Looking toward GA 216

General Assembly 2004
At the Assembly

Witherspoon events

Issues coming to GA

Overtures dealing with G-6.0106b

Other overtures

9/17/04

Looking back at the Assembly: Common Ground

Witherspoon's Secretary/Communicator, Trina Zelle, reflects on our church's historic commitment to mission as a common ground which can hold us together - if we'll just get on with it. Zelle is currently serving Church of the Beatitudes United Church of Christ in Phoenix. [9-17-04]

7/26/04

GA Peacemaking Committee chair responds to charges of anti-Semitism in actions of the Presbyterian Church

Witherspoon's summary of General Assembly actions mentioned -- just briefly -- two actions dealing with Israel, Israel's building of the wall, and the possibility of disinvesting from corporations that support the Israeli government.

Numerous articles and letters have appeared in the past week or two, charging that the actions taken by the 216^th General Assembly were anti-Israel and anti-Semitic.

The Rev. Bruce Gillette, who chaired the Assembly's Committee on Peacemaking, which dealt with this proposed actions, sent a response to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which had also published accusations of anti-Semitism.

Also, the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly, has issued a statement explaining the Assembly's actions.

7/19/04

On the Assembly, and not deciding -- and the good Samaritan

Many good things happened at the 216th General Assembly, but some very important things did not happen, in part because people preferred not to make choices. The Rev. Jake Young reflected on this in a sermon at his church in Springfield, IL -- holding up the story of the good Samaritan as a mirror for considering our reluctance to choose.

7/13/04 -- catching up on stories we didn't get to ...

Worship happens too at GA -- true, deeply felt worship

Jack Hartwein-Sanchez is one of many GA regulars - attending each Assembly to support the concerns of GLBT Presbyterians, to take great photos (which he generously shares with your WebWeaver!), and to share in the whole experience of the gathering.

This year he shared very personal reflections on the Assembly with a circle of friends, through daily e-mails. Here he spreads his circle wider, and has let us share with you his experience of the Welcoming Presbyterians National Worship Service that was held on Sunday afternoon, June 27.

We also have a brief report of the worship service from MLP's own website.

Welcoming Presbyterians' Celebration Dinner marked 30 years of LGBT witness in the Presbyterian Church

On Saturday, June 26, over 200 people gathered to honor a host of individuals and groups for their faithful witness in and to the Presbyterian Church. The main speaker of the evening, the Rev. Marvin M. Ellison, Ph.D. explored the many ways the gay experience can shed light on the realities of our church -- and perhaps lead us to the kind of "make-over" the gay guys offer to drab straights on the TV show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Witherspooner testifies for ordination of lgbt Presbyterians

Many people lined up to speak to the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry on Monday afternoon, June 28, as the committee began consideration of a number of overtures dealing with the ban on ordination of LGBT Presbyterians.

More Light Presbyterians has the full text of three statements on its website. They offer three very personal - and very profound - sets of reasons for ending the Presbyterian Church's ban on ordination of LGBT members. We offer one more point of view.

The Rev. John Harris, who has been elected as a new member-at-large of the Witherspoon Society executive committee, was one of many people to testify in the open hearing of the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry on Monday afternoon.

7/10/04

A "queer eye" on the Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Marvin M. Ellison explored this fascinating, stimulating question in his talk at the Three Sisters' Dinner on Saturday evening. Taking his cue from the "Fab Five" on the show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," he suggested that model some important virtues as "gracious hosts, good listeners, and attentive partners."

7/8/04

A quick survey of the Assembly

Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst, has assembled an overall review of the General Assembly, including Witherspoon and other special events, the elections of the Moderator and the Stated Clerk, the work of the Theological Task Forces (and the challenges it faces) and other theological issues, issues of governance and church discipline, reproductive rights, racial-ethnic issues, peace and justice, families, and of course the ordination question.

For a quick survey and analysis, check it out!

This report is also available in Adobe Reader (PDF) format, formatted as it will be for printing and mailing.

