My Response to the Pastoral Letter from the Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCUSA 2010

Dear Friends;
Much has been written in the papers on said on the news about the actions of the PCUSA General Assembly meeting in Minneapolis last week. There is much misinformation and political rhetoric being spread across the internet and social networks. Some is true, some is skewed to a particular theological or ideological position. The General Assembly in helping congregations understand the actions taken have issued the following FAQ’s to answer the questions of members and others who are wondering what took place at the GA.

The church has been struggling for more than thirty years on the issues surrounding homosexuality, ordination, and marriage. This General Assembly spent hours of deliberation and discussion, always under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer and study. The Assembly has sent various overtures for consideration to the Presbyteries to ratify.

It is time for the church to end the fighting and return to the essentials of the faith, and that is proclaiming Christ and his resurrection and its meaning for human life. I encourage you to read the FAQ’s, search for more information at the websites suggested and pray that God will lead this Church into a future where all are welcomed and treated as Children of God and that we can learn to live together in this world that God has given us as stewards, respecting the creation and human life, working for peace and justice for all people.

Pastor Bill

Ordination Standards
Questions and Answers
What did the Assembly do? What has changed?
The 219th General Assembly (2010) proposed a change to the PC(USA) Constitution regarding ordination standards by a
vote of 373‐323‐4. This action does not change the Constitution. It is a first step in the process. A majority of the 173 presbyteries would have to vote in the affirmative to approve the replacement by July 2010.
What does it mean?
G‐6.0106b is a provision in the PC(USA) Book of Order (Constitution) that provides the following standards for persons ordained as church leaders (deacon, elder or minister). The current version reads:
“Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelitywithin the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W‐4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons
refusing to repent of any self‐acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”

The 219th General Assembly (2010) recommends deleting the above provision and replacing it with the following language:
“Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G‐1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G‐14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W‐4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
This proposed change would focus ordination examinations on the individual calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability of
candidates for the responsibilities of the office, in joyful submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.
What’s next?
Presbyteries will study this recommendation and vote over the course of the next year. If a majority of the 173 presbyteries approve the change, it will replace the previous provision in the Book of Order. The deadline for
presbyteries to vote is July 10, 2011.
Where can I get more information?

http://pc‐biz.org/Explorer.aspx?id=2309

Civil Union and Marriage Issues
Questions and Answers
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 “a man and a woman.” With the action to send the reports for study, no change has occurred, or is pending.
What does it mean?
The Special Committee Report provides descriptive material on the historical and theological aspects of marriage, as well as a look at current laws on same‐gender partnerships and their children, and the place of same‐gender covenanted relationships in the Christian community. They commend to the church their covenant, “Those Whom God Has Joined, Let No One Separate” as a guide for Presbyterians to come together to discuss difficult issues when there is
disagreement. The Minority Report, also approved for study by the Assembly, concludes that Scripture is clear thatmarriage is between a man and a woman only and does not support any kind of sexual behavior outside marriage. The minority report also contains a covenant for the wider church to use.
What next?
The Special Committee Report and the Minority Report will be prepared for distribution as one document to the wider church.
By sending both reports to the wider church, it is the hope of the Assembly that Presbyterians will find helpful background information on civil unions and marriage, as well as material to help individuals and groups remain together as they work through these difficult issues.
Where can you learn more?
Majority report: http://www.pc‐biz.org/Explorer.aspx?id=3333&promoID=168
Minority report: http://www.pc‐biz.org/Explorer.aspx?id=3335&promoID=169

