Commissioners' letter

GA commissioners in support of "A"

An Open Letter to the Presbyterian Church (USA)

From Commissioners to the 213th General Assembly

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

We are Elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

We were privileged to serve the Presbyterian Church (USA) as Commissioners to the 213th General Assembly.

In our preparations for General Assembly,
in our listening to one another, to voices from across the Church, and to the Holy Spirit;
in our deliberations, our prayers, and our votes,
we sought to serve the people and our Lord with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

Led by Moderator Jack Rogers, we joyfully confessed our faith.
We worshipped God, were introduced to anti-racism training, approved initiatives for campus ministry, extended ministries with children, addressed domestic violence, responded to conflicts in Congo and Sudan, and took a host of other actions that we believe to be to the glory of God and the health of the PC(USA).

As noted in this "Voiceline" report from the Presbyterian News Service:

What should be remembered about this Assembly is that it showed a remarkable degree of trust in its committees, conducted its business prayerfully and civilly, and took seriously both the social witness of the church and the theological underpinnings that drive the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). And just about all of the Assembly's decisions were made by overwhelming majorities, demonstrating a remarkable degree of unity in a church that is frequently characterized as badly divided.

We authorized the creation of a Task Force "to lead the PC(USA) in spiritual discernment of our Christian identity, seeking the peace, unity and purity of the church."

And, after long hours and careful consideration, we approved Amendment 01-A to be sent to the presbyteries -- with a 60% majority.

In our prayerful discernment, Amendment 01-A is the way to move beyond the conflict of the last quarter-century and free the PC(USA)'s energy, resources, and attention for the urgent task of demonstrating the Gospel to a world in need of Christ's grace and peace.

Amendment 01-A trusts sessions and presbyteries with their historic responsibility to discern God's call to potential officers, and does not enforce one disputed interpretation on the whole church.

The passage of Amendment 01-A will enable the Task Force to do the job for which it was established without being consumed by single-issue controversy.

Amendment 01-A honors Scripture, Confessions, and our Presbyterian heritage -- and allows Presbyterians to honor and respect one another.

We urge you to join us in supporting Amendment 01-A.

