ST. LOUIS – Commissioners’ resolutions to the 2018 General Assembly have started to roll in – often, matters drawn from breaking news or concerns too fresh to have made the assembly’s earlier deadlines for business.
Among them: a resolution seeking to voice Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) opposition to the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their parents as their families try to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
That resolution asks the assembly to call on the U.S. Department of Justice “to immediately end the newly-implemented zero tolerance policy that is tearing apart families,” and to reunite families already separated “under the care of the community, not in family detention.”
It encourages action by congregations too: asking mid councils and congregations “to understand, condemn, and work against the ideology of white supremacy undergirding these racist immigration policies.”
This commissioners’ resolution, presented by commissioners Bart Smith of the Presbytery of de Cristo and Margaret Rightmyer of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, is also significant because there seemed to be cross-pollination via social media across denominational lines in support of the idea. Cindy Kohlmann, a commissioner and one of the newly-elected co-moderators, tweeted in advance of the assembly the text of a possible resolution opposing forced separation that was shared by a United Methodist minister in Texas – a resolution he signed along with more than 600 Texas Methodists.
Some Presbyterians discussed that draft on Twitter – with Kohmann asking: “Hey #PCUSA #GA223friends… there’s talk of bringing this to St. Louis as a commissioner’s resolution. Who’s in?”
Hey #PCUSA #GA223 friends… there’s talk of bringing this to St. Louis as a commissioner’s resolution. Who’s in? https://t.co/r2p704GI5V
— Cindy Kohlmann (@CindyKohlmann) June 11, 2018
So far, more than a dozen commissioners resolutions have been accepted – each, as required by the rules, presented by two commissioners from different presbyteries.
The Outlook will post links to the resolutions as they become available on PC-Biz.org (the assembly’s site for posting official items of businesss), and will periodically update this list until the deadline for submitting them is reached June 17. Commissioners’ resolutions, like other business coming to the assembly, will be assigned to one of 14 assembly committees for consideration.
Advisory delegates. Young Adult Advisory Delegates have submitted a commissioners’ resolution asking the assembly to “direct that advisory delegates have full vote in Moderator/Co-Moderators elections in future” assemblies.
Automation. This resolution asks for a PC(USA) Emerging Technologies Commission to be appointed to review issues surrounding mass automation and identify adaptive and technical challenges that may impact the PC(USA) in the next 15 years.
Being black in the PC(USA). This resolution raises a concern from the National Black Presbyterian Caucus that some presbyteries may not be complying with Committee on Representation guidelines, and that many small black congregations can’t afford pastoral leadership. It asks the assembly to direct mid councils to recommit to the Committee on Representation requirements, paying attention to issues of inclusion and fair practice, and to “directmid councils to raise awareness of the declining nature of black congregations throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the lack of pastoral leadership, both current and future, for those congregations.”
Church transfer. This measure involves the transfer of a particular church from the Presbytery of Olympia to the Presbytery of the Northwest Coast, which would change presbytery lines. Both presbyteries have approved the transfer.
Civil discourse. This resolution asks for the church to express dismay and concern “at the degradation of civil discourse” and to urge church leaders to seek opportunities “for conversation and reconciliation with those encouraging discord in regard to civil discourse.”
Cost reduction for General Assembly. This resolution directs the Office of the General Assembly to look into ways for reducing the cost of holding the assembly – including finding ways to manage business so the assembly would meet for fewer days. The resolution also suggests moving the assembly venue to university campuses; holding the assembly every three or four years (instead of every two) and evaluating the use of advisory delegates.
Covenant relationship. This resolution requests the development of a covenant relationship with the Gereja Masehi Injili di Minahasa, recognizing the shared roots in the Reformed tradition. The resolution suggests the relationship will be developed in consolation with presbyteries having significant Indonesian and Minahasan-speaking members.
