Day 7 - Wednesday

It's taken awhile... but here they are. Notes from Wednesday, our longest day. We ended up working until 12.30am!!! But... we got everything done.

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• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 7:00am – 8:30am (Small Church Breakfast)
• Didn’t get much out of this experience… but it was ok.
• The woman who sat next to me was a reporter. And she was TERRIBLE!! She dominated the conversation at the table, not allowing time for others to share and connect. And then… THEN… during the talk… she was “taking notes”. “Taking notes” that were obviously inaccurate (I was watching) and then working on a course evaluation for her DMin class. DURING THE TALK!! I was appalled. No wonder reporting is so bad. No wonder people are mis-quoted all the time!! She didn’t record the talk at all, just typed when she thought it sounded good. Very distracting to me… and highly inaccurate.
• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 10:30am – 12:00pm (Plenary)
• Lift High the Cross
• Our Story
• Prayer – Doodle and Tres
• Speak out
• Bills and Overtures – Vice-Moderator
• After GA Procedures FI
• Church Orders
• Mission Coord FI & Committee
• Polity
• Peacemaking
• GA Procedures
• Health
• Social Justice
• Move to change speaking time from 2 min to 90 sec
• So moved
• 03 GA Procedures FI report
• Unchanged from yesterday

Yr	Approved	per capita cents increase	yet to be approved	per capita cents increase
2006	$8,565	0.36	$28,140	1.19
2007	$0	0	$198,680	8.65
2008	$8,565	0.039	$98,852	4.47

• 04 Church Orders
• 04-02 – On Confirming the requirements in G-6.0106b
• Minority Report – Robert Gagnon
• Original report as amended in Minority Report
• Majority speaks
• Do not need anything new to be said about this, since it’s clear already
• Minority speaks
• Confirms what is in
• Main motion declared perfected without amendment
• Minority report declared perfected without additional amendment
• Debate – Shall the Substitute become the main?
• For
• Needing something clear to say to congregations
• Against
• Wanting to honor Res 5/6 from PUP – no more AI
• Shall the Minority Report become the Main?
• 33, 66, 1
• 69, 30, 1
• Motion (by Rob Mueller) to handle remaining 04 (03, 06, 08, 09, 10) that deal with G-6.0106b be considered addressed by 06-01 (and 04-01, 04-02)
• Committee would like to take out 04 – done
• Will address separately
• 89, 11, 1
• Motion (by Rob Mueller) to handle 04-04 that deals with G-6.0106b be considered addressed by 06-01 (and 04-01, 04-02)
• 72, 27, 1
• 04-05 On Commending Study of the Definitive Guidance of 1978
• Move to approve as amended
• 58, 42, 1
• 04-07
• Move to answer by action taken on 04-01
• So ordered
• Memorial Minute for Former Stated Clerk Rev. Dr. James E. Andrews
• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 12:00 – 1:45pm (Fuller Lunch)
• Intro by Ron
• My talk – to be posted separately
• Dr. Mouw spoke about the future for Fuller and the Fund-raising campaign
• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 1:45pm – 5:30pm(Plenary)
• Prayer
• Choir
• Speak Out
• TSADs stood united and spoke:
• The Theological Student Advisory Delegates gathered around this mic represent a diversity of theological views. In light of the decisions made thus far by this assembly, we, who represent our theological institutions, covenant to worship, study and pray with our fellow classmates that we might earnestly step forth as leaders, as the church enters this season of discernment.
  
  We have a vision of unity. We will strive, through our various ministries, to be faithful to Scripture and to work to rediscover our theological identity and to encourage those we shepherd to do the same. We are committed to promoting peace and Christian love within our denomination. We seek to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love as we work to walk a path that leads us to peace, unity and purity.
  
  We want to be faithful to our calling and to trust in God alone. We stand united, even in diversity, and call to the church to do the same.
• Motion to reconsider action to 04-05 On Commending Study of the Definitive Guidance of 1978
• 20, 79, 1 – Motion fails
• 02 Bills and Overtures
• Minutes from 06/19-20 are in order


• 08 Mission Coordination FI report

Yr	Approved	yet to be approved
2006	$8,384	$0
2007	$16,768	$30,150
2008	$16,384	$20,150

• 08-01 Clarifying the Practice of Our Theology of Call…
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 08-02 Study Personnel policies
• Move to disapprove
• So ordered
• 08-04 Limiting staff at GA Committee meetings
• Move to disapprove
• So ordered
• 08-05 Termination benefits
• Move to disapprove with comment
• Already being addressed by GAC
• CR 08-18 Instruct Women’s Ministries
• Move to disapprove
• So ordered
• 08-13 Mission Budget
• Move to approve in entirety
• So ordered
• 08-10 Administrative surcharge
• Move to answer with:
• 89, 10, 1
• 08-06 HIV/AIDS
• Move to approve as amended
• So ordered
• 08-11 ACREC
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• CR 08-17 Mission Meeting
• Move to approve as amended
• So ordered
• 08-12 Women of Color Consultation
• Move to approve as amended (2008 NOT 2010)
• Motion passes
• 08-03 Men
• Move to disapprove
• Motion passes
• 08-07 Study of Women
• Move to disapprove
• So ordered
• 08-A, B, C – no action necessary


