(PNS) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly moderators, seminary presidents and a host of others are expected to gather at Montreat Conference Center next month to dialogue and share visions for the future of the denomination.

For the first time ever in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the election of the moderator will be held in tandem with the election of a vice moderator. Each moderator candidate has introduced his or her choice for vice moderator in advance of the General Assembly.  

In years past, the moderator would simply announce about 36 hours after the election the name of whomever she or he had asked to serve in that role. Another two days later, upon returning to plenary after the completion of its committee work, the Assembly would have added its vote to confirm that decision.

BIRMINGHAM -- The Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations considered an overture that wanted to affirm the "common Abrahamic heritage" of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, submitted by Newton presbytery.

BIRMINGHAM -- The General Assembly has set a per capita rate of $5.79 cents per active member for 2007 and the same rate for 2008.

That reflects an increase of seven cents per member over what had been projected coming into the assembly -- and takes into accounts new spending this assembly has authorized.

On its final morning, the 217^th General Assembly also heard some bad news regarding the continuing shrinking of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

BIRMINGHAM -- In a day filled with talk about Israel and Darfur, abortion and immigration, it was easy to overlook some less-flashy issues related to the internal workings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

But the General Assembly did take time on June 21 to vote on polity issues -- including an overture raising the question of whether a congregation that wants to leave the denomination can take its property with it.

CORRECTION:

An Outlook story posted during the General Assembly in Birmingham reported that the G. A. voted 252 to 232 not to approve an overture from Stockton presbytery, which asked that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s constitution be amended to say that a congregation's property "is the sole property of that church" except when financial assistance the denomination provides creates a lien on the property.

That vote actually was the margin by which the assembly removed a comment that had been added by the assembly's Committee on Church Polity. That amendment would have said, in part, "the church is not a voluntary association of those who share the same opinions but is an organic body called into existence by God."

The assembly's vote not to approve the Stockton overture was 378-112.

BIRMINGHAM -- Questions have been raised about whether Stanley W. Anderson, a Denver businessman who's promised the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) a $150 million gift -- one of the largest private gifts ever from an individual to a denomination -- has the financial resources to deliver on the pledge.

The Denver Post, Anderson's hometown newspaper, has reported that public records show Anderson has not paid his mortgages, dental bills and fees to his homeowners' association, and that he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to creditors (link to article).

BIRMINGHAM -- The General Assembly has voted not to recommend any changes in the ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) regarding sexuality -- a vote that follows the lead of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the PC(USA).

The task force had asked that no effort be made now to change the ordination standards -- in part to give the denomination time to live into the changes the task force report will bring.

Commissioners at the Tuesday morning session have approved certain changes in the Book of Order and manuals so they reflect the restructuring of the General Assembly Council. The changes were recommended to the General Assembly by the Mission Coordination Committee.

They include changes in the Book of Order, Manual of Operations, Organization for Mission to reflect those changes. Also approved was the granting of latitude to the General Assembly Nominating Committee in adjusting to the changes on restructuring.

BIRMINGHAM - The Presbyterian Writers Guild held is traditional meeting at the General Assembly at noon Tuesday, focusing on honoring members of special distinction.

The Rev. Gayraud S. Wilmore, retired theologian and author focusing on African-American religion was presented the 2005-06 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award. The honor is given every two years to recognize the cumulative work and influence of a Presbyterian writer.

Wilmore, theologian and seminary professor, is also the author of 18 books and numerous articles, including "Black Religion and Black Radicalism: An Interpretation of the Religious History of African Americans." His most recent book is "Pragmatic Spirituality: The Christian Faith Through an Africentric Lens." He is and ordained Presbyterian minister.

Wilmore was cited for his scholarly efforts and actions in the cause of racial and social justice. He stands alone in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in speaking to what it means to be black and Presbyterian, Guild Vice President Jerry Van Marter, coordinator of Presbyterian News Service, told the gathering.         

Poet W. Barrie Shepherd received the Lifetime Achievement Award in absentia with fellow poet and friend Ann Weems accepted on his behalf.  She said whenever Shepherd sends her his poems to read and comment, her reaction always is, "Darn, I wish I'd written it!" She commended to the gathering Shepherd's latest book, "What Ever Happened to Delight," The word for both Shepherd's book and poems is "stellar," she said.

Laurel McKay Horton was acknowledged as the 2005 recipient of the Jim Angell Award for her book, "Mary Black's Family Quilts: Memory and Meaning in Everyday Life." The Angell Award is presented annually by the Guild to the most outstanding first book by a Presbyterian in the previous year.

Linda Valentine was affirmed and installed to service Tuesday morning as the new executive director of the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with new GA Moderator Joan Gray presiding.

She was charged to lead with "a burning passion" in this pivotal time in the church. Gray reminded Valentine, and the commissioners in attendance, to remember,  "Jesus is the vine and we are the branches; without him we can do nothing."

Commissioners also honored retiring GAC executive director John Detterick, who responded that he felt honored to "serve the church I love so much."

Related articles from the Outlook:

Poet Ann Weems with artist Becky Bane painting in the background	Dancers led by Dianne Wright, far left

   Outlook photos by Erin Dunigan

BIRMINGHAM -"Our intent in putting together this service was not to neglect words, but to add color to them and involve all of the senses in order to represent the creativity that women bring," said Mary Elva Smith, Women's Ministries Associate Director for the PCUSA.  That intent became reality on Monday night in a service celebrating the ordination of women, a service which wove together poetry, painting, and song.

