Beyond changing families, churches and institutions
GA227 advances denomination-wide study on sexuality and family and hears apology for handling of World Mission closure
MILWAUKEE — Commissioners to the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Monday to let congregations signal their openness to calling an LGBTQIA+ pastor, advanced the development of a sweeping new study on sexuality and family, and received an unscripted apology for the handling of Presbyterian World Mission’s dissolution.
During a lengthy discussion on gender, sexuality and call processes, commissioners considered GEN-06, an item from the Committee on Gender and Sexuality Justice directing the PC(USA)'s Church Leadership Connection to add an optional feature to the Ministry Discernment Profile allowing congregations to indicate their openness and readiness to call an LGBTQIA+ pastor.
Responding to repeated questions, the Rev. Ashley Birt of the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity (ACQ+E) explained that the proposal was not a mandatory checkbox and would be developed collaboratively with the Church Leadership Connection and partner organizations. The intent, Birt said, was to provide greater clarity for candidates and congregations, helping candidates identify churches whose values align with their own while preventing unnecessary harm. She emphasized that discrimination already occurs in the call process and that the proposal would help candidates navigate that reality more transparently.
Several commissioners spoke against the overture despite supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion. The Rev. Jo Wiersma of John Knox Presbytery, who identified as a trans nonbinary pastor serving a rural Midwestern church, said, “I am against this, because I want us to continue to have conversations, especially in our rural churches, where queer people can make huge impacts, even if they haven’t had the hard conversations. Queer people can walk alongside those conversations and help people grow.” The Assembly approved GEN-06 by a vote of 339-138.
Commissioners then considered GEN-09, a broad proposal directing the church to develop theological, biblical and ethical frameworks addressing human sexuality, flourishing relationships, family and gender. The committee amended the proposal to combine related work from another overture and to ensure participation by historically marginalized communities.
The central debate involved a minority report seeking to add language requiring the study to include “diverse theological views from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).” Advocates argued the language would reassure Presbyterians across the denomination that all perspectives would be represented. Committee leadership and several resource people argued the amendment was unnecessary because such representation is already required through existing nomination and committee selection processes. Assistant Stated Clerk valerie izumi explained that General Assembly nomination procedures already require attention to “the wide diversity of gifts, identity, experience, theological conviction.”
“I just want to highlight and celebrate that we are a denomination that is already doing this work,” said the Rev. Mike Goodwin, a teaching elder commissioner from Winnebago Presbytery, speaking against the amendment. “If we spend time debating everything that our rules and guidance already tells us to do, we're going to be here for a minute.” Ultimately, that amendment was defeated 374-90, while an amendment to incorporate peer-reviewed research from medicine, biology, psychology and related sciences was adopted 261-203. The Assembly then approved GEN-09 as amended by a vote of 419-54.
As the Committee on Gender and Sexuality Justice concluded its report, Marilynn Lane, moderator of the Committee on Gender and Sexuality Justice, offered an emotional reflection on the committee’s work, thanking commissioners for “their commitment to deal with our business with patience and sensitivity.” Lane said the committee knew it was “dealing with matters that matter” and was entrusted with “people's sacred selves,” adding that “this committee did not just deliberate, they accompanied one another” in a way that bore witness “to the love of God that is for each and every beloved person … for this church.”
Constitutional Interpretation Committee Moderator the Rev. Miriam Hollar and Vice-Moderator the Rev. Joe Genau introduced their report by noting that the committee had considered six authoritative interpretations, five proposed amendments and several special committee proposals. Because most recommendations would amend the constitution, only one item qualified for the consent agenda.
The Assembly first approved CON-13, an authoritative interpretation on G-1.0104, by a vote of 408-7, after which Barbara Bundick of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution explained that “an authoritative interpretation is an official, authorized and binding interpretation of a section of the Book of Order” and that such interpretations are “constitutionally binding on all Presbyterians and Presbyterian governing bodies and their subgroups, just as the Book of Order itself is binding.” Commissioners then approved the committee’s recommendation on CON-05, concerning paid administrative leave, voting 449-12 to refer the matter to Presbyterian Life & Witness. They also heard that CON-01 on the classification of administrative leave would be answered through the action taken on CON-05, with a request that Presbyterian Life & Witness review the rationales for both items and report to the next General Assembly. CON-15 provided an authoritative interpretation clarifying how commissioned ruling elders may engage in ministry across presbytery lines within a synod. The Assembly approved it 460-5.
CON-02 generated the most response among the constitutional items. The proposal directs PL&W and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation to develop policies prohibiting nondisclosure covenants in employment relationships. Much of the debate centered on whether the covenant used during the dissolution of Presbyterian World Mission functioned as a nondisclosure agreement.
Former mission co-worker the Rev. Dr. Karla Koll, a teaching elder commissioner from Pueblo Presbytery, criticized the process surrounding World Mission’s closure and objected to employees being asked not to discuss pending developments with partners and supporters. After an amendment to name the A Corporation as the employer of record, commissioners approved CON-02 by 452-11, followed by final approval 444-29.
Following approval of CON-02, the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness, offered an unscripted apology to those harmed by the process surrounding the dissolution of Presbyterian World Mission. Oh told commissioners that church leaders “recognize, acknowledge, see, and lament the pain and the grief that this process has caused.” Oh explained that leaders had sought to avoid earlier practices in which employees learned of major decisions without warning. “There was an intention to try to shift past processes where people were surprised on the day of hearing news all of a sudden by informing staff early and asking them to hold information about decisions that were not yet complete,” she said. But she acknowledged that “for many folks, that felt like they were being silenced, and that it felt like folks could not share the pain and the grief of their journey.” Oh added, “for that I'm very sorry.” She continued, “I know that does not remove the pain that folks have experienced.” Moderator the Rev. CeCe Armstrong thanked Oh for her remarks and then rose on a point of privilege to lead the Assembly in prayer, asking God to comfort those affected and acknowledging that “when we don't get it right, it hurts.”
CON-03, also related to nondisclosure covenants and World Mission, was answered with the action already taken on CON-02. Commissioners approved that action 465-11. CON-09 strengthened ethical conduct and boundary training, including protection of vulnerable adults. Commissioners approved the amended recommendation 465-1.
Commissioners devoted additional attention to CON-08, which concerns expanding healthcare options for ministers. The committee recommended referring the matter to the Board of Pensions for further study in partnership with the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee. The Rev. Deanna Driver Gemmer successfully amended the recommendation to add the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice as a consultation partner. Driver Gemmer explained that “as a woman in ministry raising children, changes to Board of Pensions options has greatly affected my own ability to accept different calls.” The amendment passed 450-11, and the referral to the Board of Pensions as amended passed 466-9.
The plenary concluded with greetings from the Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Peacock warned that in a world of “staggering inequality” and rising Christian nationalism, the church faces “the temptation in times like this to fall silent, to retreat into the safety of our sanctuaries, or to let the powers of this age tell us what is possible and what is real.”
“The gospel calls us for something else,” Peacock said. “It calls us to name the world as it is and proclaim the world as God intends it to be — a place of justice, of peace and of abundant life for all,” reminding commissioners that “witness is never a single act but a long road of faithfulness.” He praised the PC(USA) as “a gift to our global communion,” commending “your witness for justice,” “your labor for the unity of the church,” and “the willingness to be Reformed and always reforming.”
“The communion is richer because you are a part of it,” he concluded, as commissioners responded with a standing ovation and loud cheers.
Before recessing for dinner, Assembly leaders also recognized agency leaders who have completed or are completing their service, and a video honoring the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett was shown ahead of an evening celebration in her honor.
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