Kirkpatrick lists “Top 10 Issues” before next General Assembly

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick’s Preliminary Top 10 issues before the 218^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. A New Form of Government — The Special Task Force was created by the 217^th General Assembly to propose a revised polity that would be more flexible, more foundational and more appropriate for a missional Reformed Church in the 21^st century. That Task Force will be bringing a revised Form of Government for adoption by the Assembly and recommendation to the presbyteries.
2. Partnership in World Mission — The 217^th General Assembly called for a consultation between the GAC World Mission program and a variety of mission initiators in the PC(USA). The fruits of that consultation will be before the Assembly in a call for an “Expanding Partnership in God’s Mission” that involves a wide variety of groups working together for the renewal of world mission.
3. Ecumenical Stance and Covenants — The 218^th General Assembly will be taking action on a wide variety of ecumenical concerns. Before the commissioners will be a proposed new Ecumenical Stance for the PC(USA) and covenant agreements with four different churches: Korean Presbyterian Church in America, Episcopal Church, Catholic Church, and Moravian Church.
4. Peace, Unity, and Purity — There will be a range of proposals before the 218^th General Assembly for fresh ways to use discernment in our life together, proposals to reconsider some or all of the actions of the 217^th General Assembly in this area, and proposals to change the Constitutional standards for ordination.
5. The Belhar Confession — The Assembly will be asked to act on a proposal to take the first step toward adding the Belhar Confession to our Book of Confessions.  Belhar grows out of the experience of Christians in South Africa and is an affirmation of the biblical call to Christian unity and racial reconciliation.
6. — Middle East Concerns — There are a variety of overtures and advocacy committee proposals to strengthen our church’s witness to peace with justice in relation to both Israel/Palestine and Iraq.
7. Elections — The 218^th General Assembly will be electing both a Moderator for a two-year term and a new Stated Clerk for a four-year term.
8. Ordination Exams — The self-study of the Presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations identifies a number of concerns related to ordination exams and the preparation for ministry, and calls for a special study to identify new directions for both the examinations and the partnership between presbyteries, seminaries and the General Assembly in preparation for ordained ministry.
9. Domestic Social Justice Concerns — There are a large number of social justice concerns coming to this assembly, including the adoption of a new Social Creed and the adoption of major policy papers on serious mental illness, energy and global warming, pay equity for women, homelessness and electoral reform.
10. A Church for Future Generations — In line with the Peace, Unity and Purity proposals, this Assembly will have two committees charged with doing “generative” thinking for the church. One will focus on how we minister to and with youth and young adults to ensure a church for future generations. A special project, ymiLIVE, sponsored by the Presbyterian Foundation, will bring the voices of youth across the church into that conversation.