Day 2 - Friday

More unedited notes. I've decided that for now this makes the most sense. I'm sorry if it annoys y'all - but there is just way too much that happens and way too few hours in the nights.

Today was work on my committee (#08) Mission coordination and budget. I've been really active in the life of the committee - taking full advantage of the opportunity to participate fully in this space. I'm questions and seconding and discussing the items to the best of my ability... and loving that I have a vote here!

Tomorrow we start the day with worship - and it's a service I put together. We'll see if I can pull it off... it's a bit too much, I think... oops! :)
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Today's notes:

• Friday, June 16, 2006: 9:00am – 12:00pm (Committee #08)
• Introductions
• “inescapable network of mutuality” – great quote from yesterday
• Formation of Pods
• Self-selected sub-groups of 5-6 wildly heterogeneous committee members
• Male-female, young-older, east-west, ethnically diverse
• Designed to facilitate comfort, full participation, and social connection
• Vehicles to support a personally rewarding committee and GA experience
• Worship – led by Rev. Marjorie Hoyer Smith (Presbytery of the Redwoods)
• Committee Norms
• Address the moderator
• State your name and Presbytery before each contribution
• Speak to the issue
• Take your share of the floor time and help others to do the same
• A request for prayer is always in order
• Respect others and their opinions
• We will listen in love.
• We will speak authentically.
• We will act responsibly.
• We will embrace our sisters and brothers.
• We will pray for guidance.
• Questions are always welcome
• Courtesy before technology
• Be on time
• Committee Process
• Agenda
• Flow of business
• Privilege of the floor
• Resources, media and literature
• Counting the votes
• Overview of Parliamentary Procedures
• Help the body
• Folder – parliamentary procedures
• One main motion at a time
• Motion forms in writing
• If you don’t know how, ASK
• Orientation to GAC
• Nancy Kahaian – Chair of GAC
• See handout

• Friday, June 16, 2006: 1:00 – 5:30pm (Committee #08)

• Introduction of Linda Valentine
• GAC Executive Director-Elect
• Elder
• Process of Search Committee
• 14 months ago
• 40 candidates
• Traditional search – asked for applications
• Dec – engaged Boardwalk (non-profit executive search)
• Election in GAC
• Faith statement on handout
• Significance of relationships
• Attentive to others
• Deep and abiding concern for ‘the other’
• Inclusivity – across broad spectrum of Presbyterians
• Experience/Expertise – Organization and Development
• Ability to work with multiple entities
• Lack of middle government experience is not as important as her experience in business and dedication to the church
• My question – is she prepared to lead/govern in a way that is honoring to the uniqueness of church leadership over business leadership?
• Her comments
• Experience at Christian Micro Finance company… good!
• Vibrant and connected church
• Middle Gov bodies, congregations and national government working together to strengthen churches
• Growing churches are actively participating in mission, not just passively supporting financially
• Getting out of the pews and into the world
• Greater awareness and support of the denomination
• People in pews are not as aware of PC(USA) movement
• Presbyterians joining together faithfully to profess Jesus Christ to the world
• Promises to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination and love
• Q&A
• Connecting pews and GA
• Where she exists in reorg
• Picture of the church in 2-4 years
• My question: speak to difference between business and church leadership
• I liked her answer… not completely satisfactory, but good.
• Prayer, bible study, focus on Christ as head
• Bring in appropriate business leadership
• Approach to stopping the mass exodus from the church
• Balancing world mission and local mission
• Joey Bailey – CFO of PCUSA
• Budget now reflects goals and objectives from MWP
• Unrestricted Giving is trending down!! Need to correct this…


• Open Hearings
• Jack Terry – Presbytery of Twin Cities
• 08-04 – On Limiting Staff Participation in committees
• “how far in the back of the bus do you want the staff to sit”
• Segregation – paid vs. elected
• 2 assumptions to committee
• Every member comes with agenda
• HS will lead us on a new path
• Encourage us to disapprove
• 08-01, 02, 05 – Personnel policies in L’ville
• Here as an individual – not in official capacity
• Endorses these – treat ordained staff as called
• Wants us to follow higher law than state law
• Item 08-01 – On Clarifying the Practice of Our Theology of Call for Those Serving General Assembly Entities – From the Presbytery of Santa Fe.
• Overture Advocate
• Embraces comment #2 with 2 exceptions:
• PP2 as a whole
• PP4 “Further, the entities aggress that if there is a cause for termination…”
• Motion and Discussion
• Motion to approve with ACSWP recommendations
• If constitution is touched, ACC needs to be brought in and this might need to go to the churches/Presbyteries eventually.
• Because 08-01, 02 and 05 are so closely entwined, there is much confusion about how to proceed… it’s kinda funny!
• 22 for, 30 against – motion fails
• Motion and discussion
• Motion to approve
• No discussion
• 44 for, 6 against, 1 abstention – Motion carries
• Item 08-02 – On Creating a Commission to Study the Personnel Policies Noew Operative as They Affect Members of the National Staff of the Presbyterian Church USA – From the Presbytery of Newton
• Overture Advocate
• Rationale – firing of 2 employees by ED alone
• Creation of a study
• My questions
• Financial implications
• 16 members
• Set aside standing rules
• 3 for, 49 against, 0 abstentions – motion fails


• Item 08-04 – On Limiting Staff Participation in Elected Bodies – From the Presbytery of San Joaquin
• Overture Advocate
• My thoughts
• Isn’t this something that could be handled with HR people talking to moderators about how they conduct business?
• This seems like a large piece of legislature to fix a specific problem
• Motion to recommend disapproval of this overture
• 49 for, 2 against, 0 abstentions – Motion carries
• Item 08-05 – On Directing the GAC to Bring Its Policies for Termination into Conformity with the Form of Government – From the Presbytery of New York City
• Overture Advocate
• Applies to clergy and laity
• Motion to disapprove this overture (with comment)
• 44 for, 6 against, 1 abstention – Motion carries
• Item 08-11 – Recommendation from ACREC
• Motion to approve and endorse the report of ACREC
• No additional financial implications
• 50 for, 1 against, 0 abstentions – Motion carries

• Friday, June 16, 2006: 8:00 – 9:15pm (Committee #08)

• Special Guests – Disabilities Awareness Presentation
• 08-A, 08-B
• Minutes approved
• 08-C – Audit report of the denomination
• 51 for, 0 against – motion carries unanimously
• 08-Info
• FYI