Committee indicates "covenant agreement" working well for the church

by Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE -- January 17, 2003 -- The General Assembly Council (GAC) unanimously approved a joint review focusing on the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA).

PHEWA is a PC(USA)-related non-profit voluntary membership organization founded in 1955 dedicated to the enactment of social justice and welfare ministries. It is connected to the National Ministries Division (NMD) and works with middle governing bodies and congregations, striving to make the Presbyterian Church (USA) more responsive to the needs of people who are suffering.

The General Assembly-mandated review examined the history and function of the "Covenant of Agreement for Shared Ministry," which defines and guides the relationship and cooperative ministry between the GAC, its National Ministries Division Committee (NMDC) and PHEWA.

PHEWA, which provides support, training and resources to individuals, congregations and middle governing, is composed of 11 networks that accomplish its work.

The networks include: Community Ministries and Neighborhood Organizations (COMANO); the Presbyterian Aids Network (PAN); Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO); Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network; Presbyterian Association of Specialized Pastoral Ministries (PASPM); Presbyterian Health Network (PHN); Presbyterians for Disabilities Concerns (PDC); Presbyterian Network on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse; the Presbyterian Child Advocacy Network (PCAN); Urban Network of Congregational Leadership; and the Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network (PSMIN).

The review committee that compiled the report consisted of two representatives from the NMDC and two representatives from PHEWA. The 210th General Assembly authorized the review of four recommendations it adopted in 1998. The assessment now goes before the General Assembly this May in Denver, CO.

Committee members reviewed four recommendations:

1) Request that PHEWA and the National Ministries Division (NMD) live under the Covenant of Agreement for Shared Ministry for a period of five years with the exception that only recognized constituency groups with the PHEWA be allowed to voice responsible dissent, and report to the 215th General Assembly (2003) to determine if the agreement is working and best serving the church.

"The Review Committee is pleased to report that the Covenant of Agreement is working to best serve the church," the report said. " . . . Most of all, it is clear that ministry called for by the General Assemblies of our church, clearly stated by their historic actions, is being undertaken by PHEWA and its networks."

2) That the General Assembly urge PHEWA to expand its membership to include all organizations that desire affiliation with the organization and who will live under the PHEWA/NMD covenant.

Since the 1998 report to the 210th General Assembly, one new network, Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN), has joined PHEWA, the review said. At the 211th General Assembly in Fort Worth, TX, a session was held to meet with groups interested in learning about affiliation with PHEWA. Six groups attended the meeting: One by One, Parish Nurses, Presbyterians Pro-Life, Public Education Task Force of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, Voices of Orthodox Women, and Voices of Sophia.

"The willingness to welcome all applications for consideration under that process was clearly expressed by the PHEWA representatives," the review said. "None of the groups followed through with the process of affiliation."

3) That the General Assembly increase the current funding to the National Ministries Division Office to provide staffing, office space and administrative support for the PHEWA to accommodate new networks, and that the process of providing financial subsidies to the constituent groups be spread upon the minutes of the PHEWA annual report each year, and that constituent groups work toward becoming financially independent and self-sustaining.

The 1998 General Assembly report recognized that one of the factors inhibiting the addition of new networks was the funding and staff support necessary to administer new networks. Therefore, the report had financial implications of $219,644 to "increase the current funding to the National Ministries Division Office to provide adequate staffing, office space and administrative support for PHEWA to accommodate new networks. . . . "

To date that has not happened. In fact, the opposite has occurred as budget cuts have reduced the number of staff persons available to PHEWA.

"A new network has been welcomed despite no additional funding or staffing," the review said. "The fact that this has been accomplished is an example of the work over and above the call of duty of PHEWA to facilitate ministry and the good faith effort of PHEWA to comply with the 1998 General Assembly Action."

4) Require PHEWA constituency groups to maintain a minimum membership of 50 in order to continue membership in the organization. Failure to meet this requirement would cause PHEWA to review the viability of the group to determine if it would continue to be a constituent group under PHEWA umbrella.

"The Review Committee has ascertained that each of the PHEWA networks has well over 50 members," the report said. "In the process of that inquiry, we were reminded that PHEWA has several membership categories: individual, family/group, governing body congregation, honorary/lifetime and agency."