Click here to download (free!) Adobe Reader software to view this and all PDF files.

7/6/04 -- The Presbyterian Party is over -- but there's still news

Reception and dinner celebrates 30 of LGBT movement in the PC(USA)

On Saturday evening, June 26, More Light Presbyterians hosted a dinner honoring the 30 year history of the movement for LGBT inclusion in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The event was co-hosted with The Shower of Stoles Project and That All May Freely Serve. Surrounded by the witness of the stoles, Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison, Bass Professor of Christian Ethics at Bangor Theological Seminary, addressed a standing-room-only crowd with an embodied, fun, and challenging talk entitled "Queer Eye on the Presbyterian Church (USA): Marriage, Morals, and other Makeovers."

The More Light Presbyterians website offers a brief report.

And Presbyterian News Service adds a bit more.

One feature of the Welcoming Presbyterians' National More Light Celebration Dinner at the General Assembly was brief presentations by a few "Voices of the Movement" - people who have been deeply involved in the LGBT movement over the past few years - sharing their dreams for the future. One of the speakers was the Rev. David D. Cockcroft, Pastor Emeritus of the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, Bronx, New York. We're grateful that he has agreed to let us share his comments here, as they offer a perspective seldom heard.

PARO hosts first GA events [7-6-04]

For the first time in its history, PARO (Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options) held public events during the General Assembly, and the Rev. Jude Michaels, a member of the PARO leadership team, called them "a socko success."

7/2/04

The ban on glbt ordination stands as before

An overture that would have removed some of the barriers to the ordination of LGBT Presbyterians was rejected by the Assembly late Friday afternoon, by a vote of 259 to 255.

	More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve have issued a statement following the defeat of the overture.
	Presbyterian News Service has a report on the Assembly action.
	PNS also has a very good story (with photos!) on the vigil.

Measures condemn Iraq war, prisoner abuse

Assembly rejects U.S. policy of 'pre-emptive' military action

The Assembly approved a number of fairly strong statements this afternoon as it acted on the report of the Committee on Peacemaking.

The Presbyterian News Service story provides many of the details, and we'll try to post more in a couple days.

Kirkpatrick re-elected as Stated Clerk on first ballot

Following an hour of questions and answers to the four candidates for Stated Clerk, Clif Kirkpatrick has just been elected on the first ballot with 66% of the vote. Bob Davis received 137 votes; L. Rus Howard received 25; Alex Metherell received 19 votes, and Kirkpatrick received 349.

We'll be back later with more.

7/1/04

"Christian Declaration of Marriage" is not approved
Some support is shown for same-sex relationships

In a long Thursday evening session filled with slightly inconsistent decisions, the Assembly dealt with the report from the Committee on National Issues.

Most of the debates were about marriage in its various forms - or whether it may take various forms.

Hundreds rally to protest Virginia anti-gay law

The Witherspoon Society, along with More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve, issued a statement as the Assembly convened, expressing concern and outrage at the law that has just been passed and put into effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia, severely limiting the civil and economic rights of same-sex couples.

Yesterday, June 30, the Associated Press reported that "hundreds of people in cities across the state rallied Wednesday to protest the passage of an anti-gay law that critics say could interfere with legal contracts between same-sex couples."

A couple other views:

Equality Virginia: http://www.equalityvirginia.org/

Family Foundation: http://www.familyfoundation.org/

Domestic partner benefits study requested; medical plan review overtures referred to GAC

The Committee on Pensions, Foundation and the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program (catchy, huh?) reported to the Assembly on Wednesday evening. One action following from that report was a request to the Board of Pensions to explore the feasibility of offering domestic partner benefits to employees of the denomination, but it stopped short of saying such benefits should be offered.

The action "is neutral, carrying neither approval nor disapproval," said John McFayden, vice chairman of the. The committee was deeply divided on the issue and found common ground in referring the feasibility study to the Board of Pensions.

Finding GA documents made simple. Well, pretty simple.

