Friday, the last day of policy business

Friday morning started with an attempt toeconsider the decision of Thursday night to postpone any discussion about LGBT marriage to 2012.  The proposal to reconsider garnered about 1/3 the total votes cast and was defeated.

After much discussion the assembly approved a report that the church does not approve of Caterpillar selling construction equipment to the government of Israel for use in building barriers and destroying houses in the Palestine area of Jerusalem.  The committee on responsibility use of the church investments will try to talk with Caterpillar about its actions.

Earlier this year a study committee published a draft report on peace in the Middle East.  Many found the report unbalanced in favor of the Palestinian people.   The assembly committee modified part of the report.  The assembly adopted the modified report with an 82% "yes" vote.

The Presbyterian Board of Pensions covers retirement and health insurance for ministers. It makes it programs available to non-minister employees who work more than half time if the churches and other church agencies that elect to provide coverage. This proposal to cover same sex domestic partners and same sex spouses of non-ministers. [Ministers are not permitted to have same-sex partners]. After discussion about the additional cost to the employing church or agency (estimated to be 1% of payroll cost) and whether to postpone [that P word again] until 2012, the assembly approved the proposal.  For more information go to  www.pc-biz.org and look up item 18-06.

The assembly spent a lot of time, both in the committee I watched and on Friday, talking about the arcane topic of  Authortative Interpretative of the church's constitution.   The result was no change in current policy.   If you think you may care about this obscure topic, let me know and I will talk about it.  Also there was discussion about repealing some amendments to the constitution about appeals in the church discipline process that we adopted a couple of years ago.  The assembly sent a repeal proposal to the 173 presbyteries for ratification.

This year the Presbyterian peacemaking program is 30 years old. In addition to celebrating the history of the program, the assembly adopted several resolutions in support of those subject to war and oppression, particularly those in Afghanistan, Sudan, Columbia, Korea, Haiti, Madagascar, Honduras.

Throughout the week the assembly heard of the work of Presbyterian mission around the world and in the US.  On Friday the emphasis was on the opportunities of churches and presbyteries to support the work of specific mission workers.   Also, the work that Young Adult Volunteers  in Mission do.  Mission opportunities of many kinds are described at  www.pcusa.org/mission.

The assembly was in an unexpected recess for a few minutes late in the afternoon when a group, not affiliated with the church or with groups affiliated with the church, interrupted with a protest against the delay in considering matters related to LGPT marriage.  After some time those who refused to leave after repeated requests were escorted out and cited for trespass.  The work of the assembly continued.

On Saturday the assembly will review the budget consequences of the week's work, celebrate the time together, worship, and go home.