Live blogging the Thursday afternoon session… If you are following along live you will want to hit refresh periodically to reload the post. (And please excuse the typos as my fingers fly.) The proposed docket for the rest of the Assembly is posted at Bills and Overtures. This afternoon’s scheduled committees are Social Justice Issues (Committee 11), Board of Pensions, Foundation and Presbyterian Publishing Corp. (Committee 20) and Middle East Peacemaking Issues (Committee 15).

I returned from my lunch during the Speak-out. Almost all respectful and few political.

1001 Worshiping Communities video

Bills and overtures recommends taking Committee on Polity next
Approved by voice vote

Committee on Church Polity – Committee 6

Committee recommends disapproval of 06-08 to amend F-1.0403
No Discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends that 06-13 and 06-17 be answered by 06-08

There is a motion to create a consent agenda. After time to compile the recommendations with no negative votes in committee and time to read over the items on the list the commissioners reject the motion in a narrow vote

Committee recommends disapproval of 06-01 to amend F-1.01
No Discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends approval of 06-02 as amended, to amend D-10.0101-.0102, clarifies duties of an investigating committee
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends approval of 06-04 on commissioned ruling elders in G-3.0301
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends that 06-16 be answered by action on 06-04
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends approval of alternate resolution on 06-10 regarding business at a congregational meeting
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Committee recommends disapproval with comment of 06-11 regarding G-2.0401
No discussion
Approval on voice vote

Committee recommends disapproval of 06-06 and 06-07 to add a new section G-4.0203b regarding ownership of property
The Committee Moderator speaks to it, including pointing out that when a presbytery guarantees a PILP loan they need access to the property.
A substitute motion is presented to item 06-07
ACC speaker notes that they have not had a chance to review it.
Stated Clerk notes that the ACC needs to review it and recommends arresting this item [don’t you love parliamentary jargon?]

Committee moves on to 06-03 and 06-09 – Move approval with Amendment and Comment of 06-09 (and answer 06-03 with action on 06-09) on Administrative leave
Committee Moderator speaks to it and need to protect victims of sexual abuse – Every presbytery needs to adopt an administrative leave policy with an explicit list of the types of allegations which would trigger immediate administrative leave
Concern that this could be abused by someone who wants to get rid of a teaching elder
Approved on divided voice vote
The action on 06-03 approved on voice vote

Committee recommends disapproval of 06-12 on amending G-1.04 regarding special consideration for membership for families serving yoked churches
Commissioner gives strong support for not disapproving this item
ACC notes there is provision for persons described in the commissioners comments
Some discussion
Electronic voting – approved 89% yes, 11% no, 1%

The assembly too a break and came back singing.

[Due to technical issues I missed the next two items but both were approved on voice vote without discussion]

Returning to 06-13 and 06-17 to be answered by action on 06-08
Got lost in that consent agenda business and did not get voted on
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Returning to the substitute motion on 06-07
On advice of Stated Clerk that it is in conflict with other provisions, it is ruled out of order
The Assembly debates the main motion – mostly stories of presbytery losing property in dismissal
Approved on voice vote

Question from the floor about Redwoods Presbytery not delivering rebuke to Jane Spahr
The presbytery forwarded what happened and the Committee simply was to receive this report
ACC – Assembly has no recourse as it is only a report

Commissioner asks that reports put items in order of delivery not in numerical order

An ecumenical guest from the Islamic Society is recognized to bring greetings

[Note: I am having connectivity issues so I have missed a considerable amount of the business of the next committee. I am posting the votes on items which were voted on electronically – all others by voice.]

Social Justice Issues
11-02 – Fair development
439/185/23

11-05 – Calling for an end to Corporal Punishment
Some spirited debate
51% yes, 47% no, 1% abstain

11-09 – Work of Economic Reconstruction
424/166/27

11-20 – A Statement on the Mortgage and Housing Crisis
431/191/16

4:03 PM – Motion from Bills and Overtures to arrest this report and move on to Middle East Peacemaking issues
Yes – 42% No-55% Abstain-3%
The report is not arrested

Item 11-01 Economic Justice in the Troubled times
Speaker points out that just by having a retirement account or children’s education fund would make us complicit
429/194/8

Item 11-10 Workers Rights
No Discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-06 To have MRTI report to GAMC on Publicly Traded Corporations that operate for-profit prisons
YAAD explains the motivation behind the compromise amendment they crafted
62% Yes, 35% No, 2% Abstain

Commissioner Resolutions
Item 11-22 Consequences on those in long solitary confinement – Recommend approve as amended
No Discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-23 Alternate giving options for union members – Recommend disapproval
No Discussion
Approved on voice vote

This concludes the report

Memorial moment for William Lytle, Moderator of the 190th General Assembly of the UPCUSA

Committee on Board of Pensions, Foundation and Presbyterian Publishing – Committee 20
[It is now 4:50 PM – Dinner recess is at 5:30 PM. See if we make it.]
No financial implications
Eight items on the consent agenda
   Item 20-12 removed
   Consent agenda approved with remaining seven items
   [And on a personal note a thanks to the Assembly for passing the overture I advocated for – 20-03]

Items related to the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Item 20-09 Commend the new Presbyterian Hymnal
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 20-08 Confirm the reelection of the president of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Items related to the Board of Pensions
Item 20-02 Regarding a medical plan that will only pay for abortions to save the life of the woman
Recommending disapproval
Commissioner asks how to register a dissent
Moderate debate with commissioners expressing strong opinions
Commissioners ready to vote – question called
Advisory delegates strongly in favor except EADs who are against or abstaining
Commissioners 70% yes, 28% no, 1% abstain

Item 20-12 Commissioner Resolution Shared Benefits Plan
Commissioner who had it pulled from the consent agenda speaks against it – it is dangerous to have our fine pension plan shared with those that are pulling their congregations out of the denomination.
Commissioner speaks in favor asking Assembly to err on the side of Grace
Commissioner speaks against likening EPC’s opposition to ordaining women to corporations the PC(USA) won’t invest in.
Vote to close debate – call for division of the house
To close debate – 64% yes, 35% no, 1% abstain – debate is not closed (although Moderator had to be reminded by the Stated Clerk that it requires a 2/3 supermajority)
Debate continues with strong feelings about those churches that have been dismissed
Question: Would Board of Pensions explain what happens when someone leaves? BOP Rep – those that leave keep their credits in tact
BOP Rep – We will have to have a conversation about what to have the conversation about. If this is an ecclesiastical matter we will follow the lead of the clerk.
Commissioner says that only one EPC presbytery does not ordain women. [That covers teaching elders but ruling elder is still up to the particular church]
Question has been called – debate closed 91%/8%/0%
Main motion – 319 yes, 311 no, 8 abstain (votes)

YAAD asks that if commissioners electronically vote on a close vote the advisory delegates should as well. The Moderator acknowledges that.

Item 20-11 Relief of Conscience for Domestic Partner Benefits
Recommend to disapprove with comment
Advisory delegates in favor
Passes 79% yes, 20% no, 1% abstain

Final stretch…
Foundation Item
Item 20-06 Churchwide Gift Program
And this item comes with a video… Suggests showing it after dinner
No discussion
Advisory delegates strongly yes
Item is approved 97% yes, 3% no, 0% abstain

That concludes the report

Moderator Presa resumes the chair

Bills and Overtures – “Never mind…”

Stated Clerk – After dinner we will begin with Middle East Peacemaking, then Mission Coordination
Town hall forum with Tara Spuhler McCabe right after recess

Close with prayer at 5:45
In recess until 7:30 PM
[It could be a long night…]