PresbyTel is now offering GA Tracker, through which you can link to all overtures, recommendations, and final votes of the Assembly, organized by committee.

Here's how it works:

Click on the link above, and then click on the + sign in the left column of the page that appears. You will see an index of the GA committees. By clicking on a + sign before any of the entries (the numbers are those of the committees) the next level opens. You can work your way down the hierarchy of files to find the overture itself, the rationale, the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, the committee action and the Assembly action.

The Tracker will be updated as new information (committee reports, Assembly actions) become available.

Thanks to Hans Cornelder and PresbyWeb, and to Barry Creech and PresbyTel for their work to provide this resource.

Lisa Larges opens Assembly session

A long-time leader in the struggle for lgbt ordination, Lisa Larges open this afternoon's Assembly session. Calling the body to moments of silence, she then called on the Holy Spirit to be present in the Assembly, "until our hearts are ablaze with love for you, for each other, and for our world." She prayed that the Spirit would "set before us the faces of those who struggle for justice," leading us to become a church that is "electric" as it opens its doors to lgbt people. "Set us afire," she prayed, "that we may burn, burn, burn with your love and justice."

Paul Rolf Jensen brings his threats to GA

Paul Rolf Jensen, who has made accusations against many Presbyterian ministers for being gay, or for presiding at the ordination of lgbt Presbyterians, has come to Richmond to place charges against outgoing Moderator Susan Andrews. He has also sought to speak in the meeting of the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry as they listened to testimony from dozens of people supporting or opposing the ordination of lgbt Presbyterians.

Abortion rights defended

In one of the issues most intensely pressed by conservatives, the report from the Assembly Committee on Health Issues would have stated that "in the interest of protecting the life and health of both the mother and the baby, late-term abortion should be considered only if the physical life or mental health of the mother is at serious risk and no alternative means of delivering the baby alive is available." A minority report called instead for a pastoral letter to the churches, giving help in dealing with problem pregnancies. The minority report was made the majority report by a vote of 260 to 250, and then was passed.

Witherspoon board sends issue alert to commissioners

6/30/04

Committee on Church Orders recommends removal of Authoritative Interpretations

By a vote of 35 to 30, the General Assembly's Committee on Church Orders and Ministry decided to recommend that the Assembly remove all authoritative interpretations (AIs) banning the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the Presbyterian Church.

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Moving testimony provides information for voting on ordination

More Light Presbyterians report on three of the statements given in testimony to the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry.

Committee approves much-revised ''families'' paper
but rejects endorsement of marriage declaration.

Jean Marie Peacock named as Vice-Moderator of the General Assembly

For much more coverage of General Assembly events and actions, you may want to check out reports from

	Presbyterian News Service
	The Presbyterian Outlook

6/28/04

Witherspoon luncheon hears Katie Cannon's call to "ontological blackness" as a way of doing theology and renewing our witness

Awards presented to All Souls Presbyterian Church in Richmond, and to Dr. Doug Ottati [6-28-04]

6/26/04

Rick Ufford-Chase is the new Moderator

This evening's session of the 216^th General Assembly quickly elected a young elder as its moderator this evening. A quick report:

Rick Ufford-Chase, director of the BorderLinks ministry in T , Arizona, was elected on the second ballot by a vote of 275 to 186 for David McKechnie and 40 for K. C. Ptomey. On the first ballot, Ufford-Chase received 226 votes to 166 for McKechnie and 101 for Ptomey.

6/25/04

Witherspoon and other groups issue a joint statement to the 216^th General Assembly: Denial of Civil Rights

As they gathered in Richmond, Virginia, on June 24 for the convening of the Presbyterian General Assembly, three of the organizations working for a more just and inclusive church issued a statement expressing concern over the impending passage of a law by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia which would severely restrict the civil rights of gay and lesbian people. The governing boards of More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and The Witherspoon Society all affirmed this statement.

Good, but not perfect:

"Transforming Families" is focus of Semper Reformanda / Witherspoon conversation
We've just added some photos!