This overture was filed as early as possible to give the GA Administrative Committee and the Cooperative Ministries Committee opportunity to review and comment, if they wished.  After receiving feedback, our Presbytery is willing to consider revising and resubmitting prior to the 2013 overtures deadline.

Proposed Overture: Add a new final paragraph to RAO Article One (Organization of a GA Meeting) to set a combined special order for six items at each GA.

RAO 1-6:       A special order shall be set for immediately after reconvening on the second morning of GA (usually Thursday) to begin considering the business listed below.  Items can be considered in any sequence within the special order, and sequence is set when the docket is proposed and adopted.  But no other business will be conducted until these are completed (unless Rules are suspended per RAO 20).

–       Voting on BCO amendments previously approved by Presbyteries

–       Report of Standing Judicial Commission

–       Report of Nominating Committee

–       Report of Committee on Review of Presbytery Records

–       Report of Overtures Committee

–       Report of any Ad-Interim Committee (if containing recommendations)

Rational for Overture

1.  It would be prudent to handle these six items together when the most Commissioners could be present, and to consider them sequentially rather than at different times over the course of the week.  While the specific sequence of the six items shown above has merit, there might be reasons for other sequences at different GAs, so the final sequence within the special order will be recommended by the Stated Clerk and approved by GA when each year’s docket is adopted. 

2.  This docket could provide 14 hours for business (over 2 days) arranged in four, 3.5-hour blocks before and after lunch on Wed and Thurs.  The 10 Info Reports take 2.5 hours (15 min allowed each per RAO 12-2) and reports from 10 Committees of Commissioners also usually take about 2.5 hours and these can be docketed in any order on Wed.  Thursday’s special order items can be arranged in any order within the section.

3. The Louisville GA had the lowest commissioner attendance in five years (1,075).  For the past five GAs only 25% of commissioners have been ruling elders.  And on average, less than 1/2 of our PCA churches send any commissioner to GA (TE or RE).  Some of this may stem from REs unable to take a week off from work or take vacation to attend GA.  This revision could result in more churches able to send commissioners and more REs able to attend GA, at least for the special order and important business and votes on Thursday.  It may also increase TE attendance.         

4.  In addition, there were two important and divided votes at the Louisville GA during which 23% of the registered commissioners were evidently off the floor.  Adopting this overture and setting these six important items together as a special order should ensure fuller participation. 

5.  RAO 8-4.j already sets a special order for the Nominating Committee report: “The time for the election shall be docketed as a special order.”  But RAO does not actually specify anything else about the order of the GA docket.  RAO 3-2.m simply says:  “Under the supervision of the Admin Committee of GA, [the Clerk] shall propose the docket of the GA…”         

6.  Any unfinished business from Wednesday, or any additional business, could be completed Thursday afternoon after the special order items, or Thursday evening, or Friday morning.  If any urgent business arises during the Thursday special order, the GA could consider suspending the rules to consider it (by a two-thirds vote of those voting, which must also be a majority of the total enrollment of commissioners, per RAO 20).         

7.  This arrangement would allow the Overtures Committee to meet most of Wednesday (in any year when it might be necessary) without the members missing any of the important Thursday votes.  (Note: While it has been our common practice, the RAO does not stipulate GA must begin on Tuesday night and adjourn at Friday noon.  It does not mention days.) 

8.  There are not usually any votes during SJC report.  However, in the event there’s a minority report on any case, it would be important for the report and vote to occur during a special order.         

9.  Seminars could still be scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning. 

10.  Average attendance at the last 5 GAs has been 1,167.  If this revision results in a 10% increase in Commissioner registrations, it would be about $40,000 in additional registration fees.         

11.  Since this Overture could effect the docket at the Greenville GA, if the Overtures Committee votes in favor of recommending approval, we request OC to present its recommendation when the Greenville docket is considered for adoption so this change (if adopted) could apply to the Greenville GA.  Usually, the docket is approved on Tues evening after the Moderator election.                   

12.  This overture was filed as early as possible to give the GA Administrative Committee and the Cooperative Ministries Committee opportunity to review and comment, if they wished.  After receiving feedback, our Presbytery is willing to consider revising and resubmitting prior to the 2013 overtures deadline. 

Adopted by Pacific Northwest Presbytery at its stated meeting on October 5, 2012