• 05 Church Polity
• Move to Consent
• 05-07, 05-11-1
• Discussion
• 05-28 removed from Consent agenda
• 05-11-2 removed from Consent agenda
• 05-11 in its entirety – amendment coming
• 05-23
• 05-22
• 05-25
• Motion passes
• 05-05
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 05-07
• Move an amendment – strike the comment
• Passes
• Vote on disapproval without comments
• 76, 23, 1
• 05-11
• Rec 1 – moved and passed
• Motion to amend 05-11
• So moved
• 05-11.2.a1, a2 – editorial amendments
• So ordered
• Move 05-11.3-5 to approve as a block, 6-8 to disapprove as a block
• Approved
• 05-22 Non-geographical Synod
• Move to refer with recommendation
• Both original and referral/recommendation have to do with ways to study the feasibility of creating a non-geographical synod for Korean Congregations. Larissa and Trey and Chris are all opposed to both parts… we need to not consider these. This creates the possibility of segregation.
• 64, 35, 1
• 05-23 Amending Book of Order
• Move to disapprove
• Amend to refer to the Form of Government Task Force
• 46, 54, 1 – Referral fails
• 78, 21, 1
• Motion to limit debate to 60 seconds – needs 2/3 vote and is not debatable
• 73, 26, 1
• 05-25
• Motion to approve
• 83, 16, 1


• 05-28
• Move to approve
• Move to amend
• Delete the paragraph beginning with “Throughout the Book of Order…” through “…turns permitted practices and prohibited practices.”
• Motion fails
• 94, 5, 1
• Announcements
• Plan for healing in the church
• Moderator’s prayer retreats
• At PCUSA camps and conference centers
• Prayer for healing of church
• Empower mission
• New and creative ways to be church
• Plan for first one in early fall
• 11 Peacemaking and International Issues
• Consent Agenda
• 16, 25, 26, 38, 28, 37, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
• 11-36
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 11-27
• Move to approve as amended
• So moved
• 11-40
• Move to approve as amended
• So moved
• 11-01
• Move to approve alternate resolution
• Motion to delete Recommendation #1 and replace it with:
• We regret any reportage that has caused misunderstanding of the PCUSA’s Commitment to Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel”
• Fails
• Motion to amend
• Fails
• I was trying to ask a question that I never got to ask because of how the motions went. So… here is my question:
• I am interested in the change in language of this new resolution. I would like to request a member of the committee or a resource person address the intention of the committee’s alternate recommendation regarding the divestment practices.
• 94, 5, 0
• 11-02 through 11-15, 11-17 to 24, 34, 35, 39, 41
• Move to answer with action taken on 11-01
• Passes


• 03 General Assembly Procedures
• Consent Agenda
• 03-A, 03-B, 06, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 23
• Removal requests
• 10
• 03-A
• 03-B
• Motion for remaining items
• So ordered
• 07 Letters of encouragement
• Move approval
• 32, 66, 2
• 19 Election of Associate Stated Clerks
• Move approval
• So ordered
• 08 AI re: per capita
• Move to disapprove with comment
• So ordered
• 13 Per Capita
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 09 Change in standing rules
• Move to disapprove
• So ordered
• 16 Amend standing rules RE: AD
• Move to disapprove both
• So ordered
• 22 Invitation to Pittsburgh
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 24 On Financial Reporting of Actual Cost…
• Move to disapprove
• Move to refer to Mission Support Services Offices of the GAC and the OGA for further consideration and a recommendation for the 218^th General Assembly (2008).
• 49, 50, 1
• 79, 20, 1
• 17 Historical Foundation at Montreat
• Move to approve as amended
• Still closing PHS @ Montreat
• Protecting collection
• Columbia Seminary
• Philadelphia PHS
• Establishing new historical programs
• 02 Bills and Overtures moves to arrest report
• So moved


• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 8:15pm – 12:35am (Plenary)
• Speakout
• 03 General Assembly Procedures
• 17 Historical Foundation at Montreat
• Move to approve as amended
• Still closing PHS @ Montreat
• Protecting collection
• Columbia Seminary
• Philadelphia PHS
• Establishing new historical programs
• Move to substitute for item 2-5, rename items 5&6 as 7&8
• 2. Transfer oversight and administration for The Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed churches at Montreat, Inc. to a specific board of directors of fifteen persons. This board will be in covenant relationship with and accountable to the Department of History. The ministry of this Historical Foundation will thus be in accord with and governed by the requirement of the Book of Order in G-9.0406 with specific regard to the control of all records which the Stated Clerk is charged to preserve. Thus no dispersion of the collection should occur at this time.
• 3. Direct The Friends of Montreat, Inc. and the board to create alternative means of funding that is responsive to the donor base and is separate from the current per capita income of the General Assembly.
• 4. Direct the board to reduce the annual operating expenses of the ministry to a level not greater than its annual income. In addition, the board would be responsible for developing policies and procedures for the oversight of The Historical Foundation, Inc,. in a manner that is consistent with the constitution of the church and the standing rules of the General Assembly.
• 5. Report the progress on items 3 and 4 to the 218^th General Assembly.
• Discussion
• Financial Implications: OHS budget is ~ $500,000 (90% from per capita)
• Shall the substitute become the main?
• 41, 58, 1
• Final Vote on Main motion: 69, 29, 1
• 01-05, 11 PHS @ Montreat
• Move to answer with action on 03-17
• So ordered
• 03-19 – oversight earlier
• Recognize
• 03-10 PHS @ Montreat
• Move to approve
• So ordered
• 03-A, 03-B
• Only informational