Commissioners to the 213th General Assembly
Elder Sandra Averitt, Presbytery of New Castle
Elder Mary F. Beardall, Presbytery of Central Florida
The Rev. Stanley Bhasker, Presbytery of Redstone
The Rev. Frank I. (Chip) Blankinship, III, Presbytery of Central Florida
Elder Isaac Brown, Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky
Elder Dorothy Brown, Presbytery of Muskingum Valley
The Rev. Howard A. Bryant, Sr., Presbytery of Elizabeth
Elder Ellen Carter, Presbytery of Northern Kansas
Elder Kay Fulfs Cayler, Presbytery of Sacramento
The Rev. Jim Chaffin, Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky
The Rev. Emily Chandler, Presbytery of Boston
Elder Anne Chapman, Presbytery of Mission
The Rev. Susan A. Clayton, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley
The Rev. Nancy Clegg, Presbytery of Stockton
Elder Pauline M. Coffman, Presbytery of Chicago
Elder Betty Colby, Presbytery of East Iowa
The Rev. Linda Culbertson, Presbytery of Pacific
Elder Melvin Davidson, Presbytery of Denver
The Rev. Laurie B. Davis, Presbytery of Miami
Elder Edgar K. DeJean, Presbytery of Ohio Valley
The Rev. Glenn Dickson, Presbytery of St. Augustine
The Rev. Molly Douthett, Presbytery of Miami
The Rev. Ed Dykstra, Presbytery of the Western Reserve
Elder Cleveland Evans, Presbytery of Missouri River Valley
Elder Susie Farr, Presbytery of National Capital
The Rev. Janet Fishburn, Presbytery of Newton
Elder Bill Goeppinger, Presbytery of New Covenant
The Rev. Richard G Goss, Presbytery of Long Island
The Rev. Ann Graham-Johnson, Presbytery of Eastminster
Elder Mavis Grant-Lilley , Presbytery of West Virginia
Elder Elizabeth Hall, Presbytery of San Francisco
The Rev. Frances J. Hayes, Presbytery of Detroit
Elder Alice L Hild, Presbytery of Long Island
The Rev. Peter Hobbie, Presbytery of Trinity
Elder Georgia Hooper-Peek, Presbytery of Hudson River
Elder Eleanor Hopke, Presbytery of Northern New York
Elder Roger Howell, Presbytery of Maumee Valley
The Rev. Joan Huff, Presbytery of San Francisco
Elder Joanne Humphreys, Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois
The Rev. Kimberly Hyatt, Presbytery of Saint Augustine
Elder Diane Jones, Presbytery of San Jose
The Rev. Beverly Karr-Lyon, Presbytery of Geneva
Elder Frank Kearney, Presbytery of Palisades
The Rev. Dave King, Presbytery of John Knox
Elder Alan Kiste, Presbytery of Detroit
The Rev. Linda Knieriemen, Presbytery of Lake Michigan
The Rev. Francois L. Lacroix, Presbytery of Genesee Valley
The Rev. Pam Laing, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
Elder Robert Lawrence, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley
The Rev. Jody LeFort, Presbytery of Western Reserve
The Rev. Jack Lemon, Presbytery of Maumee Valley
The Rev. Tammy Lindahl, Presbytery of Twin Cities Area
The Rev. Craig Lindsey, Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
The Rev. Dean Lindsey, Presbytery of Peaks
The Rev. Richard Lindsey, Jr., Presbytery of James
The Rev. Patricia Linnemann, Presbytery of Cincinnati
The Rev. C. Lee MacCallum, Presbytery of New York City
The Rev. Joan M. Marshall, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
Elder Mary M. Martin, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
The Rev. Donald E. Mason, Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois
The Rev. Kenneth H. Mast, Presbytery of Hudson River
Elder Aki Matsushima, Presbytery of Chicago
Elder Dee Matthews, Presbytery of New York City
Elder Carolyn McBurney, Presbytery of Grand Canyon
The Rev. Cheryle McCann, Presbytery of Genesee Valley
The Rev. Bryan McDowell, Presbytery of Pines
The Rev. Margery McIntosh, Presbytery of Los Ranchos
The Rev. Anne D. McKee, Presbytery of East Tennessee
The Rev. Jerry McKinney, Presbytery of Albany
Elder Dorothy McNall, Presbytery of Milwaukee
The Rev. Evelyn P. Meredith, Presbytery of Northern New York
Elder Virginia K. Miller, Presbytery of Wabash Valley
Elder Judith Mitchell, Presbytery of Western Reserve
The Rev. David Montgomery, Presbytery of Western Kentucky
Elder Ricardo Moreno, Presbytery of Pacific
Elder Kathryn Morgan, Presbytery of West Jersey
The Rev. Trudy R. Morphew, Presbytery of Cimarron
Elder SarahLee Morris, Presbytery of Palo Duro
The Rev. Lynne M. Myers, Presbytery of Chicago
Elder Solema Newton, Presbytery of Santa Fe
The Rev. Neeta R. Nichols, Presbytery of Detroit
Elder Jeremy Nyquist, Presbytery of Northern Waters
The Rev. Mark R. Orten, Presbytery of New Brunswick
Elder Mark A. Palermo, Presbytery of Chicago
The Rev. William Patterson, Presbytery of Lackawanna
The Rev. Pete Peery , Presbytery of Western North Carolina
Elder Bobbi Perkins-White, Presbytery of Western Reserve
Elder Joseph H.F. Pervall, Presbytery of Tampa Bay
Elder Jean Post-Winget, Presbytery of Hudson River
The Rev. Neta Lindsay Pringle, Presbytery of New Castle
Elder Alice G. Read, Presbytery of Baltimore
The Rev. Deana Reed, Presbytery of Redwoods
The Rev. Sarah Reyes, Presbytery of San Francisco
The Rev. Charles Ringe, Presbytery of Newton
The Rev. Catherine Robinson, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy
The Rev. Kim Rodrigue, Presbytery of National Capital
Elder Richard Schlobohm, Presbytery of Redwoods
The Rev. LaDonna Scruggs, Presbytery of Tampa Bay
Elder Ruby A. Seay, Presbytery of Monmouth
Elder Lynne G. Severson, Presbytery of Des Moines
The Rev. Patricia Shaffer, Presbytery of Denver
The Rev. Kitch Shatzer, Presbytery of East Iowa
Elder Donna Jean Small, Presbytery of Glacier
Elder Dwight C. Smith, Jr., Presbytery of Albany
The Rev. Susan Poole Solomon, Presbytery of Utica
The Rev. Kate Stangl, Presbytery of Des Moines
The Rev. Tim Stern, Presbytery of Baltimore
The Rev. Barbara Stoop, Presbytery of Foothills
The Rev. Donald E. Stroud, Presbytery of Baltimore
The Rev. Keith Sundberg, Presbytery of Lake Erie
The Rev. Jack M. Terry, Presbytery of Glacier
Elder Cheryl A. Toomey, Presbytery of Tampa Bay
The Rev. John W Turner, Presbytery of James
The Rev. Charles Valenti-Hein, Presbytery of Winnebago
The Rev. Lewis Vander Naald, Presbytery of Muskingum Valley
The Rev. Michelle Vetters, Presbytery of Santa Fe
Elder Patricia L. Wales, Presbytery of Southern New England
The Rev. Tom Wanner, Presbytery of Milwaukee
Elder Marjorie J. Ward, Presbytery of Salem
Elder Peg Ward, Presbytery of Utica
The Rev. Theodore J. Wardlaw, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
Elder Mitchell W. Webb, Presbytery of Tampa Bay
The Rev. William Weisenbach, Presbytery of Hudson River
Elder Beth Wells, Presbytery of Grace
The Rev. Lewis Wilkins, Presbytery of Sierra Blanca
The Rev. Paul Wiener, Presbytery of Plains & Peaks
Elder Nancy Wind, Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse
The Rev. Scott Winnette, Presbytery of National Capital
The Rev. Stephen Hamilton Wright, Presbytery of Mackinac
The Rev. Joel P. Wright, Presbytery of Wyoming