There was a ray of hope in the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly when the Ecumenical Advisory Delegate from the Orthodox Church in Belarus, Archpriest Siarhei Hardun, brought greetings. Archpriest Siarhei Hardun of Belarus thanked the PCUSA for its mission work in his country, but also questioned some of the moral issues decided this week... Continue Reading

The General Assembly that had been busy changing any number of things for more than a week was not prepared to change itself. During the report of the Committee on General Assembly Procedures Friday afternoon, item after item of genuine grassroots concern met a swift and almost reflexive death at the hands of the Assembly.... Continue Reading

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is over. So, let’s do the math. During the week, the assembly approved items of business with financial implications for the denomination’s two budgets – the mission budget and per-capita budget. Additions to the mission budget were: $52,087 for 2010, $295,861 for 2011 and $207,683 for 2012.... Continue Reading

Four versus 57. Numbers talk. Great Commission versus Cultural Mandate. That was the ratio of General Assembly business items dealing with evangelism or church planting (four) versus the number of business items (57) in five committees tasked with social-witness business. Between the evangelistic mandate to make disciples and the cultural mandate to make the world... Continue Reading

Doug Nave told…how he had to “come out of the closet” twice. He “came out” as a gay man, and in…the Presbyterian tradition. As the keynote speaker at the Covenant Network of Presbyterians General Assembly Commissioners Convocation, Doug Nave told the packed sanctuary at Westminster Presbyterian Church how he had to “come out of the... Continue Reading

“No one wants to be held hostage to a threat from people who don’t like our actions. We made a covenant to be together even if we’re not of the same opinion. We should stay together.” Increasing Power At The Top By an 84 percent majority, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has... Continue Reading

The dues increase related to this action is capped at one percent of total effective salary and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012. The 219th General Assembly approved increasing the mandatory dues congregations pay to the Board of Pensions benefits plan up to one percent to pay for extending spousal and dependent benefits... Continue Reading

“We did find instances of persons,” she noted, “who, when invited by PCUSA congregations, put the PCUSA in a negative light and the EPC in a positive light.” Without a word from commissioners, the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly quickly approved a set of recommendations for handling the delicate topic of ecumenical relations with the... Continue Reading

“It’s nine o’clock and all is bleak!” Were there an evangelical town crier in Minneapolis, that would have been his cry as the PCUSA General Assembly took up the matter of same-sex marriage Thursday night. Earlier, the Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues had launched toward plenary four bad-news items, each propelled by the... Continue Reading

With fewer than 50 votes making the difference, commissioners approved the overture 373-323-4 The 219th General Assembly voted to send, for a fifth time, an overture that seeks the deletion of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s fidelity-chastity standard, which requires ordained officers to be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman or chaste in... Continue Reading