That raises the likelihood of nearly back-to-back assemblies – maybe all in Denver, or maybe with the recalled 2002 Assembly meeting somewhere else.
There also are questions swirling about whether Metherell’s list of signatures – he needs at least 25 ministers and 25 elders, and presented 57 names, 26 ministers and 31 elders. Those names are public, and Fahed Abu-Akel, moderator of the 2002 Assembly, said each will be contacted to verify their intention to call the Assembly back. The situation puts those 57 people under public scrutiny – if the signatures are valid, Abu-Akel is obligated to call the Assembly back; if some can be convinced to change their minds, and if Metherell couldn’t quickly line up more to take their places, then at least theoretically the question could be reopened.
The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, which met in Louisville Jan. 13-15, did not resolve the “when and where” questions before it adjourned – instead, it instructed the staff of the Office of the General Assembly to move ahead with making plans, with final approval to be given in a conference call if Abu-Akel calls the Assembly back.
COGA also dealt during with other business – including proposing a per capita rate, which is recommended at $5.49 per active member for 2004, an increase of five cents per person. That recommendation would need to be approved by the 2003 General Assembly in Denver.
COGA also considered the nuts-and-bolts of the change to biennial assemblies (after potentially holding two assemblies in one year, the plan is to move to every-other-year assemblies after the Assembly in 2004). The proposed changes will be voted on by the General Assembly Council later this week, but have been approved by COGA.
Among the changes COGA is proposing:
o Increasing the number of commissioners who would attend biennial assemblies. The formula COGA has approved calls for each presbytery of 8,000 members or less to elect one elder and one minister as commissioners; for presbyteries of 8,001 to 16,000 members to elect two elders and two ministers; presbyteries of 16,001 to 24,000 members to elect three elders and three ministers; for presbyteries of 24,001 to 32,000 members to elect four elders and four ministers; for presbyteries of 32,001 to 40,000 members to elect five elders and five ministers; for presbyteries of 40,001 to 48,000 members to elect six elders and six ministers; and presbyteries of 48,001 to 56,000 members to elect seven elders and seven ministers.
o Changing terms of service. Persons nominated to serve on most General Assembly entities would serve four-year terms, and would be eligible for no more than two full or partial terms without a break – in other words, a maximum of eight consecutive years. That would include those serving on the General Assembly Council and on COGA. Exceptions include the Advisory Committee on Litigation, the Advisory Committee on the Constitution, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission and the General Assembly Nominating Committee.
o Setting voting timelines. When constitutional amendments are proposed, presbyteries would have one year following the adjournment of a biennial Assembly – roughly the same amount of time they have now – in which to submit their votes on those amendments to the PC(USA)’s stated clerk. “This will allow ample time for presbyteries to vote, without leaving the issue of whether the proposed amendments will become part of the Book of Order hanging for too long,” a COGA report on the changes states.
o Rotating the cities in which General Assemblies are held among four areas, instead of the five that now exist. Because the biennial assemblies would have more commissioners, the regions need to be drawn large enough to ensure an adequate number of cities with the hotel and meeting space necessary to accommodate a larger meeting.
The General Assembly Council will take up these issues when it meets in plenary session Jan. 17 and 18.
