Live blogging the Thursday morning 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 morning’s committees are Review of GA Permanent Committees (Committee 19), Mid Council Issues (Committee 5) and Church Polity (Committee 6).

The house band is providing music for singing before the gavel

[Band cut out right at 8:30 but there has been a bit of conversation on stage to be sure everything is ready.]

8:38
Gaveled to order by the Vice-Moderator and opened with the prayer cycle by a YAAD.

1001 Worshiping Communities video – Vietnamese fellowship in New Covenant Presbytery

Bills and Overtures – Asks for a 15 minute speak-out after lunch
Question at 7 – Can we do speak-out differently? Can we do it as committees as a safer place?
Sea of orange cards [Editorial comment: I think that commissioner is right and I think a lot of commissioners are looking for a safe place to vent and process]
Approved on voice vote

Ecumenical greetings from the National Council of Synagogues
The representative uses the opportunity to speak against the divestment proposal but to argue for engagement: “People who do not speak to each other do unspeakable things to each other.”

Ecumenical greetings from the Hindu representative from the Sri Venkateswara Temple

General Assembly Procedures – Yesterday’s actions added $0.02 to 2013 per capita and $0.01 to 2014 per capita

Mission Coordination – Yesterday’s actions have added nothing to the mission budget

Memorial Moment for Silas Kessler, Moderator of the 175th General Assembly (1963) of the UPCUSA

Committee on the Review of General Assembly Permanent Committees – Committee 19
Assembly Committee on the Constitution commended for their good work
Assembly Committee on Litigation also praised for its work
General Assembly Committee on Representation – New logo unveiled, important work
This concludes the report
Only these information items

The Moderator resumes the chair

Committee on Mid Council Issues – Committee 5
Consent Agenda – All transfers of churches – Approved on voice vote

Mid Council Commission business items in 05-12
Recommendations 1-4 (Synods) Committee puts forward an alternate motion (The task force to reorganize synods)
Motion from the floor to refer items 1-4 to a task force to look at these proposals further
YAAD from the committee argues for the importance of the synods but that they need to be reorganized and redrawn
Commissioner asks for Stated Clerk’s opinion on Mid Councils Commission – Stated Clerk responds that it would be inappropriate
Request from a TEC on the Committee to hear from the Commission Chair Tod Bolsinger
Tod emphasizes the Flat, Flexible and Faithful. Would like to see their work continue
Need to do something different – we a losing 175 members, one church worth, every day

Chair of the ACC explains their recommendation – not to throw out the MCC recommendations, not to stall it, but to refer it and take time to refine it.

Committee moderator explains that the committee’s decision reflects their opinion that this was the best way to address synods. Can be done in constitutional order and still allow the vital synods to flourish

Commissioner comments that “Synods are the invisible element of our system.”
Question is called – move to electronic voting
TSADs – No, YAAD slightly yes, EAD – all yes, MADs strong yes
Commissioners – 55% yes, 44% no – Motion to refer is approved, the MCC recommendations 1-4 on repurposing synods will live on

Recommendation 5 – Committee recommends approval with amendment
No discussion – approved on voice vote

Recommendation 6 – non-geographic presbyteries – Committee recommends disapproval
Motion to refer to a task force to refine the proposal similar to the referral and task force approved in the earlier action. Commissioner was a member of the MCC and explains how her mind was changed from no to yes on the proposal for non-geographic presbyteries

Commissioner with PJC experience argues that small presbyteries of a non-geographic nature spread out across a wide are would not provide adequate discipline safe guards. “A statement that non-geographic presbyteries are a bad idea is appropriate.” [Comment: could this be extended to language non-geographic presbyteries?]

Commissioner asks for comment from Tod Bolsinger. Tod emphasizes that this is optional, experimental and up to the presbyteries.
Commissioner [Sporting a GA Junkie button ] argues that this idea is “not yet cooked” and we should let it cook and not throw it away
Commissioner, who grew up in a non-geographic language presbytery, argues there is no need for non-geographic presbyteries (by implication even the language presbyteries). We should not be separated out but be in diverse relationships. [Very well received – that may seal the deal against non-geographic presbyteries]
“Move the previous question” Approved on voice vote
TSADs and YAADs strongly no, EADs and MADs slightly yes
Commissioners – 39% yes, 60% no, 1% abstain – referral to further develop non-geographic presbyteries not approved

Return to the main motion on Recommendation 6
Debate continues
Call the question – approved on voice vote
TSADs and YAADs strongly yes, EADs no MADs yes
Commissioners – 73% yes, 26% no, 2% abstain – provisional non-geographic presbyteries are disapproved

Recommendation 7 – Review task force
Amendment commending the MCC report to the church
Parliamentary question – does this fit with item? Answer – sort of and actually I didn’t get it written in time for Recommendation 5
Stated Clerk does weigh in that it can be viewed as germain to this recommendation
Question about financial implications – Stated Clerk says it will be published digitally [but I did not hear a number]
Amendment agreed to by voice vote
Main motion – Recommendation 7 – agreed to by voice vote

Recommendation 8 – Racial Ethnic Ministries Task Force
Question about is this all one task force or multiple task forces?
No discussion
Agreed to on voice vote [note that on voice votes the advisory delegates are not asked]

Commissioner points out that they have been going for two hours – can we take a break
Five minute break

[Note that there is an order of the day at 11:15 for worship. I suspect that Polity is in danger of having their report arrested.]

1001 Worshiping Communities video for Bridge at Union Church in downtown LA

10:39 We return to business – commissioners slow to return to their seats
Item 05-13 Function of Synods from OGA
Commissioner points out that there has not been an advisory voice vote – Moderator will remember to do that
What about relationship to 05-05? That will come later
Approved on voice vote

Item 05-14 Interpretation request from OGA
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Motion from the floor to combine all the task forces created in 05-12 (the MCC recommendations) into one – This is in the interest of stewardship
Stated Clerk points out that one is a commission and one has specific composition
Comment from Jill Hudson – Points out the unique nature, make up and focus of the Racial Ethnic Ministries task force relative to the others.
“This is where these cards will become quite helpful- maybe” laughter – quote from the Moderator
Lots of questions – complicated answers
Question – “I wonder if the clerk has advice for us as to how to go on this matter.” Answer “Prayerfully” applause
Moderator asks about whether this could be perfected, maker of the motion just wanted to make sure the motion was made and has no objection. Moderator calls it “finessed amendment”
Motion to postpone for a definite period – until tomorrow’s 8:30 AM plenary
Postponed on a voice vote

11:00

Committee 5 report in the home stretch [will we make it by 11:15?]
Overtures – 05-03 Recommend to disapprove
No discussion
A reminder that “a yes is a no”
Approved on a voice vote

05-04 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-05 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-06 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

[Note: approved on voice vote but not unanimous]

05-07 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-01 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-08 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-09 Recommends to disapprove
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote (but notable no votes)

05-02 Be answered by action on 05-12 Rec 1-4 (MCC report)
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

05-10 Be answered by action on 05-12 Rec 6
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

Information items – Minutes of
the synods were approved by committee
Expresses appreciation to the Mid Councils Commission for their involvement

Announcement
What is a speak-out? An opportunity to speak about items important to them outside the regular business. A moment to share your feelings

We have reached the order of the day – in preparation for worship the Moderator offers prayer

We continue in worship
I will resume live blogging at the beginning of the afternoon session