The General Assembly’s Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee overwhelmingly approved two recommendations on June 23 aimed at strengthening the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s response to sexual misconduct. The group also rejected a third measure that would have changed language in the Book of Order.
Committee members voted 59-2 to approve GEN-05, which would create a pilot survivor support and accompaniment program, and 52-12 to approve GEN-04, which would direct the denomination to conduct a churchwide survey on experiences of sexual misconduct and congregational responses. Both were approved without amendment.
Together, GEN-04 and GEN-05 represent a two-pronged strategy for addressing sexual misconduct across the denomination: gathering better information about the scope of the problem while creating more consistent systems of support for survivors.
Together, GEN-04 and GEN-05 represent a two-pronged strategy for addressing sexual misconduct across the denomination.
The committee also voted 57-6 to disapprove GEN-03, an overture from Homestead Presbytery that would have amended the Book of Order to replace the term “sexual abuse” with the broader term “sexual misconduct” and align constitutional language with the denomination’s 2013 Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Oak Arias, speaking on behalf of the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice, recommended disapproval of GEN-03 and suggested the proposed change could inadvertently weaken language describing serious harm and shift attention away from those who misuse power.
Related reading: “What GA227 can do for survivors” by JoAnne Sharp
The committee agreed, voting overwhelmingly against the proposed constitutional amendment.
GEN-04 and GEN-05 originated with the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice and now move to the full 227th General Assembly, which begins plenary deliberations in Milwaukee next week.
