wfn.org | Assembly urges more AIDS ministries, sabbath keeping

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

Note #6101 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

30-June-2000
GA00152

	Assembly urges more AIDS ministries, sabbath keeping

	Support also voiced for disabilities ministries, well-being of children

	by Jerry L. Van Marter and Evan Silverstein

LONG BEACH, June 30–Though the same sex union issue dominated its report,
the Assembly Committee on Physical and Spiritual Well Being also brought to
the 212th General Assembly a number of other significant issues, including
proposals to increase congregation-based ministries with persons with AIDS
and their families and friends, to reaffirm the church's commitment to
persons with disabilities, to call Presbyterians to greater observance of
sabbath and to support measures to ensure the well-being of children.

	The Assembly approved on a voice vote overtures from Northern New York,
Redwoods and Greater Atlanta presbyteries to expand AIDS "care team"
ministries in congregations.  The Assembly appropriated $90,000 over the
next three years "to educate, train and empower deacons and interested
church members" in organized care teams to provide ministry not just to
persons with AIDS but to those with other "life-challenging" maladies such
as Alzheimer's Disease.

	The Assembly reconfirmed its commitment to "That All May Enter," a landmark
policy statement on the church's inclusion of persons with disabilities and
laid plans for a 25th anniversary celebration of the adoption of the policy
at the 214th General Assembly in 2002.

	The Assembly  approved recommendations from the Congregational Ministries
Division on keeping the Sabbath. It included:

	* approving the document "An Invitation to Sabbath: Rediscovering a Gift"
and sending copies of it to all congregations, middle governing bodies and
seminaries
	* strongly urging future General Assemblies to model a concern for Sabbath
keeping throughout the meeting and especially on Sunday
	* encouraging the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) or
its successor to consider offering a program on Sabbath keeping as part of a
future GA
	* strongly urges congregations and all governing bodies to engage in deep
examination of their practices in light of the call to remember the Sabbath

 	The Assembly approved an overture from the Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma
supporting efforts to ensure the health, education and well-being of every
child in the United States.

	The overture calls on presbyteries to support families, teachers and
communities in their efforts to ensure that every child in the nation has a
healthy, fair and safe environment in which to grow, including adequate
shelter, food, clothing and medical care, protection from abuse, neglect,
guns, rape and drugs.

	The Assembly also approved an amendment requesting the stated clerk of the
PC(USA) to write a letter to the president of the United States, the
majority leader of the U.S. Senate, and the speaker of the U.S. House asking
that all mandates providing for the health, education and well-being of all
children be fully funded.

	In other business, the General Assembly upheld the committee's resolution
to disapprove supporting the state of Vermont's action to establish and
recognize civil unions for same-gender couples. Also disapproved as part of
the resolution was encouraging synods, presbyteries, sessions and
congregations of the PC(USA) to lead the way in advocating for laws that
establish civil unions by state governments.

_______________________________________________
pcusaNews mailing list
pcusaNews@pcusa.org

To unsubscribe, go to this web address:
http://pcusa01.pcusa.org/mailman/listinfo/pcusanews