General Assembly of the PC(USA)
The General Assembly if the PC(USA) will convene in Portland on June 18-25, 2016.
The General Assembly consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries. Half of the commissioners will be ruling elders, half teaching elders. The GA is slated with resolving controversies in the church, seeing to matters of common concern for the Presbyterian church and serves as a symbol of unity.
One of the first order of business will be the election of a moderator, followed by a time of work in assembly committees tending to the particular business for the week.
Although there are a number of items that will be considered, some highlights this year will include...
- Report submitted to the assembly on a year long study and conversation on the future identity and purpose of the PC(USA)
- Adding "Care of God's Creation" to the ministry of members
- The strengthening of Cuban-American relations and apology for killing of Korean civilians in 1950
- New Directory of Worship- A revised and shortened directory of worship will be presented for approval
- Overture to endorse the clergy letter project
- Granting permission for theological institutions to celebrate the Lord's Supper
- Belhar Confession - this confession will be enacted in the same city as the last confession (Confession of 1967)
- An overture approving new language that if approved will restore the traditional definition of marriage
- Divestment issues regarding Caterpillar and HP in regard to business practices in Israel and divestment from fossil fuels
- A new stated clerk will be elected
- LGBT apology
These are just a few of many overtures, meetings, reports and business that will be conducted, this selection reflects more of my interests than anything else. To keep track of GA work log on to pcusa website and follow the proceedings.
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