In case it is not obvious yet, I have slipped into a “low level” blogging mode and will continue this for the month of July.  Still a lot to post, but after the “high energy” GA stuff I need some slower time to think more and write less.

Having said that, an important question was raised about amending the PC(USA) constitution.  This can be found in Chapter 18 of the Book of Order, but to summarize:

The two sections of the Constitution have different processes with Part One, the Book of Confessions, having a much higher standard.

To Amend Part 2, the Book of Order, requires the General Assembly to send out to the presbyteries any proposed changes.  The presbyteries vote in the nine months following the GA and if approved by a simple majority of the presbyteries it becomes part of the next edition of the Book of Order.  With 173 presbyteries approval needs 87 affirmative votes and then it becomes part of the 2009-2011 edition of the Book of Order.

With the higher standard for Confessions, the GA authorizes the process and a special study committee is created to study the confession, decide on translation issues, and prepare the official text.  Then the next GA must approve the confession.  In the following year the presbyteries vote and if 2/3 agree then the following GA must agree again.  So, for the PC(USA) at the moment, the 2008 GA approved the process and the study committee(s) begin work, the 2010 GA must approve of the confessions’ text, in 2010-2011 the presbyteries vote and if at least 116 agree then the 2012 GA would vote again.  With approval a new edition of the Book of Confessions is published.

Committee 13 – Theological Issues and Institutions voted yesterday on the overtures to change the Heidelberg Catechism.  There were three overtures to consider with three different approaches.  The committee chose the simplest, but, as far as I can tell, an unconstitutional approach.

Just for reference the Book of Order has this to say about changing the Book of Confessions:
G-18.0200

The committee recommendation is that item 13-06 be approved and answer items 13-04 and 13-05.  This overture basically says, just make a few specific changes in five of the questions in the Catechism.  The others were two versions within the system required by G-18.0200.  The Presbyterian News Service article on this is not helpful on this polity nuance.

There was disagreement because 13-06 was approved 33/26/2.  The vote to have the other two overtures answered by this one was 40/6/12.

In the adopted recommendation there is no mention of the amendment process, no mention of even sending it to the Presbyteries.

I would love to have been there because I figured that 13-06, being contrary to the Book of Order as I understand it, would be quickly defeated.  I would like to hear what discussion the committee had.  What advice did they get?  What is their reasoning that this is decent and in order?

I’m sure all of this will come out in the committee report to the full Assembly and I can’t wait to hear the polity logic on this one.