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GA 2010: Controversial Middle East policy paper gets amended, endorsed, adopted by GA

MINNEAPOLIS – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly overwhelmingly approved an amended report on conflict in the Middle East that aims at a careful balance between Palestinian and Israeli narratives of injustice and the path to peace.[caption id="attachment_22002" align="alignright" width="360"]MRTI’s Brian Ellison addresses the General Assembly. Photo by Erin Dunigan.[/caption]

Church commissioners voted 558-119 today (July 9), for a committee’s rewrite of a report that in its original form was widely perceived by some church members as pro-Palestinian and factually suspect.

          The General Assembly also endorsed, by a 418-210 vote, the Middle East Peacemaking Issues Committee’s recommendation that it denounce Caterpillar’s profit-making from sales of heavy equipment that Israel uses for non-peaceful purposes, including the destruction of Palestinian homes. Church committees considered divestment but advised against it — meaning that the church’s Board of Pensions and Foundation will continue to hold Caterpillar stock worth nearly $11 million, plus $685,000 in the company’s bonds.

          After revising the report on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 53-member Peacemaking Issues committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend it to the General Assembly.

GA 2010: Assembly directs BOP to provide benefits for same-gender partners

MINNEAPOLIS — After a long discussion, with many questions about the financial implications, the 219th General Assembly voted today (July 9) directing the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide benefits to the same-gender spouses and domestic partners of church employees and their children on the same basis as it provides benefits to employees who are married.

Breaking News: GA 2010-Open letter to the Presbyterian Church regarding the report of the Middle East Issues Committee

Posted as a courtesy by The Presbyterian Outlook
A week ago, it looked as if the Presbyterian Church (USA) was going to enact a version of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within its own body, so divided were we on all sides.

GA 2010: Presbyterian General Assembly votes to stand with immigrant Presbyterians in their hour of need

By a vote of 420-205, the 219th General Assembly voted in favor of a commissioners’ resolution dealing with issues of immigration.

GA 2010: UPDATED: For synods and presbyteries, the work has just begun

MINNEAPOLIS—The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved today (July 8) the formation of a commission to aid synods and presbyteries as they explore options for their future. The motion passed soundly 566 to 104.

GA 2010: Understandings with Muslims, Jews stumble ahead

MINNEAPOLIS — Commissioners to the 219th General Assembly voted overwhelmingly today (July 8) to approve a document outlining theological understandings between Christians and Muslims, but they referred back to committee a document aiming to bring greater understanding between Christians and Jews.

GA 2010: UPDATED & EXPANDED: Ordination standards to be debated, voted again throughout PC(USA)

MINNEAPOLIS – Once again, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted to remove the requirement in the denomination’s constitution that those being ordained practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.

That marks the fourth time since the “fidelity and chastity” language was ratified in 1997 that the denomination’s 173 presbyteries have been asked to remove it. Three times they have said “No” – but the margin has been growing closer.

This vote also comes during a year when the assembly is considering action on same-sex marriages – and Jerry Andrews, an evangelical who supports the “fidelity and chastity” standard, said it would be a “jaw-dropper” if the assembly voted to liberalize both.

GA 2010: GA recommends Book of Confession changes

MINNEAPOLIS — The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has directed a special committee to engage in a retranslation of the Heidelberg Catechism. And it voted to ask the presbyteries to add the Belhar Confession from South Africa to the PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions

GA 2010: GA approves revised nFOG, sending to presbyteries

MINNEAPOLIS  — The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) resoundingly approved a proposal for a new Form of Government for the denomination — a proposal that’s been four years in the making and which some say will give the PC(USA) more flexibility to meet the mission needs of a changing world.

GA 2010: Advocates of Palestinian school, artisans honored

Minneapolis — Images of the Middle East welcomed guests to a gathering at the 219th General Assembly (2010) in celebration of the mission and vision of the Rawdat El Zuhur School in East Jerusalem and in honor of the achievements of two of the school’s most passionate advocates.

GA 2010: Moderators support amended Middle East Report

Editor's Note: Several former moderators of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have issued a statement endorsing the amended Middle East Study Committee report. It is posted here as a courtesy to the authors/signatories.

GA 2010: Assembly-re-elects Valentine as executive director

MINNEAPOLIS — Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC), was re-elected to a second four-year term of service by the General Assembly July 7.

GA 2010: Peace Fellowship donating to shipment of supplies to Gaza

MINNEAPOLIS — A Presbyterian anti-war organization says it is donating $10,000 to three Jewish groups in Europe that are loading a boat with humanitarian supplies in a fresh attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

GA 2010: Wheeler receives theological education award; committees report to GA

MIINNEAPOLIS – Every once in a while, things just zip along at the General Assembly with no debate and no controversy.

GA 2010: Investment, ethnic diversity reports to General Assembly

MINNEAPOLIS – Despite the economic downturn, the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, known as PILP, continues to serve growing Presbyterian congregations and is doing well financially, even with the bumpy financial markets.

GA 2010: Voting system taken for a “test drive”

MINNEAPOLIS – At the start of the plenary session today (July 7), Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly, asked the commissioners and advisory delegates to join her in a test drive of the assembly’s new electronic keypad voting system.

GA 2010: Amended nFOG task force report recommended to General Assembly

MINNEAPOLIS—The Form of Government Revision committee, with celebratory applause, passed a revised version of the proposed new FoG – a new approach supporters say will give the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) a form of government that is more streamlined and more responsive to local ministry needs.

GA 2010: Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues recommends changes to language of marriage in the Directory for Worship

MINNEAPOLIS – The Directory for Worship of the Book of Order would define marriage as being between “two people” instead of being between a man and a woman, if the full General Assembly accepts the recommendations of the Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues of the 219th General Assembly.