The Committee on Social Justice Issues brought a six-part report to the 220th Assembly.
The most discussed of these overtures surrounded issues of corporal punishment, the environment, economic justice in troubled times, and a request for MRTI (Mission Responsibility Through Investment) to examine practices of publicly traded corporations that operate in for profit prisons.
“I firmly believe that children who are hit and humiliated learn to hit and humiliate,” shared Susan Mazzara, ruling elder from New Hope, speaking in support of a proposal brought before the assembly that would call for an end to corporal punishment in homes, schools and child care facilities.
“I speak against this motion because it seems to be pulling out only those who do corporal punishment but doesn’t include any broader statement regarding neglect or verbal abuse,” said Philip West, teaching elder from Charleston-Atlantic.
The assembly voted in favor, 334 to 306, for the call to put an end to corporal punishment.
Item “On Economic Justice in Troubled Times” drew heated response both on the assembly floor as well as in the ongoing assembly commentary happening on Twitter.
Comments from Steve Miller, ruling elder from Central Nebraska, drew sharp response. “Without greed the system that we have today would not exist—we have to have the greed, it’s what drives our economy,” said Miller.
James Thomas, teaching elder from Elizabeth Presbytery, urged commissioners, with specificity, to make the distinction between profit, greed and avarice. “This is not an economic issue, but a corporate one—it is a theological issue,” said Thomas.
The proposal passed with a 68% to 31% majority.
An item instructing MRTI to report on the corporate practices of publicly traded corporations that operate for profit prisons had one of the more interesting paths to the assembly floor. Initially disapproved in committee, the motion was resurrected by a group, consisting primarily of YAADs, who amended the language in such a way that it was able to gain the committee’s approval.
Ella O’Neil, a YAAD who had served on this committee, spoke in favor of the proposed item on the assembly floor. “We have been saddened by the disagreements in the church and this would put up a screen toward investment so that we wouldn’t have to wait and worry about divestment,” shared O’Neil.
The motion passed with a majority, 401 to 228.