I would never have imagined myself engaged in specifically women's ministry, continued Smith. I began in Christian Education and enjoyed working with every age, with men and women. It was not until I attended a worship service that was planned and lead by women that I realized women offered things differently. For me, that opened the door. It's the balance that the church needs. We don't want to discount order and words, but to add to them and make them more real. In planning this service we didn't neglect words, but added color and involved all of the senses. We wanted to express the creativity that women bring, and use various pieces together to make a whole.

For years now, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has debated the question of whether Christian educators should be ordained -- with some contending that the work of teaching is significant enough in the church and important enough in cultivating disciples that it should be considered as an ordained office.

But the assembly has repeatedly declined to do so, and this year is no exception.

On June 19, the assembly referred two overtures on ordaining educators to the PC(USA)'s Office for Theology and Worship for more study -- one that would have created an office of "educating elder" and a second to establish a "minister of Christian education."

Those will now be considered as part of an ongoing study on the relationship between baptism and the ministry of all church members, whether they are ordained or not.

BIRMINGHAM -- Study vs. action -- that was the question.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) struggled on June 19 with the question of how fiercely to speak up against oppression in Colombia -- and how strongly to advocate for particular changes in U.S. policies in the region.

The shadow of the divestment debate -- in which the assembly in 2004 took a controversial position in favor of phased, selective investment in some companies doing business in Israel -- hung a little over this discussion, although not spoken of explicitly.

BIRMINGHAM - After hours of listening, discussing, praying and parsing individual words, the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee affirmed Sunday night their recommendation to the 217^th General Assembly to replace the wording to the 216^th General Assembly related to a phased process that might lead to divesting from certain corporations doing business in Israel.

After discussing the 41 overtures the committee received on this topic and ideas of merging parts of overtures together, the committee appointed an 11-person subcommittee to draft its own statement, which is being forwarded to the General Assembly.

BIRMINGHAM -- The General Assembly Procedures Committee turned back concerted efforts to overturn the plan of the Committee on the General Assembly to close the office of the Presbyterian Historical Society at Montreat, N.C.

COGA's recommendation, to move the historical materials presently housed in Montreat to the central facility in Philadelphia, will be considered for final action by the whole General Assembly on June 21. 

(PNS) Issues surrounding abortion have been on the agenda of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly almost every year since 1983, when that year's Assembly established the church's first basic policy on abortion. That policy supported a woman's right to choose with virtually no reservations.

Over the years, pro-life Presbyterians have persuaded Assemblies to modify the church's policy on several occasions, most substantially in 1992.

Editor's Note: OUTLOOK National Reporter Leslie Scanlon interviewed Linda Bryant Valentine, the nominee to be the new executive director of the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She is a lawyer and business executive from Chicago and an active Presbyterian. If the General Assembly confirms Valentine's appointment, she will start work for the PC(USA) July 1. This conversation has been edited for space and occasionally for clarity.

When moderator Rick Ufford-Chase called the 217th General Assembly to order on June 15 in Birmingham,  it seemed both familiar and a little strange.

It's been two years since the last assembly met -- a big change for a denomination that's held annual national meetings since kingdom come. So what are people saying about how well every-other-year assemblies are working?

For starters, it may be too soon to tell. John Detterick, retiring executive director of the General Assembly Council, said in an interview:

BIRMINGHAM -- Here's a question the General Assembly will very likely be asked to consider: Should the presbyteries be given more time -- basically a "season of discernment" -- to consider the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the PC(USA)? Should the vote be put off for two years, until the next assembly meets in 2008?

Or should this General Assembly vote June 20 on the task force report -- deciding now whether the task force has recommended a better way for a divided PC(USA) to handle its disagreements?

BIRMINGHAM -- Setri Nyomi repeated several themes in his remarks to the Assembly's Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee during its deliberations here.

Economic justice. Engagement with the world. Spiritual renewal.

Nyomi, the general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), was drawing from a list of concerns raised by that body during its 24^th conference two years ago in Accra, Ghana, where delegates from its 218-member churches committed to challenge the economic order that is further dividing the world's rich and poor and squelches "fullness of life" as proclaimed in the gospels.

BIRMINGHAM -- The 217^th General Assembly Health Committee on June 17 voted to recommend to the General Assembly disapproval of Overture 10-02 from the Presbytery of Beaver-Butler. The proposal asked that no funds of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) be used to support any advocacy either for or against abortion.

The overture had the concurrence of Shenango presbytery.

Jim Powers, elder of the Beaver-Butler Presbytery and overture advocate, called their proposal an even-handed, balanced approach to making sure no PC(USA) monies were used for pro-or anti-abortion support such as information materials. Presbyterians who think their contributions are going to fund a position antithetical to their own cease giving to the denomination, according to Powers.  Adoption of their overture would likely result in some donors reestablishing their giving to the PC(USA), he indicated.

BIRMINGHAM -- When the Rev. Milton Mejia accepted one of the two 2006 Peaceseeker Awards granted by Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF) at its annual breakfast here yesterday, he said it represented a covenant between two churches.

BIRMINGHAM -- Although the committee still needs to take a few parliamentary twirls, the General Assembly's Ecclesiology Committee seems on the cusp of recommending that the General Assembly approve the report of the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The committee ran out of time June 17 -- the assembly's shuttle buses taking commissioners back to their hotels were about to stop running.

But earlier, the task force's controversial Recommendation 5 survived an attempt to delete it from the report -- by a vote of 40-22. A series of other proposed amendments to the report failed by similar margins.

BIRMINGHAM -- Two highly visible study documents -- one on the nature of the Trinity and the other on sacramental practices -- will go to the floor of the General Assembly after prolonged debate in the Assembly Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions

The report on the nature of the Trinity -- called "The Trinity: God's Love Overflowing" -- was approved by a huge margin (42-16-3) after a strong Christological statement was inserted into a much-debated section of the document that offers a plenitude of images of the Trinity.