imbalance on the boards of trustees of Dubuque
Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary.

	Upon recommendation of its Assembly Committee on Stewardship and Mission
Support, the Assembly confirmed the election of Robert E. Leech as president
and CEO of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation.  Leech was elected
by the Foundation's trustees earlier this year.  The Assembly also approved
some changes in the Pentecost Offering, so that the offering will be divided
equally between youth and young adult ministries and programs for children
at risk.  The youth and young adult half will be divided 50 percent for the
Congregational Ministries Division for youth and young adult ministries; and
25 percent each for the young adult volunteers programs in the National
Ministries Division and the Worldwide Ministries Division.  The children at
risk half of the offering will be divided with 80 percent retained locally
for children at risk ministries with the remaining 20 percent allocated to
General Assembly -level children at risk ministries.

	Concurring with its Assembly Committee on Pensions and Benefits, the
Assembly approved a 9 percent experience apportionment for participants in
the Board of Pensions retirement plan.  As a result, retired pensioners or
their survivors will receive a 9 percent increase in their pensions,
effective August 1 of this year.  Active plan members will receive a 9
percent increase in their accrued pension credits.  The Assembly also
approved a 4 percent experience apportionment for those receiving disability
benefits.

	Agreeing with its Assembly Committee on Evangelism and Church Development,
the Assembly approved a new strategy for ministries with Native Americans. 
The strategy calls for financial support of developing Native American
congregations beyond the traditional five years; for enhanced programs to
train Native American commissioned lay pastors; for increased scholarship
assistance for Native American seminary students; for more opportunities for
volunteer work in Native American ministry settings; and for special
outreach ministries with Native American youth and young adults.

	Continuing a pattern of bilateral ecumenical dialogues that has picked up
momentum in recent years, the Assembly approved a recommendation from its
Assembly Committee on Catholicity and Ecumenical Relations to enter
church-to-church dialogues with the Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church in
America, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America.

	In the major debate of this first day of Assembly plenary sessions, the
Assembly voted to reject an overture from Savannah Presbytery that would
have slashed funding for the World Council of Churches and the National
Council of Churches by two-thirds.  The vote on the measure was 78 percent
to 19 percent.  An earlier minority report that would have cut funding to
the two councils by less than the Savannah Presbytery overture was defeated
72 percent to 27 percent.

	This is Jerry Van Marter.  Thank you for calling VoiceLine.  For more news
from the 212th General Assembly, call VoiceLine Thursday, June 29, after
7:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time.  Pray for peace.  Good bye.

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