Gaza violence. This resolution asks the assembly, “acting out historic PC(USA) positions for human rights in the world,” to express grief and sorrow for the families of Palestinians killed in the Great March of Returns protests at the Gaza border, and for the well-being and recovery of all injured in violent confrontation. It also asks the assembly to renew the denomination’s call for an end to the blockade of Gaza by Israel. And iturges support for basic human values for all Palestinians and Israelis “despite the lack of a peace process or viable “two-state” solution.”
Iran nuclear deal. The assembly should “urge the United States government to reconsider its unilateral withdrawal” from the Iran nuclear deal, this resolution proposes. Trump announced in May the U.S. would withdraw from the agreement struck in 2015, and that the U.S. would reinstate economic sanctions against Iran. The resolution asks the assembly to state that it “opposes efforts to increase hostilities with Iran, which do not seem to serve U.S. interests.” And it asks the assembly to urge Congress to hold hearings and hold the Trump administration accountable for executing laws related to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Israel. This resolution asks the assembly to “reject the notion that Israel is ‘a colonial project,’ ” and to instruct PC(USA) agencies and staff to “avoid language that can be interpreted as advocacy for the idea that Israel is ‘a colonial project.’ Specifically, the PC(USA) should stop distributing Why Palestine Matters: The Struggle to End Colonialism because it describes Israel as a ‘colonial project.’ ” That paper was recently produced by the Israel Palestine Mission Network.
Jubilee for church mortgage grants. The assembly should direct the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program to declare a Jubilee for all PC(USA) congregations holding church mortgage grants established in 1968 or earlier, this resolution states, forgiving the grant and any accumulated interest. All congregations should be informed of the forgiveness and thanked for their faithful service.
North Korean refugees. This resolution asks the assembly to designate September 2018 as Korean mission month. It asks the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to express support for a peaceful resolution of the tensions on the Korean peninsula, and to end the oppressive treatment of North Korean refugees. And the resolution asks the assembly to create a task force to, in part, recommend to the 2020 General Assembly strategies for the church “to respond to the dire refugee crisis and the complex, war-provoking political situation on the Korean peninsula.”
Opioid addiction. This resolution proposes a series of responses to the opioid crisis – much of it focused on what local congregations can do. It encourages congregations to address the crisis through prayers, sermons and conversations, and to “recognize and share the Gospel message that is inherent in stories of recovery.” It also encourages congregations train people to use Narcan, which can be administered to someone who is overdosing, and to make it available in church buildings.
Prayer for Nicaragua. This resolution asks the assembly to pray for peace in Nicaragua and for an end to the violence there. It also asks the assembly to oppose any proposed intervention of the U.S. into the current affairs of the country.
Puerto Rico. The resolution asks the assembly to direct the PC(USA) “to engage in direct advocacy” with Congress and the Trump administration “against the unjustified additional tax burden” that a tax bill Congress passed in December 2017 imposed on Puerto Rico. The resolution also asks that the PC(USA) “establish a zero-tolerance policy towards colonialism and the double standard treatment of U.S. citizen residents of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.”
Reclaiming Jesus statement. The commissioners presenting this resolution want Presbyterians to become part of the new “Reclaiming Jesus” movement that a group of religious leaders from a variety of denominations announced recently in Washington D.C. That movement has presented “A Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis” – speaking of Christian opposition to authoritarian rule, lying in political life, racism and “language and policies of political leaders who would debase and abandon the most vulnerable children of God,” among other things. The resolution asks the PC(USA) to sign that statement and endorse the movement.
Reconciliation ministries. The commissioners offering this resolution call for PC(USA) congregations to strengthen their support for grassroots organizations that bring together Israelis and Palestinians in the quest for understanding and peace. The resolution also calls on all involved in such peacemaking efforts to avoid describing them as “normalization of an unjust situation.”
Suicide prevention. The assembly should encourage congregations to provide support for people who are suicidal or have attempted suicide and their families, this resolution suggests. And the assembly should “acknowledge the church’s role in contributing to the stigma and silence that envelops the topic of suicide,” the resolutionstates, and “recognize and share the Gospel message of life, hope, and resurrection as an antidote to suicide.”
