General Assembly Business Overview

The PC(USA) General Assembly follows a pre-set sequence of  doing business.  On Saturday, following opening worship, the assembly will meet in the evening the GA elects a Moderator to be the leader of the assembly and of the church for the next two years, until the General Assembly meets in Detroit, MI in mid-June, 2014.  

On Sunday, following worship, there will be a short business meeting in the afternoon to elect a Stated Clerk (chief administrative officer) for a four year term.  This year there is no drama in this election as the incumbent, Gradye Parsons, is the only candidate.  In the evening the 20 committees each meet to get acquainted with each other and may start to consider some of the business assigned to the committee.

On Monday and Tuesday the committees will continue to meet and consider the business.  The committee work will result in recommendations to the full General Assembly plenary sessions.  None of the committee recommendations will be final until acted on by the plenary sessions.

The work of the full assembly starts on Wednesday.   Each day, Wednesday through Friday, includes three business sessions and worship.   Some of the work of the full assembly will be the subject of local, national, and religious press reports.  

The final plenary session, mostly to consider the budget implications of the prior actions, and closing worship will be on Saturday.   Most of us return to our homes on Saturday and Sunday.

For those who wish to follow the business of the General Assembly either to see what's going on or to check the accuracy of press reports, go to the same site the commissioners and delegates use, http://pc-biz.org

If you have questions or comments please make them here and I will try to respond.