The Rev. Kevin Porter (left) and the Rev. Erika Rembert Smith participate in the final day of meetings with the GA Procedures Committee on June 28 at the 226th General Assembly (2024). Photo by Randy Hobson
The General Assembly Procedures Committee worked hard into the night Thursday to complete all its business, including approval of GAP-03, a revision of the Proposed Standing Rules of the General Assembly offered by the Special Committee on Standing Rules.
Committee members continued their arduous work even after a change in committee leadership, with Dustin Wilsor of Seattle Presbytery and the Rev. Jenny Wells of Heartland Presbytery filling in as moderator and vice-moderator beginning mid-afternoon.
Section by section, the two leaders skillfully led the committee through the many proposed changes in the Standing Rules as well as two additional items of business. Adjournment came at 9:10 p.m. Mountain Time, with most other assembly committees having completed their work long before that.
“We know there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and we also know we can give grace to one another to get this done,” Acting Stated Clerk the Rev. Bronwen Boswell prayed after announcing the leadership changes. “We know [the committee’s business] will be helpful for your church, and we want to be disciples in all we do.”
“I invite you,” Wilsor told committee members, “to try to find a place where you are starting afresh as well.”
The Special Committee on Standing Rules divided its report into three broad areas of the General Assembly: worship of God, creation of community, and faithful discernment and governance. To learn more about the special committee’s proposal, watch this video of a webinar featuring four members of the special committee: Adriana Soto Acevedo, the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, the Rev. Andy James and Jeff Moles. A side-by-side comparison of existing Standing Rules and proposed changes is here.
Committee members offered up numerous amendments throughout the day and into the night. Among those that were approved, one would require assembly planners to take into consideration “state law, local ordinances, facility use policies or other discriminatory local rules and policies that may create an unsafe space or make LGBTQIA+ persons feel unsafe or unwelcome.”
Another amendment would direct the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly to “manage a program that will strive to provide that all [General Assembly] participants have access to required technology and internet access.”
One proposed change in the Standing Rules will be readily noticed if it’s approved by the assembly next week: Rather than electing Moderators near the beginning of each assembly, commissioners would elect them near the end. The Moderators would then lead the following assembly.
GAP-3 as amended was approved at 8:55 p.m. by unanimous consent. “Congratulations, my friends,” Wilsor said, inviting Wells to moderate the last 15 minutes of the committee meeting.
GAP-04, which would change the number of commissioners attending each assembly, was also approved as amended. The committee voted to amend G-3.0501 in the Book of Order to allow one ruling elder and one minister of Word and Sacrament in presbyteries with churches of 6,000 members or fewer; two of each for those with 6,001-12,000 members; three of each for those with 12,001-19,000 members; and four of each for those with 19,001 or more members. Using current statistics of the 166 presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), that would result in 510 commissioners attending the next assembly, so long as the current assembly approves GAP-04.
GAP-05, approved unanimously by the committee, removes the requirement for a concurrence by another presbytery for every overture submitted to the assembly.
“Friends, pat yourselves on the back for a job well done,” Wells said.
Committee assistant the Rev. Kevin Porter offered a prayer. “Hearing the cheers of the people in the other room and the saints above, we give you thanks,” Porter said. “Lord, for each one that’s answered the call and said yes, for all the good and hard work around each motion and jot and tittle, we give you thanks. You give us what’s necessary to find our way to the end. Grant these commissioners rest and traveling mercies.”