In Spirit and Truth
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About this blog
In Spirit and Truth seeks to encourage discussion and deeper consideration of representation issues in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It is hoped entries will prompt reflection and dialogue on aspects of expanding representation and supporting full participation in the PCUSA, especially at the assembly and mid council levels.
This blog will occasionally feature content written by one of the fourteen members of the General Assembly Committee on Representation, who are church members, ministers (teaching elders) and ruling elders from across the country, as well as links and articles of particular interest. The ministries of advising, consulting, advocating, promoting inclusion, reviewing and recommending actions are vital to the life of the whole Body of Christ. Committees on Representation and/or their functions exists at all councils above session so from time to time we may highlight activities and insights from sister committees on representation at lower councils throughout the church.
Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. or the General Assembly Committee on Representation.
Author/Facilitator Molly Casteel is an Assistant Stated Clerk and the Manager for Equity and Representation in the Office of the General Assembly. She is a teaching elder (a.k.a. Minister of Word and Sacrament) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary.
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ZERO
A post written by the Rev. Dr. Tom Kirkpatrick, GACOR Member, Synod of Alaska-Northwest
As a teaching elder commissioner to the 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh, I had a big time “wow” moment during a PowerPoint presentation given in plenary, “A Snapshot of Presbyterians.” (1.2M) It was this shocking statistic: of the 688 GA Commissioners, ZERO were under age 25. ZERO.
So, how shall we increase participation of young adult commissioners at future general assemblies?
General Assembly did take action on this issue. The Review of Biennial Assemblies Committee’s item 04-01, Recommendation 5, (to create thirty-two young adult commissioners under age 36, 1 ruling elder and 1 teaching elder from each Synod), was disapproved with this comment: to direct the Stated Clerk to communicate with the presbyteries the need to prioritize sending young adult commissioners under the age of 36 to the General Assembly. While the young adult demographic has been and continues to be an under-represented group as commissioners at General Assembly, the proper implementation of increasing their representation in vote should be referred back to the Special Committee to Review Biennial Assemblies.
GACOR encouraged the Special Committee to consider eliminating the young adult advisory delegate designation and replace that position with young adult commissioners (with voice and vote), one per presbytery (just as YAADs are distributed now). With slight adjustments to the age categories (we proposed 18-30 years of age), this would have a profound influence on the age distribution of commissioners. And it would give greater responsibility and access to young adults while not increasing the cost of the assembly.
Ultimately, this is a presbytery issue – presbyteries elect GA Commissioners. However, in reality, it is an issue for ALL of us, particularly our congregations. They baptize and confirm our children, and they elect and ordain our ruling elders. This is the “supply line” for our presbytery nominating committees.
I urge the Stated Clerk and the on-going Special Committee to be bold and think way outside the box to help us ALL discover how to increase the participation of our young adult commissioners in future general assemblies. I hope they consider anew our proposal to increase our young adult commissioners from ZERO to 173. Now that’s a “wow” moment for which I long!
- Posted at 10:39 a.m.
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