General Assembly Operations Committee is being asked the most basic GA question of all

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The General Assembly Operations Committee has a number of appointments to confirm and reports and bylaws to discuss and vote on, as well as an answer to that most basic of GA operations questions: Should future assemblies be held fully in person, including an exhibit hall?

Committees of the 227^th General Assembly meet online June 22-24. Among the items of business for GA Operations Committee consideration:

• GAO-01, the Unification Commission recommendation that the 228^th General Assembly be held June 11-22, 2028, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Overture GAO-02, from Olympia Presbytery, asks the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to commit to holding full in-person General Assemblies, including exhibit halls, beginning in 2028. The overture says that hybrid assemblies “prevent us from interacting in a meaningful way for the furtherance of ministry of the PC(USA).” In a survey, many commissioners to the 226^th General Assembly (2024) favored in-person gatherings for both plenary and committee work, proponents noted. “It was hard to build community with people online,” one wrote, “especially when dealing with challenging topics.” The Advocacy Committee on LGBTQIA+ Equity recommends approval, while the Unification Commission pointed out the benefits of hybrid assemblies.
• GAO-03 is the Unification Commission’s recommendation for commissioners to GA227 to elect the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Kerry Rice, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, the Rev. Mienda Uriarte and Dr. Dianna Wright as Associate Stated Clerks of the General Assembly. All provide executive leadership for Presbyterian Life & Witness. If approved, Rice and Wright are being re-elected.
• GAO-04 reflects the nominations by the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for invitations to Partner Advisory Delegates to the 228^th General Assembly.
•  GAO-05 is the Unification Commission’s recommended amendments to the Standing Rules of the General Assembly.
• The GA Operations Committee is scheduled to confirm a number of elections or appointments, including GAO-06, the election of the Rev. Dr. Bridgett Green as president of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation; GAO-07, the confirmation of Ian J. Hall as President of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation; GAO-12, the election of Thomas F. Taylor as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Presbyterian Foundation; and GAO-13, the election of Ruling Elder Krysten Carter Holloway as President of the Board of Pensions.
• GAO-08 is a set of proposed revisions to the bylaws of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation.
• GAO-09, from the Presbyterian Foundation, seeks confirmation for three directors of its subsidiary, New Covenant Trust Company.
• GAO-10, from Presbyterian Life & Witness, seeks approval of the applications of the Administrative Personnel Association, the Educator Certification Committee and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians as national certifying bodies.
• GAO-11 is consideration of the report of the Unification Commission, formally known as the Commission to Unify the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. No recommendations are being submitted as part of the report. However, the UC’s recommendations have been submitted as business before the 227^th General Assembly.
• The committee is also scheduled to receive the 2024 minutes of the Synod of Boriquen and the Administrative Commission on Mid Councils and the Report on the Review of Synod Minutes.

Ruling Elder Anne Wilson of the Presbytery of New Covenant will moderate the committee. Ruling Elder Renda Brinson of the Presbytery of Charlotte will serve as vice-moderator.

by Mike Ferguson, Presbyterian News Service