Executive Presbyter's Report to Presbytery: June 17, 2003
"Top Ten Issues addressed by the 215th General Assembly"

Thank You Commissioners!: Sincere thanks go to Elder John Bryan (La Jolla), Elder Dick Walker (Graham Memorial), Reverend Jan Cook (Christ, La Costa), Reverend Michael Griffin (Pacific Beach), Youth Advisory Delegate Candice Pillion (La Jolla), and Theological Student Advisory Delegate, Carmen Berger (Westminster, Escondido). Each one of these commissioners represented the Presbytery of San Diego well. They were well prepared and informed on the issues before the Assembly. They were active in their participation both in committees as well as on the floor of the plenary sessions.

1. Election of Moderator for 215th General Assembly: The Reverend Susan Andrews was elected Moderator of the 215th General Assembly on the second ballot, receiving 53% of the votes cast. Reverend Andrews is a member of National Capital Presbytery and the first female pastor ever to be elected Moderator of the General Assembly. She has served since 1989 as pastor and head of staff at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church of Bethesda, MD. Andrews defeated retired minister Harold Kurtz, past president of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, and Reverend James Reese, Interim Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of New York City.

2. Biennial Assemblies: The Assembly voted to retain Biennial Assemblies following next year's Assembly in Richmond, VA. The year 2005 will be the first without a national Assembly since the church's founding in 1789. The GA will meet in Birmingham, AL in 2006, San Jose, CA in 2008, and the Twin Cities in 2010. Also, the Assembly voted to increase the number of commissioners needed to call a special meeting of the General Assembly from 25 elder commissioners and 25 minister commissioners to 25% of elder commissioners and 25% of minister commissioners.

3. Issues of Defiance: The Assembly directed the stated clerk of the PC(USA) to send a pastoral letter to the clerks of congregations, presbyteries and synods, to gently remind them of their obligations to correct governing bodies in their jurisdictions that ordain gays and lesbians in defiance of the Presbyterian Church (USA) constitution. Also, the letter will affirm the range of resources available for correction and oversight within the constitution. In a separate action, the Assembly advised the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) to clarify the administrative review process at the General Assembly level and to suggest changes in the standing rules to do so.

4. Issues Regarding Ordination Standards: For the third time in the past six years (1997, 2001, 2003) the General Assembly was asked to delete the "fidelity and chastity" provision G-6.0106b from the constitution of the PC(USA). The contested provision, G-6.0106b in the Book of Order, says candidates for ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA) must live either "in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." It is often invoked as a prohibition of the ordination of sexually active gay and lesbian candidates. After much energetic discussion, the Assembly voted to answer the request by noting the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the PC(USA) is addressing all issues related to ordination standards. The Task Force is scheduled to report its findings to the Assembly in 2006.

5. Living Faithfully with Families in Transition: The Assembly was asked to adopt a 47 page report titled. Living Faithfully with Families in Transition. The report sought to redefine what constitutes a family including several non-traditional options affirming gay/lesbian unions. Commissioner Miji Working from Santa Barbara Presbytery spoke of behalf of several members of the National Issues Committee who presented a substitute motion promoting biblical, confessional and theological affirmations relating to changing families in our contemporary context. After much energetic debate, the Assembly voted to refer for further study the report, Living Faithfully with Families in Transition, and the substitute motion to the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy in consultation with the Office on Theology and Worship.

6. Late Term Abortions: In 2002, the General Assembly approved a statement that expresses "grave moral concern" about late term abortions, but also declared all such abortions to be morally acceptable. This year, the GA modified the position of late term pregnancies adopted by last year's Assembly. The most significant change was to add the sentence, "When it is deemed necessary to end a pregnancy to protect the mother's life or health in the later months of pregnancy when the baby may be able to live outside the womb, a procedure should be considered which gives both the mother and the child the opportunity to live."

7. Evangelism and Higher Education: The Assembly approved a church-wide strategy for ministry with Hispanic/Latino constituencies. Also, the Assembly directed the denomination to develop and distribute evangelism materials in booklet form and on the internet. The purpose of the resources is to help church members share their faith and help congregations minister to "seekers" and lead them toward mature discipleship. The Assembly strongly endorsed (90%) the use of ALPHA as a congregational resource for evangelism.

8. Overtures from the Presbytery of San Diego: Two overtures were presented to the General Assembly from our Presbytery. Overture 03-20 from La Jolla Presbyterian Church was affirmed by the General Assembly and sent-together with the document Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ-to each presbytery and congregation in the denomination. Overture Advocate, Tom Lloyd (La Jolla) did a wonderful job in presenting the overture with grace and conviction. Overture 03-35 from Westminster Presbyterian Church, Escondido asking for detailed financial information to be provided to commissioners well in advance of the General Assembly was defeated with comment, "If commissioners and advisory delegates wish to have access to the Mission Budget and Per Capita Budget reports, they are encouraged to access the PC(USA) Web site at www.pcusa.org." The Assembly concurred with the committee. Although Overture Advocate Jill Simms was disappointed, she displayed much grace and dignity in the entire process.

9. Mission and Coordination and Budgets: The Assembly adopted a mission budget of $126.9 million for 2004. This figure is $1.3 million less than last year's $128.2 million. Of the total, $37.4 million is unrestricted, with designated funds totaling $89.5 million. The budget includes roughly $45.4 million for the Worldwide Ministries Division, $28.5 million for the National Ministries Division and $22.2 million for the Congregational Ministries Division. The Assembly also approved a per-capita budget of $14.7 million. The per-member assessment will be $5.51, an increase of 7 cents over 2003.

10. Global Issues/Peacemaking Issues: The Assembly approved a "Resolution on Africa," a document that was five years in the making and was considered one of the major items of the business before the Assembly. The resolution calls on Presbyterians to "open ourselves to Africa afresh" and to join "with African sisters and brothers in the struggle for peace, justice, and wholeness that is God's will for all people." Some of its recommendations would strengthen mission and other partnerships in Africa; increase funding for self-development of people, HIV/AIDS abatement and actions against the other "diseases of poverty." The Assembly also approved a study document on "Iraq and Beyond" that includes a call for a "spirit of humility and patience" in responding to perceptions of U.S. behavior in the Middle East.