PC(USA) Summary of GA 221

The Presbyterian News Service and the Office of the General Assembly have produced a free downloadable summary of General Assembly 221.

In summary the General Assembly:
The Assembly of Yes … mostly

• ‘Yes’ to divestment from three U.S. companies
• ‘Yes’ to same-gender marriage: pastoral discretion and a new definition
• ‘Yes’ to the Belhar Confession
• ‘Yes’ to new synod boundaries
• ‘Yes’ to leaders of General Assembly agencies
• ‘Yes’ to PC(USA)’s continuing commitment to peacemaking
• ‘Yes’ to preventing gun violence
• Working for the common good with people of other faiths
• ‘Study’ to fossil fuel divestment
• ‘Educate a Child, Transform the World’
• Peacemaking Offering expanded
• The Bottom Line

Copies of the free summary are here.

Words Make a Difference

Our friend Edward Dunn of Boise Presbytery has a blog about the connections within the Presbyterian church, including the opportunities to discern the best words to express God's intent.

The closest vote of the assembly was on 'divestment' of investments in three companies. These companies make some of the tools that the government of Israel uses to 'protect from violence' or 'oppress' residents.  Of over 600 votes cast, the difference was 7. Had 4 commissioners voted 'no' instead of 'yes' the result would have been different.

The argument was over 'divestment.'  We aren't going to divest of anything.

PC(USA) investments are managed by the Board of Pensions and Foundation. The Board is actually and legally responsible not to GA but to the active and retired members of the pension plan.

The Foundaton is responsible for preserving and growing the permanent investments.

Each body follows GA advice when buying stock but has to make decisions to sell based on prudent financial decisions.

Neither body will sell stock based on GA action. The only result is to not make future investments in these companies.

The'divestment' that may incite emotions probably should be called 'no  investment in.' People and institutions making decisions to buy are seldom criticized for not investing in any particular company among the many thousands of possible choices.

Most publicized action of General Assembly

The General Assembly in Detroit is adopting several actions that are or will get a lot of press, Here are some summaries:

Marriage:
1. The General Assembly approved an Authoritative Interpretation of the constitution, effective on Saturday noon, EST, that allows ministers and Commissioned Ruling Elders to perform same-sex marriages in states that allow same-sex marriages.  Sessions may allow same-sex marriages in churches and other church-owned property. 

No minister, CRE, or session would be required to perform or allow a same-sex contrary to that person's or body's conscience.

2. The General Assembly approved a rewrite of Directory of Worship W-4-9000 that uses the term 'two people (traditionally a man and a woman)' where the current use is 'man and woman.' 

This proposed amendment is to be sent to presbyteries for ratification.  If approved by a majority of presbyteries it would be effective June 21, 2015.

This also has a provision that specifies that ministers, CRE's and sessions would not be required to violate conscience.

More details in a PC(USA) news release

2. Referred to Mission Responsibility Through Investment a proposal for possible divestment from fossil fuel companies.

We are talking about divestment from 3 companies supplying material to Israel that is used in relation to Israel's relation with Palestinians. More to follow.