GAC Feb 2000

Gathered here are links to all our reports on the General Assembly Council meeting in Louisville, Feb. 19-24, 2001.
[The latest ones are at the top of the page; scroll down for the earlier reports.]

GAC member Cathy Cummings Chisholm comments on the recent meeting, seeing greater unity than in recent years.

[3-6-01]

More reports on the GAC meeting last week in Louisville:

	Presbyterian News Service provided a summary of the final actions of the Council.
	Responding to protests from the Right, the GAC affirmed the lordship of Christ, and asserted the freedom of Presbyterians to express their views at GAC-sponsored event.
	Parker Williamson of The Layman immediately distributed a statement protesting the action, and asserting that "Presbyterians are no longer obliged to follow" the leadership of GAC.
	GAC adopts $136 million budget for '02, and accepted John Detterick's plan to shift funds into mission program areas considered "high-impact"
	GAC received a report on the success of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, applauding the role played by Presbyterians. A video about the debt-relief campaign will go to Assembly.
	The Layman reports on GAC's receiving of reports calling for studies of reparations to people of color, and of the "disenfranchisement of people of color in the United States' electoral system."

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick shared with GAC his expectation of what will be the "top 10 issues" at the coming General Assembly.

For reports from the GAC meeting in Louisville, visit the PC(USA) web site, and/or Presbyterian Outlook.

Major items:

Response to Ficca attacks affirms Lordship of Christ, defends "open dialogue" in conferences
The General Assembly Council, responding to a controversy over a conference speaker’s statements, which some critics have alleged to be heretical, on Feb. 24 approved a document that affirms "the Lordship of Jesus Christ and our salvation through Christ," but also defends "the propriety of open dialogue at GAC-sponsored conferences."

Jeffrey Bridgeman elected chair of General Assembly Council
The Rev. Jeffrey Bridgeman, 44-year-old evangelical pastor from Solvan, California, was elected chair of the General Assembly Council (GAC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the second ballot today. The Rev. Adelia D. (Dede) Kelso of Pearl River, Louisiana, was elected vice chair, also on a second ballot. They begin their one-year term following the General Assembly in June.

GAC approves guidelines for racial-ethnic growth
With racial-ethnic membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) at just 6 percent, the General Assembly Council on Friday, Feb. 23 unanimously approved recommendations outlining strategies for enhancing racial-ethnic diversity in the denomination and cultural-sensitivity seminars for presbyteries and middle governing bodies.

The Rev. Robert Rogers comments on the extreme reactions to Dirk Ficca's talk at last summer's Peacemaking Conference, and decries the demands for "false certitude." We are, he says, in danger of replacing the living truth of Christ with a sinful attempt to claim possession of all the answers.

GAC updates:

Committees focus on their various areas;

Worldwide Ministries hears from Gloria and Ross Kinsler, ponders future action on globalization and growing rich-poor gap

Theologian Shirley Guthrie offered a theological perspective on the state of the Presbyterian Church, as he spoke to a joint meeting of the General Assembly Council and the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly on Tuesday. He sees a real possibility that God is at work in our church today in judgment on our endless arguments (with "self righteous people on all sides arguing with other self righteous people"), and our unwillingness to do justice.

Responding to reports on the GAC discussion of Dirk Ficca's address at last summer's Peacemaking Conference, one visitor comments:

Dear Persons,

I've read the hype.
Now I've read the address.
What's the big deal?
Sounds like something Jesus would say, doesn't it?

Thank you.

Pax et bonum,

The Rev. Mr. Larry V. R. Bunnell

from the GAC meeting in Louisville:

Dirk Ficca statements will be considered; budget prioritization on evangelism and discipleship will impact programs

The Executive Committee of the General Assembly Council, meeting in Louisville on Monday, Feb. 19, decided that the full Council should decide what actions are needed in response to protests from 19 sessions and one presbytery about statements made by Dr. Dirk Ficca at last summer's Peacemaking Conference.

You may want to look at the full text of Ficca's address.

Conservatives are pressing for definitive action to engage in pre-censorship of all speakers at church events; the Lay Committee presented a petition to the executive committee Monday signed by 1,548 people, asking for "a full accounting of faith among the leadership of the PC(USA)." Consider: Do you want another side to be heard? You might try to send a message to the office of John Detterick for transmittal to the GAC when they return to this issue on Saturday, Feb. 24.

The budget prioritization process initiated last fall by GAC executive director John Detterick will begin to impact specific budgets. Detterick has been urging low-priority program areas to seek help by linking with high-priority areas. Check out some earlier stories on this issue, too.

The Presbyterian Outlook has the latest report from Louisville.

Joint GAC and COGA meetings begin Monday, Feb. 19

[2-18-01]

The Rev. Cathy Cummings Chisholm, former chair of the General Assembly Council, and currently serving on both GAC and the Committee on the Office of General Assembly, reports that the two groups will be meeting jointly on Feb. 20 through 22, with the COGA meeting beginning on Monday Feb. 19, and GAC holding its plenary meeting on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24.

She explains that "ordinarily, the Committee on the Office of General Assembly would have had its winter meeting by now but this year, in another of the many moves toward greater cooperation and coordination, COGA's meeting is being held concurrently with the General Assembly Council meetings this coming week. This also will allow us to have a joint plenary meeting, dinner and worship. Shirley Guthrie has been invited to lead us in theological reflection."

She adds, "Lots of credit goes to Cliff [Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk] and John [Detterick, Executive Director of GAC] for these steps toward greater cooperation and consolidation. In addition to preparation for GA, one of the issues is our response to the charges by 19 sessions and 1 presbytery that GAC has been delinquent in our response to the Peacemaking conference last year."

She asks for prayers for these important meetings.