What To Look For At This Year's General Assembly

1. The Election of a New Moderator for General Assembly.

One of our own may become the next moderator of General Assembly. Joan Gray, our congregation's former Interim Pastor, is one of four nominees for moderator. This year all of the nominees are pastors. The election will take place on the evening of Thursday, June 15^th.

2. Peace, unity, and purity of the church
Our denomination will either come through the General Assembly more divided or more united because of the report being presented by the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. The report seeks to lead us into “peace, unity and purity” (as our ordination vows require of ministers, deacons and elders), but many on both the very liberal and very conservative sides of our church are rejecting this report.

3. The creation of the office of Minister of Education

There are extensive changes being proposed in the Book of Order that would call for a 4^th ordained office – in addition to the Minister of the Word and Sacrament, Deacon and Elder, the new office would be the Minister of Education. There is also a proposal for an office of Educating Elder.

4. Justice and peace in the Middle East
The General Assembly of 2004 called for the church to "initiate the process of selective, phased divestment" from corporations the PC(USA) believes are impeding peace in the Middle East by profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and the construction of the security barrier in Israel/Palestine, which many likened to the Berlin Wall. Many Jewish leaders called the church’s action anti-semitic and there was a great deal of misinformation in the secular press about this divestment. Over 20 overtures follow up on this action, most calling for an end to this divestment.

5. Haiti

Many will pay little attention to an overture being presented by the Presbytery of Tropical Florida, but the congregation of Good Shepherd has a vibrant interest in Haiti. Every minister and congregation will have some similar issue -- something they are passionate about, but that many of the church will not be passionate about. The overture calls on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to “express to the president and the Congress of the United States of America the church’s concern for the people of Haiti, to request the president and the Congress to address the political and social situation in Haiti with the resources available to our nation, to provide for welcome and relief for Haitian refugees, and to cease the current practice of immediate deportation of those who are attempting to escape the horror that exists in that troubled country.”

6. A New Provision for Immigrant Ministers.

Because of our congregation’s interest in immigrant ministry, we know from first hand experience some of the unique difficulties this ministry presents. When Ozeas came to us as an ordained minister from Brazil, the Book of Order required him to take very elementary training for elders desiring to become Commissioned Lay Pastors. One of the overtures for a change in the Book of Order makes such transitions easier. The overture would amend G-11.0404 by adding a new section G-11.0404g: “In the case of immigrant ministries, presbyteries shall have broad latitude to recognize the ordination of ministers coming from developing countries with different practices of ordination and to recognize the ‘good standing’ of such ministers when it is attested to by members of their own communion or by members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The presbytery may, by three-fourths vote of those present, enroll such a minister as a member of the presbytery."

7. Financial and organizational concerns
The growing financial crisis at all levels of the church will be addressed with proposed budget reductions and new structures to carry out the work of the church at the General Assembly level.

8. What to do with G-6.0106b
A substantial number of overtures are calling for the removal of the constitutional provision limiting ordination to those who practice "fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness."

9. Building Relationships With Two Other Presbyterian Denominations

For the first time, the General Assembly of our Presbyterian Church (USA) will be meeting concurrently with assemblies of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. There is no move toward organic union with these two smaller groups, but we often work well together in mission and publications or resources. While the business meetings will be held separately, there will be many worship and fellowship events held in common.

10. Anniversaries of Women in Ministry

This year is the 75th anniversary of the ordination of women as elders and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women as ministers of the Word and Sacrament. This will be a significant focus at the assembly.

These are "Maynard's Top Ten Issues" -- everyone would have his or her own list depending on the things that are of interest to that person. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Clifton Kirkpatrick, always has his own Top Ten -- and you can read his by clicking here.