Committees

Today was all about committee work. The GA is divided into committees made up of Commissioners (Elder and Minister) and Advisory Delegates (Young Adult, Theological Student, Mission Co-Worker, and Ecumenical) who all have BOTH voice and vote during the committee meetings. Each committee is assigned a series of overtures (requests/petitions/etc.) from Presbyteries and Synods for the GA to take some type of action and/or amend the constitution.

In Committee #06, we started our work with about 50 people openly and honestly sharing their personal views on the overtures before our committee during an open hearing period. The stories helped to give important context and perspective to the overtures we have been assigned. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and their opinions, your perspectives are greatly appreciated!

After the open hearings, we considered our first two items of business:

• 06-01 “On Amending G-11.0407 and G-14.0730 to Affirm the Role of Certified Christian Educators.”; and,
• 06-19 “On Establishing a Process to Evaluate the Current Call System”

For those who are interested in the procedural details, we heard from overture advocates, resources persons and then after a motion was made we had a period of discussion and questions before voting. Our action at the committee level is to make a recommendation to the full General Assembly on how it should act on the overture. Click on the links above to see the details on what our recommendations are to the full GA.

We also heard from the overture advocates and resources persons related to the 18 other items before the committee related to ordination standards. The presentations were very thorough and very respectful.

Then our committee broke into small groups (we sit at 7 round tables with elders, ministers and advisory delegates at each table) to discuss what we heard. For me, the discussions were very helpful and provided a way for us to begin wrestling with these complex issues in a non-confrontational way as we process the information shared today.

During our first round of small group discussion, I had to slip out for a short period to wear my overture advocate hat when one of the committee staff came up behind me to say that I was needed now in Committee #04.

So, it was a quick walk around the block of rooms to the other side and as I walked in (less than 3 minutes after being told I was needed) I see the other two overture advocates already up front making our presentation. Joining them in mid-presentation, I arrived in time to make my ~1 minute presentation. As of heading back to the hotel for the day, I am not sure of the recommendation on the overture, but will update tomorrow when I know more.

At the end of the day, my overture advocate work is complete and our committee has 2 of 20 overtures addressed with only one day of committee time left. So, tomorrow will be a busy (and possibly long) day.