So you want to get involved in
presbytery actions on Amendment A
(or any other amendment!)
[8-18-01]
A recent visitor asked how she could do just that, so we tried to
offer some answers. You may not need this, but you might want to share
it with friends who haven't had as much experience as you have!
For one response to this page, click
here.
Where can I get more information about my
presbytery and how it does its work?
First, talk with the people who are most involved in
these legislative processes: The Stated Clerk of your presbytery would
be a good place to start, but other presbytery staff members might also
be helpful. If you're really just beginning to get involved, a pastor of
your own congregation or another one nearby would certainly be able to
help.
In keeping with our representative government,
presbyteries organize themselves in a variety of ways, as long as these
are compatible with the Book of Order. The presbytery rules may
be called the Standing Rules, or Manual of Operations, or a variety of
things. Whatever they are called, the standing rules of the presbytery
will detail many of the points mentioned below.
The Standing Rules of the General Assembly are good
reading. You can find them on the PC(USA) web site, at http://horeb.pcusa.org/ga212/StandingRules/TOC.htm
How are overtures created?
Overtures can come from different routes, ranging from
sessions transmitting overtures through presbyteries to commissioner's
resolutions.
Overtures are created by Sessions and sent to their
presbytery, or by presbyteries themselves, or by synods. Commissioners
to presbytery or synod may also introduce overtures, but they are sent
in the name of either the presbytery or synod. General Assembly entities
(standing committees and other continuing bodies) can also send
overtures (like this year's which would change chapter 14 in the Book of
Order).
But here is a direct link to the section of the GA
standing rules which deals with overtures:
http://horeb.pcusa.org/ga212/StandingRules/B.htm#Assembly%20Business
How are GA commissioners chosen?
Commissioners are elected by each presbytery, with an
equal number of elders and ministers being chosen, along with alternate
commissioners and youth advisory delegates. Many presbyteries have
specific rules about who may be considered each year, to ensure some
kind of rotation. Again, ask your Stated Clerk! The Standing Rules of
the presbytery will state how commissioners are nominated.
The election of commissioners is covered in G-13.0102.
Chapter 13 of the Book of Order, which covers G.A., is found
online at:
http://horeb.pcusa.org/oga/Book_of_Order/FOG_Text_12-13.htm#G-13.0000%20Y
How are General Assembly committees organized?
The Assembly commissioners are each assigned
(randomly, by computer) to one of some 15 committees, and all business,
including overtures, is assigned to one of the committees. Since the
committees only have two days to do their work, they aren't usually
broken into sub-committees.
The standing rules of the General Assembly also cover
committee organization.
How do presbyteries decide their vote on
approving/rejecting amendments?
Each presbytery decides when it will vote on
amendments - usually between November and April or sometimes May.
Many presbyteries have a Bills and Overtures Committee
that reviews all the overtures, and makes recommendations on each one to
the presbytery. Your Stated Clerk can tell you how it's done in your
presbytery. In some presbyteries the committee will hold open hearings
on overtures before deciding its recommendations. We would encourage
such dialogue meeting, perhaps several of them in different parts of the
presbytery and on different days of the week, so that all interested
elders and ministers have an opportunity to see what the issues are from
various perspectives. You may want to be there!
Witherspoon and other groups provide information on
the issues as we see them - both on our web sites and in our
newsletters.
The full presbytery then votes, and may accept or
reject the recommendations, or might choose to defer action to a later
meeting if there is a sense that the issues are not yet understood. Some
may move to "take no action," but that is in effect a
"No" vote on the motion.
Also, is there anywhere I can look up how my
presbytery has voted on past amendments?
Your pastor may have that information, if he or she
keeps old minutes of presbytery. Otherwise, ask the Stated Clerk of your
presbytery. For tallies on the recent votes on matters of ordination,
you can check two web sites: Covenant
Network and PresbyWeb. They
both have tables listing the votes by presbyteries on "Amendment
B" in 1996, "Amendment A" in 1997, and Amendment O last
year.
If you have suggestions to add to this little
"Presbytery Policy-Making 101," please
send a note! And if you have questions, send them along too!
We have received one suggestion, that we
include biblical and confessional foundations for such actions. Check
out the note, and our brief response. And join
in if you'd like to!
