On July 7, the assembly Committee on the Review of Permanent General Assembly Committees presented its report with remarkable efficiency – as the assembly voted to receive and approve the self-studies of four permanent committees, and to commend those committees for their work. Those reviews involved:
Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, which strives to involve Presbyterians in social witness and to communicate that witness effectively.
During the committee’s report, Cynthia Campbell, the president of McCormick Theological Seminary, presented the Excellence in Theological Education Award to Barbara Wheeler, who is the former president of Auburn Theological Seminary http://www.auburnseminary.org/ and now director of Auburn’s Center for the Study of Theological Education.
In accepting the award, Wheeler pointed out Presbyterians’ contributions to founding and supporting “the strongest, best-resourced system of theological schools in North America and arguably the world.” Wheeler called that “an accomplishment in which we can take satisfaction and even that most un-Presbyterian of virtues – pride.”
The Committee on Theological Education – involved in exploring issues including the educational debt carried by seminary students; the impact of changing technology on theological education; the training of commissioned lay pastors; and the changing leadership needs of Presbyterian congregations.
General Assembly Nominating Committee – considering ways to get more younger Presbyterians nominated to serve on Presbyterian entities, and to make more people aware of opportunities to serve the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the national level.
General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations – working to build strong ecumenical commitments and to strengthen the Reformed identity, even with financial constraints.
