Sexual orientation gender: Item POL-01, parts 1 and 2

The Polity Committee approved POL-01 (the Olympia overture), with amendment.

The committee evaluated the overture carefully, with great thought, and much debate, choosing to divide the original motion and address what the committee saw as two separate issues. 

The proposed language in Part A of the overture amends Book of Order F-1.0403’s affirmation of the “rich diversity of the Church’s membership” by adding the following bracketed text: “In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, [gender identity, sexual orientation,] disability, geography, or theological conviction.” This was approved by the committee without an amendment. 

Proposed Amendment

Part 1: The Advisory Committee on the Constitution has expressed its aversion to unnecessarily creating lists of requirements and rubrics, and in this present situation, the list affirms the mission of Christ’s Church. Because a list is deemed exhaustive unless it states otherwise, an omission is regarded as exclusionary, not permissive. We believe the witness of scripture and the Constitution testifies to the full inclusion of persons as members of the Church (universal), as noted not only in F-1.0403 but also reiterated in G-1.0302 regarding the church particular: “No person shall be denied membership for any reason not related to profession of faith” (see also the “Confession of Belhar,” The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Part I The Book of Confession (2016), 10.3). A positive affirmation of this principle through constitutional amendment is consistent with this witness.

Part 2: The amendment adds to G-2.0104b additional concepts that shall be the basis for examining those who are to be ordained and/or installed as deacons, ruling elders, and ministers of word and sacrament. The examination must ensure that the candidate can uphold the constitutional questions for their ordered ministry and include, by some means, the Historic Principles of Church Order (F-3.01) and the principles of participation and representation found in F-1.0403. This would mandate that councils (sessions and presbyteries) assess the candidates' commitment to these principles alongside existing requirements when evaluating a candidate ordained and/or installed to an ordered ministry.

What is was on the Consent Agenda at GA?

What didn’t make the headlines (aka the consent agenda) - more than 70 items of business! Here are a few highlights, including any financial implications for the per capita assessment. Full details can be found at https://www.pc-biz.org/

General Assembly backtracks on complete divestment from the fossil fuel industry

Commissioners at the July 3, 2024 General Assembly disapprove morning action and opt for more targeted divestment instead.

In a surprise reversal, the 226th General Assembly made an about-face on Tuesday afternoon by deciding against complete divestment from the fossil fuel industry after having voted in favor of it that morning.

After tough and lengthy discussion, GA commissioners voted to disapprove ENV-02, the overture from the morning, and to instead go with an amended version of ENV-06. Among other things, it directs the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to immediately identify the top 10 fossil fuel companies that derive most of their profits from the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels and immediately divest from those companies.

The Rev. Heather Hayes, a teaching elder commissioner from the Presbytery of East Iowa, brought forth the amended version of ENV-06 that was approved with a minor word tweak. She called it a third way forward after having first sided with Young Adult Advisory Delegates on the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee who were eager to divest out of concern for the planet and then her being influenced by opposing groups, such as the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee and MRTI.

Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice

Fossil fuels and climate justice. After a protracted debate on alternative recommendations for aligning the values of the PC(USA) with its investments in fossil fuels, the GA initially approved overture ENV-02 encouraging categorical divestment in fossil fuels and other efforts to respond to climate change. However, in a historic turnabout, the assembly reversed its decision, disapproving ENV-02 and approving ENV-06, which directs further engagement with greenhouse gas emitters and the fossil fuel industry.

What is MRTI?

To understand the divestment from occupier countries and fossil fuels and climate justice, we must first look at MRTI

 A list of the companies in MRTI process.

What is MRTI and how does it work?

Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI), was created in recognition of the PC(USA)'s unique opportunity to advance its mission faithfully and creatively through the financial resources entrusted it. MRTI implements the General Assembly’s policies on socially responsible investing (also called faith-based investing) by engaging corporations in which the church owns stock. Learn more about MRTI: http://pcusa.org/mrti