New Form of Government
Questions and Answers
What happened? What changed?
The General Assembly voted to recommend a revised Form of Government to the presbyteries with 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 spells out the constitutional framework for government of the
PC(USA) as it seeks to respond to God’s call to life in mission.
• Advisory Handbook for Councils for the Development of Policies and Procedures Required by the Form of
Government ‐‐ an aid to councils (governing bodies) of the church for developing the policies and procedures to
carry out their mission.
Nothing has changed until a majority of presbyteries vote to approve this new Form of Government. Voting must be
completed by July 10, 2011, and if affirmative, the new Book of Order would take effect the next day.
What does it mean?
The current Form of Government has served the church ably over the past quarter century. The bedrock historic
principles of Presbyterian governance will continue to order our lives together today and into the future, just as they
have guided those who witnessed before us. At the same time, the world in which we as 21st‐century Presbyterians
proclaim the gospel is not the world of the 1950s, or even the 1980s. The proposed Foundations of Presbyterian Polity
and Form of Government are intended to help the church better meet the needs of mission in the 21st century.
The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity gathers together in three succinct chapters the historical and theological
provisions that have defined, and continue to define, our church life together. Placing this bedrock material into a
separate section of the Book of Order provides an excellent teaching tool to explain who and what we are.
The current Form of Government has evolved over the years from a Constitution into a regulatory manual that attempts
to provide a “one size fits all” answer to every situation faced by congregations and presbyteries. The problem with this
regulatory approach is that the diverse, multicultural environment in which we do mission no longer permits a “one size
fits all” approach if we are to do mission effectively. The proposed new Form of Government lifts up the constitutional
standards that are essential to our life together, while at the same time empowering councils (governing bodies) at all
levels to respond more effectively to the ministry and mission needs that each faces.
What’s next?
The revised Form of Government must now be considered, and approved by a majority of presbyteries, before July 10,
2011, in order to replace the existing Form of Government.
Where can I learn more?
The document, as amended by the Assembly, is available now at http://pc‐biz.org/Explorer.aspx?id=2263&promoID=99.
A formatted version will be developed and made available online and in hard copy.

The Middle Governing Body Commission
Questions and Answers
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. Thecommission 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 bysynods” (G‐13.0103n) — upon the request, by a majority vote, of the affected presbyteriesand/or synod.
What does it mean?
Presbyteries and synods wishing to realign their structures or boundaries may request suchactions from the commission and make those changes without having to wait until the 220th
General Assembly (2012) for approval. The commission will also supervise the work of the
Special Committee on Administrative Review of the Synod of Boriquen in Puerto Rico and itsconstituent presbyteries. That special committee has been seeking reconciliation among the
governing bodies in Puerto Rico, which have experienced struggles that threaten the
effectiveness of the PC(USA)’s mission and ministry in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The
219th General Assembly voted to continue the special committee for two more years.
What’s next?
The moderators of the 218th General Assembly (the Rev. Bruce Reyes‐Chow) and the 219th
General Assembly (Elder Cynthia Bolbach) will appoint the 21‐member commission. The
commission will serve until at least the 220th General Assembly (2012). It must include at least
one representative from each of the 16 synods.
Where can I learn more?
The Office of the General Assembly will provide information about the membership, meetings
and activities of the commission at www.pcusa.org/oga.

Actions regarding the Middle East
Questions and Answers
What did the Assembly do?
The General 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 land and buildings in East Jerusalem;
• And many other steps toward peace in the region.
The General Assembly also approved the report of the Mission Responsibility through Investment (MRTI) committee,
which:
• Provides an update on all corporations that MRTI has engaged as a result of the 2004, 2006 and 2008 General
Assemblies;
• Acknowledges that “Caterpillar has in many ways provided positive leadership to its community, its state, and
the nation. It has donated considerable resources and equipment in support of local development and disaster
relief at home and overseas. It has significantly improved workplace safety, acted aggressively to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and pursued environmental conservation within its production processes. In
recognition of these accomplishments, Caterpillar has been listed for seven consecutive years in the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index”;
• Strongly denounces Caterpillar’s continued profit‐making from non‐peaceful uses of a number of its products on
the basis of Christian principles and as a matter of social witness;
• Calls upon Caterpillar to carefully review its involvement in obstacles to a just and lasting peace in Israel‐
Palestine, and to take affirmative steps to end its complicity in the violation of human rights.
What does this mean?
Coming into the 219th General Assembly (2010), few thought that agreement on issues relating to the Middle East
would be possible. Diverse perspectives divided Presbyterians from each other, and from the Jewish community.
However, during the committee deliberations and again in the plenary session, through God’s grace, a place of broad
consensus was found ‐‐ common ground for continued peacemaking work in Israel/Palestine.
The General Assembly rejected immediate divestment from Caterpillar in favor of continued corporate engagement with
Caterpillar and other companies profiting from the sale and use of their products for non‐peaceful purposes and/or the
violation of human rights.
What’s next?
A Monitoring Group for the Middle East will be formed to assist the appropriate General Assembly Mission Council
offices and the Middle East staff team in monitoring progress and guiding actions to ensure adequate implementation of
policy directions approved by this General Assembly. MRTI will continue to engage Caterpillar, and other companies, in
relation to particular actions whereby the company profits from “non‐peaceful action” of their products.
Where can I find out more?

http://www.pcusa.org/middleeastpeace

http://www.pcusa.org/mrti