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ASSEMBLY in brief 2010
Newly elected Moderator Cynthia Bolbach. —Photo by Danny Bolin
With an unusually large number of contentious issues on the agenda, the 219th General Assembly (2010) — with the theme “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38) — could have been a stormy crossing. Th at it wasn’t is a tribute to the spirit of civility and unity that predominated among the 712 commissioners and 200 advisory delegates who diligently adhered to their commissions “to discern the mind of Christ.”
They were also well-served by two calm and competent leaders — Moderator Cynthia Bolbach and Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons. While no Assembly produces consensus on many issues, the 219th General Assembly demonstrated Presbyterian governance at its best — elders, ministers and advisers worshiping, laughing, praying, singing, studying, debating and navigating potentially treacherous waters together to seek the best way forward for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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News
The Middle Governing Body Commission: questions and answers
July 16, 2010 4:46 p.m.
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s action to create a middle governing body commission:
What did the Assembly do? What has changed?
The 219th General Assembly (2010) has created a Middle Governing Body Commission with the power to act as the General Assembly, upon request of presbyteries and synods. The commission has the power "to organize new synods and to divide, unite, or otherwise combine synods or portions of synods previously existing" (G-13.0103m) and "to approve the organization, division, uniting or combining of presbyteries or portions of presbyteries by synods" (G-13.0103n) upon the request, by ...
New Form of Government questions and answers
July 15, 2010 5:46 p.m.
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s action to approve the new Form of Government:
What happened? What changed?
The General Assembly voted to recommend a revised Form of Government to the presbyteries by a vote of 468 in favor, 204 against, and 6 abstentions — a 70%-30% margin. The new Form of Government includes:
- Foundations of Presbyterian Polity — the principles that are foundational to government, worship, and discipline for the PC(USA) — preserves the vast majority of the material in the first four chapters of the current Form of Government.
- Form of Government — in six chapters, which ...
Civil union and marriage issues questions and answers
July 14, 2010 5:39 p.m.
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s actions on issues of civil union and Christian marriage:
What did the General Assembly do? What has changed?
The General Assembly approved both the final report and the minority report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage and ordered they be sent out for study by the wider church. The vote was 439 in favor, 208 against, with 6 abstentions. By this action (sending both reports for study) the Assembly maintained the definition of marriage as between “a man and a woman.” With the action ...
Actions on Middle East peace questions and answers
July 13, 2010 5:47 p.m.
A summary of the 219th General Assembly’s actions on Middle East peace issues:
What did the Assembly do?
The Genenal Assembly approved a comprehensive report on the Middle East — its first since 1997. The paper calls for:
- An immediate cessation of all violence, whether perpetrated by Israelis or Palestinians;
- The reaffirmation of Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure and internationally recognized borders;
- The end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories;
- An immediate freeze on the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and on the Israeli acquisition of Palestinian ...
Welcome all to the 219th General Assembly (2010)
Blogs
Several commissioners and advisory delegates have been invited to blog about their experience of the General Assembly.
Commissioner Blog: “What’s a COLA Volunteer?”
July 9, 2010 12:31 a.m.
“What’s a COLA Volunteer?” That question came on the tram from the airport baggage claim area to the bus that would deliver me to my hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
Advisory Delegate's Blog: So what is next?
July 9, 2010 12:23 a.m.
So what is next? As our General Assembly begins to come to a close and we return home, what will we do and what will we say? Too many times, I feel that General Assemblies come with painful regularity, not painful in that we hate going, but rather our aversion arises after the Assembly.
Commissioner Blog: Yikes, its hard work!
July 7, 2010 11:24 p.m.
The continued liturgy of the Assembly is happening even as I write.
Commissioner Blog: A positive experience at the 219th General Assembly
July 7, 2010 5:33 p.m.
I am having such a positive experience at the 219th General Assembly serving as a Minister Commissioner.