• 10 Health Issues
• Consent Agenda
• 10-05, 10-07, 10-08, 10-09
• Removals? None.
• 10-06 Disabilities
• Move to approve with amendments
• Passes
• 10-01 Late term abortion
• Move to approve as amended
• Move to amend:
• At the beginning of 10-01 add language from the 2003 Statement on Post-Viability and Late-Term Abortion beginning at line 3 with “The church has a responsibility to provide public witness…” all the way through “For any choice, we are accountable to God, however even when we err, God offers to forgive us.” (ending on line 35)
• 84, 15, 1
• Further discussion
• Move to delete “supersedes” that this statement might be added to previous Statements of General Assemblies.
• This motion will put our previous motion in contradiction
• 40, 58, 1
• Move to add language to make clear the position on choice
• Failed
• 76, 23, 1
• 10-02 Financial support for or against abortion
• Move to disapprove
• Move to amend and approve: delete “or against abortion” and add “pro-life or pro-choice issues”
• Out of order because the motion is to disapprove. We would need to defeat the main motion before this motion to approve with amendment would be in order.
• 85, 15, 0
• 10-03 On standing clearly against the practice of abortion
• Move to respond with alternate resolution
• 84, 15, 1
• 10-04 Monitoring Report
• Move to approve as amended
• By show of hands
• So moved
• 09 Social Justice Issues
• Consent Agenda: 04, 05, 06, 07, 17, 22, 23
• So moved
• 09-16
• Passes
• 09-09
• Move to approve
• So moved
• 09-14 Task Force to Assess the Effects of Government FBI
• Move to approve as amended
• So moved


• 09-03 Medical use of Marijuana
• Move to approve
• So moved
• 09-15 Immigrants
• Move to approve as amended
• So ordered
• Motion to consider 09-01, 08, 10,11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 24 as a package
• Amend to Remove 10, 11, 01, 19
• With Clifton Kirkpatrick’s help we stopped this incessant game and voted
• 94, 5, 1
• 09-12, 09-18
• Move to answer with 09-15
• Motion passes
• Motion to recess until tomorrow morning
• 19, 81, 0
• 09-13 Irish adoptions
• Move to disapprove
• 94, 6, 0
• 09-01 Petitions against torture
• Move to approve
• 66, 33, 1
• 09-11 Human Rights
• Move to approve as amended
• Move to amend “/or combatants and” after “and all foreign governments, and”
• 62, 36, 2
• 09-20
• Move to disapprove
• Because of redundancy, not because we approve of suicide bombings
• 38, 61, 1
• Move to approve
• Move to add “and terrorism” after each instance of “suicide bombing”
• Again, I had a comment/question/position that didn’t get to be shared because the question was called before I could get to the microphone
• Would the committee be amenable to disapproving the motion with comment? Since the committee feels we do not need to repeat a position that already exists elsewhere, could we not honor the committee and the commissioners’ intent by disapproving an overture that is unnecessary while still condemning the practice and affirming our precious stances on terrorism, human rights, and the like.
• Approved


• 09-10 Just Globalization
• Move to approve
• Motion to delete F, item #4
• 82, 17, 1
• Motion to change from approve to receive
• 39. 61, 0
• Motion to delete B.2.a
• 28, 71, 1
• 94, 5, 1 to call all previous questions
• 78, 21, 1
• 09-24 Originally Native “Return to Earth”
• Move to approve
• 89, 10, 1
• 09-08 Usury for the 21^st Century
• Move to approve
• 94, 5, 0
• 09-02 Smithfield Packing
• Move to approve with comment
• Move to refer to ACSWP
• Invitation from Smithfield to have conversation
• 67, 31, 1
• 09-21 Raising Minimum Wage
• Move to approve as amended
• So moved
• 09-19 Coalition of Immokalee
• Move to approve
• So moved
• Announcements
• Worship here @ 8.30am
• Meeting immediately following
• Sets of GA Newspapers available outside
• Come Thou Fount
• Closing Prayer
• Wednesday, 21 June 2006: 12:35 – 12:45am (Committee #08)
• One motion, to permit GAC to adjust budget as needed, since the implications are minimal.
• Passed unanimously