Greetings,

    I will get to the PC(USA) GA in a couple of posts, but just back from a short vacation I wanted to get some other GA Junkie info into the blog first.

   This one is about the GA of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held June 5 – 9 in Belfast.  This was not web cast so my info is just from the regular media.  However, the two hot topics sound pretty familiar to us presbyterians.

But first, the new moderator is Dr. David Clarke, a parish minister in Coleraine for the last 26 years.  His election gained some additional press coverage because he is the brother of a former “professional footballer.”  According to the news reports, two more of his brothers are also presbyterian ministers.

From the popular press reports the first of the two controversial topics was the previously approved sale of the denominations headquarters, “Church
House.”  Last year’s GA approved the sale but it was held up by an increase in cost of the repair of the exterior stone work.  In the last year it also appears that the wider church has developed opposition to the sale.  (Commentary note:  Not the first time the members in the pews have forced the reversal of a GA decision.)  It appears to have been a long (2 hour) and lively debate and in the end those that favored holding on to the property prevailed by a 256-227 vote.  The press release on this item can be found at http://www.presbyterianireland.org/assembly/ganews/news009.html

The other hot topic was the blessing of civil partnerships much as it was for the Church of Scotland.  There was a subtle difference between this presentation and that at the Church of Scotland GA.  For the CofS it was presented by the legal committee as a response to national legislation.  At this GA it was presented under the Church and Society report and carried greater theological weight.  Church and Society presented a resolution that expressed concern about civil partnerships and affirmed previous GA stands.  It was an amendment from the floor that added the language that clergy “shall not conduct Services of Blessing for couples involved in a Civil Partnership.”  The second aspect of this debate involved the church’s opposition to homophobia and the GA approved a study to be presented at the next GA on homophobia in the church and society at large.  The press release on this item can be found at http://www.presbyterianireland.org/assembly/ganews/news012.html

While these three items occupy all the regular news media accounts I have seen, it is interesting to look at the official press releases from the GA and see that church internet standards, vetting of church workers for child protection, input to the Parades Commission, and an increase in the number of theological students were also presented.

If you are interesed in more on any of this the PCI web site is:  http://www.presbyterianireland.org

Thanks for your interest
Blessings
Steve