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Nine items of business and a review of minutes await members of the 227th General Assembly’s Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee, meeting online June 22-24.
The Rev. Olivia Lane of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery will moderate the committee, while the Rev. Matthew Henderson of Northeast Georgia Presbytery will serve as vice-moderator.
GEN-01, an overture from the Presbytery of Cascades, is on confession, repentance and renewed theological engagement regarding HIV/AIDS and human sexuality. It seeks the church’s confession and repentance for participating in the rise of the HIV/AIDS pandemic “through harmful theological frameworks and heteronormative assumptions” and for “participating in the isolation and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS through rejection, judgment and abandonment.” The overture includes development of “a comprehensive theological framework addressing human sexuality and relationships in contemporary contexts” and “examining the full spectrum of relational and family structures and exploring ethical approaches to consent, mutuality and care …”
GEN-02, “On Access to Healthcare,” is being brought by Cherokee Presbytery. It asks the assembly to declare “that the PC(USA) supports all individuals, including minors, to have access to all medically necessary, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare.” The rationale notes that multiple states have banned or are in the process of banning transgender healthcare for minors. “By preventing doctors from providing this care or threatening to take children away from parents who support their child in their transition [bills and laws in these states] prevent transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive youth from accessing medically necessary, safe healthcare backed by decades of research and supported by every medical association representing over 1.3 million U.S. doctors,” the rationale states.
The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy suggests adding an amendment requiring itself to update “relevant healthcare policy,” such as the 2002 “Resolution on Advocacy on Behalf of the Uninsured,” ahead of the 228th General Assembly (2028).
GEN-03, from Homestead Presbytery, is “On Redefining Sexual Abuse in Church Discipline to Reflect Current Clinical Understandings.” It would change Book of Order language on “sexual abuse” to “sexual misconduct” in D-7.0901. Its rationale says that allowing “misuse of ordered ministry” to be the “sole criteria in identifying a behavior as sexual abuse opens the door for behaviors that would be more appropriately classified as sexual misconduct to be labeled as sexual abuse — a damaging label for the accused and one which limits opportunity for negotiate agreements.” The Advocacy Committee on LGBTQIA+ Equity urges a no vote. “Replacing a strong term such as ‘abuse’ diminishes the severity of the actions currently listed under the umbrella term ‘sexual abuse,’” the ACQ+E committee said. “We should just call it what it is.”
GEN-04, which comes from the Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice, is a resolution on sexual misconduct, transparency and accountability. Among other requirements, it would direct the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to oversee the development and administration of “a one-time, denomination-wide questionnaire to congregations” to gather summary, non-identifying information on “experiences of sexual misconduct in church settings, and congregational responses.” Participation would be voluntary “but strongly encouraged.”
GEN-05, from the same advocacy committee, is a resolution on survivor support. It seeks to create a special committee on survivor support and accompaniment to, in part, design and conduct, in partnership with one synod, a pilot program to provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered support and accompaniment for people affected by sexual misconduct within the life of the church. The special committee would develop, document and publish “clear metrics for evaluating both survivor experience and systemic impact …” It would also “demonstrate how lessons learned are incorporated into ongoing systemic reform.”
GEN-06, from the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity, involves the addition of a question to the Church Leadership Connection’s Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP). The question would allow congregations to indicate their openness and readiness to call an LGBTQIA+ candidate and allow an LGBTQIA+ candidate to view the congregational response. The need was identified during the 2025 National Queer Presbyterian Gathering.
GEN-07, from the same advocacy committee, would establish a biennial national queer gathering and regional presbytery gatherings for the LGBTQIA community with at least $100,000 in dedicated funding. Voluntary contributions, grants and sponsorships would be sought. Presbyteries and synods would be encouraged to consider hosting regional LGTQIA+ gatherings “and to explore contextually appropriate ways of creating spaces of belonging and connection for LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians within their regions.”
GEN-08, which also comes from the ACQ+E committee, would create a voluntary self-audit process on LGBTQIA+ welcome. The guide would serve “as a reflective and educational tool to assist congregations, mid councils, Presbyterian camps, conference centers and other Presbyterian entities in addressing alignment between their stated commitments and their lived practices of welcome and belonging.”
GEN-09, brought by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, calls for a “comprehensive theological framework document and study guide” that “addresses human sexuality and gender” that reflects and supports “the denomination’s commitment to full inclusion of all people and which would help the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) live into that commitment more fully.” The recommendation continues the work of the 223rd General Assembly (2018), which approved “On Affirming and celebrating the Full Dignity and Humanity of People of All Gender Identities.”
The Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee will also consider GEN-MIN-O1, the 2024-26 of the Advocacy Committee for LAGBTIA+ Equity.
By Mike Ferguson, Presbyterian News Service
