Their online work complete, committee members prepare to head for Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE — Four committees completed consideration on their items of business on Wednesday, drawing the online portion of the 227^th General Assembly to a close. Commissioners and advisory delegates now travel to Milwaukee, where they’ll participate in Community Day activities Saturday and their first in-person plenary on Sunday after worshiping at Milwaukee-area churches.

Among the most significant votes was the Constitutional Interpretation Committee’s CON-10, On Requiring Ministers of Word and Sacrament to be Monogamous. The committee referred the matter to the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy as part of the comprehensive theological framework proposed in GEN-09. “This action allows for a fuller consideration of marriage, families and sexual ethics as part of a broader study with more time, adequate funding, deeper expertise and intentional representation,” the committee said.

The committee also took action to answer CON-01, On Classification of Administrative Leave, with CON-05, an item it referred to Presbyterian Life & Witness.

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With amendments, the committee approved CON-02, On Prohibiting Non-Disclosure Covenants in Employee Relations. It voted to answer CON-03, On Prohibiting Non-Disclosure Covenants in Employee Relations, with action taken in CON-02.

The committee disapproved CON-06, Restoration to Ordered Ministry after Sexual Misconduct. It approved a request for authoritative interpretation of W-4.0402 by the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

Among the actions by the General Assembly Operations Committee was the approval of GAO-05, Proposed Amendments to the Standing Rules, which the committee approved nearly unanimously and with amendments.

Committee members also approved, with comment, GAO-14, On Modernizing Denominational Documents, Both Ecclesiastical and Secular, with Expanded Language. The committee noted that style manuals endorse the use of “they/them/their” as appropriate third-person singular pronouns when the subject is of an unknown gender. “By not replacing the language pairing as outlined, the PC(USA) unconsciously — and unfortunately — will continue to codify discriminatory language in policy and polity against our non-binary members and perpetuate a gender binary that is not reflective of all people,” the committee said.

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The Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee approved as amended and with comment GEN-02, On Access to Healthcare. It declares the PC(USA) “supports all individuals to have access to all medically necessary, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare” and directs the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy “to update relevant healthcare policy, such as “Resolution on Advocacy on Behalf of the Uninsured” to be brought to the 228^th General Assembly (2028).

The committee also approved GEN-07, Rooted in Pride — Establishing a Biennial National Queer Gathering and Regional Presbytery Gatherings for LGBTQIA Community and Outreach, a proposal from the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity Committee. The anticipated financial implications are about $120,000 in 2027 and $0 in 2028.

By Thursday morning, the Financial Stewardship and Witness Committee reported action on one item of business. The committee referred FIN-06, Agency Pay Equity Recommendations and Rationale, back to ACSWP to conduct discussions with the boards and agencies of the PC(USA).