The General Assembly
Received and commended to the church
for study the paper, “The Trinity: God’s Love Overflowing.”
The vote was 282 to 212. The commissioners chose not to “approve”
the study. While only a study paper that carries only the
endorsement of this GA and no formal doctrinal weight, it does
suggest some more creative language for the Trinity:

In
praising the triune God we use biblical language, both classic

Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost,

and
surprising

Mother,
Child, and Womb.

We
may use words that speaks of the inner relations of the Godhead

Lover,
Beloved, Love,

and
those that speak of the loving activity of the Three among us

Creator,
Savior, Sanctifier,

Rock,
Redeemer, Friend,

King
of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love.

The
report was amended to clearly state that non-traditional language may
not be used in baptism.

Because of difficulties translating the Latin to the English a
footnote will be added to the Book of Order: “An alternative
translation of the Latin phrase, ecclesia reformata semper
reformanda, given above is, ‘The church reformed, always to be
reformed’ according to the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy
Spirit.” Also, the 8 year process has been approved to produce
a new hymnal and a new e-hymnal.

Referred to the Office of Theology and
Worship two overtures regarding the establishment of an ordained
office for Christian educators for inclusion in an ongoing study on
the “relationship between Baptism and the ministry of all church
members both ordained and not ordained.”

The GA, acting on a presbytery overture, voted to “Affirm
the current mandate of the Office of Interfaith Relations to promote
the common effort of Christians, Muslims, and Jews to work together
for peace, justice, and righteousness .” Additional points in the
overture to affirm that the three faiths worship the same God and
that we have a
common Abrahamic heritage were removed.

Almost
all of the committee member nominees from the Nominating Committee
were approved. While several were challenged, only two challengers,
both for places on the Advocacy Committee on Women’s Concerns, were
successful.

Commissioners
made history by confirming elder Linda Bryant Valentine as the new
executive director of the General Assembly Council, the first woman
to serve in that position.

The General Assembly adjusted its
controversial position on investment in Israel. By a vote of 483 to
28 the Assembly set as church policy that “financial investments
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as they pertain to Israel, Gaza,
East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, be invested in only peaceful
pursuits.” The recommendation was an alternate resolution to an
overture that sought to repeal and rescind the actions of the last GA
relating to “phased selective divestment in multinational
corporations operating in Israel.” Responding to the hurt and
misunderstanding caused by the action of the previous GA the assembly
also adopted a statement saying “We are grieved by the pain that
this has caused, accept responsibility for the flaws in our process,
and ask for a new season of mutual understanding and dialogue,”.

The Assembly made the way clear for a
study to determine the feasibility of a establishing a
Korean-language synod only after several commissioners voiced deep
concern about separating Presbyterians by any ethnic or language.
The recommendation includes a consideration to “reflect on new
and innovative ways that the PC(USA)
can empower and work in partnership with all racial ethnic
congregations.”

The Assembly approved the following
Book of Order amendments to be voted on by the presbyteries:
Officers of synods my be enrolled as members of synod; COM is to be
in correspondence with CLP’s; A new chapter 14 of the Form of
Government and a task force to review the rest of it. The following
changes from overtures were turned down: Authoritative
Interpretations must be affirmed by presbyteries; church property
belongs to the church; to allow CLP’s to be given emeritus status;
the pastoral call processes may begin upon announcement of a pastor
leaving, not at the point of departure; to allow churches to choose
their presbyteries of membership.

By better than a 3-to-1 margin,
General Assembly commissioners approved an overture from the Health
Issues committee on late-term pregnancies that affirms the lives of
viable unborn babies. As the committee recommended, the Assembly
turned down an overture from Beaver Butler Presbytery that would have
ceased funding for any group that advocates either for or against
abortion. The assembly also endorsed the
use of medical marijuana as a social justice issue.

The assembly voted to disapprove
Baltimore Presbytery’s overture, which asked for an authoritative
interpretation to make mandatory per-capita payments from
congregations to presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly.

The report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity
of the Church was approved with only minor adjustments to the
authoritative interpretation. A minority report to remove the
authoritative interpretation was defeated 234-281. Following this a
committee recommendation to leave the ordination standards in the
Book of Order was overwhelmingly approved. It was also approved to
send out a pastoral letter and study material to the churches about
this action.

The GA portion of per capita was
raised $0.22 to $5.79 for 2007, and 2008.

At the beginning of the GA it was
announced a gift to the church of $150 million by Denver elder
Stanley W. Anderson for church revitalization. Towards the end of
the Assembly news reports had revealed that Mr. Anderson had
significant financial and legal issues and may not be able to follow
through on the donation.