Greetings — I will be live blogging most plenary sessions of the PC(USA)
General Assembly.  I apologize to those with e-mail feeds or a feed
reader since you will probably only get the first section of the post
since I’ll be adding updates throughout the session.  Also, if you are
reading this on a browser live you will also need to refresh the screen
since I don’t have push technology on my blog.  It’s tough being Web
1.99999 in a Web 2.0 world.  Thanks for your patience.

This is not the only source on the web for this event.
The PC(USA) official webcast can be found at http://www.pcusa.org/ga218/schedule/streaming-schedule.htm
There is also a live blogging site at http://www.scribblelive.com/Event/PCUSA_General_Assembly_218
I have gotten feedback that this second link may cause trouble on some systems and it is being looked into.  Sorry about that

[My commentary will be in brackets]

Friday Afternoon, June 27, 2008
The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The afternoon opened with worship including a gospel choir from the area

2:35 PM — The meeting is gaveled to order and opened with prayer by an ecumenical delegate from the Philippines

2:37 — Greetings from the ecumenical delegates from Latin America

Committee 11 – Peacemaking and International Issues
Consent Agenda Approved

Item 11-32: Commissioner Resolution on Emergency Food Aid to North Korea
Ask to show a 5 minute video, Vice-moderator tells them to make it 3 minutes
Some discussion, especially will food aid make it and that this is a political problem
Passed on voice vote

Item 11-15 as amended: Support the Presbyterian Church in Zimbabwe
Prayer from a church representative of the church, especially considering the elections there today
Some discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 11-18 as amended: Report on Human Rights in Columbia
Prayer from a church representative of the church
Amendment from the floor.  The clerk suggests that it would be better as two amendments.  The mover agrees since it will give him two chances to speak.
First amendment to strike section on “withholding military support”
Debate on the amendment: Progress of government versus desire for development instead of military aid
Voice vote no clear, Electronic: Advisory no; Commissioners no 75%

Second amendment that tries to emphasize the Columbia Free Trade Agreement and the negative role of the FARC
Debate on amendment
Leadership comment that it was their intention to have balanced comment
Voice vote fails, division of the house
Electronic: Advisory clearly no, including 100% ecumenical; Commissioners no 73%

Vote on the main motion:  Advisory strongly yes; Commissioners yes 77%

Item 11-21 be answered by 11-18
Electronic:  Advisory strongly yes; Commissioners yes 88%

Item 11-22:
No discussion
Vote by hand passes

Item 11-01: On Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel
For – We can not be neutral in the face of injustice

Amendment – Delete Item 2 – Endorsing the Amman Call
This puts us in the position of endorsing one side in the conflict.
Staff points out that the Amman Call came out of the Christian churches in the region
Debate on bias versus prophetic voice
Move to call the question: Approved by voice vote
Electronic on the amendment: Advisory no; Commissioners no 61%

[Lunch is taking it toll and I’m ready for a nap]

Vote on the main motion: Advisory strongly yes; Commissioners yes 74%

Items 11-03 and 11-04 be answered by 11-01
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-06: Voices for victims of violence in Israel and Palestine
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-25: Be answered by 11-06
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-28:
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 11-26: On Middle East Peacemaking
Minority report
Item 11-26 is at odds with 11-01.  Minority report would put 11-26 in accord with 11-01, in fact it would just have 11-26 answered by 11-01

Commissioner points out that on 11-01 they moved quickly from the vote on the amendment to the vote on the main motion [they did]

Perfecting the main motion
Commissioner confusion about what is going on
Make that lots of commissioner confusion
Amendment to strike last paragraph because it is out of the purview of the GAC
[I missed what happened here to take care of some other business]
The main motion is declared perfected

The minority report is declared perfected

Shall the substitute motion be substituted for the main motion?
Vigorous debate
Move the question on this and all pending items
Cliff reminds them that there will be no more debate on this item
Debate closed on voice vote
Vote on substitute:  Advisory vote yes; Commissioners yes 60%
The minority report becomes the main motion

Vote on the main motion: Advisory vote yes by a wide margin; Commissioners vote yes 72%

Item 11-02:
Committee recommends disapproval
No discussion
Committee recommendation passes on hand vote

Item 11-07:
Committee recommends disapproval
No discussion
Committee recommendation passes on hand vote

4:31
Item 11-09
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 11-11:
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 11-17:
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 11-10:  On building peace in Iraq
Minority report

Perfecting the main motion
Amendment to restore recommendation 5 – Original intent of overture was to make a statement about getting out of Iraq.  The majority report rewrote it and watered it down.  The minority report would water it down even further.
Debate: Member of committee expressed that the committee rewrote it because they felt the section was very one-sided and they wanted to restore balance.
Vote on amendment – electronic:  Advisory split, YAADs strongly no; Commissioners no 67%

Amendment – Change this from a spirit of “sorrow and confession” and replace with “humility”
Statement from mover but no other discussion
Voice vote too close, Electronic:  Advisory yes, most by only a little; Commissioners yes 69%

4:48
Amendment – Restoring to the majority report sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 that were struck by the committee
Motion to move all the previous questions.  Can not move that, only the current question because of nature of the substitute motion.
Debate closed on voice vote
Question asking to clarify the amendment
Electronic:  Advisory very close and split; Commissioners yes 61%

The main motion is perfected as amended

There is a motion to amend.  “It is out of order” “But I’ve been here a long time” “A motion to reconsider would be in order” “I move to reconsider”
Vote to reconsider:  Electronic: Advisory strongly no; Commissioners no 80%

The main motion is still perfected

Perfect the substitute motion
No amendments
The minority report is perfected

Shall the minority report become the main motion?
Debate:
Most Americans want out, don’t pull out and leave a power vacuum like Vietnam
Move the previous question?
Vote to substitute the minority report for the main motion:  Electronic: Advisory generally no; Commissioners no 58%

Final vote on main motion:  Advisory yes; Commissioners yes 76%

5:07
Motion to arrest the report of the committee.  Get some of the controversial stuff earlier
Committee moderator says that we are very close to the end of the committee report.
Motion to arrest fails on a vote by hand

Item 11-10 answer 11-08, 11-20, 11-24 passes on voice vote

Item 11-27: Report on MRTI
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 11-29:  Answered by 11-27
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 11-23: On divestment from Caterpill
ar and Motorola
Committee moves disapproval
Debate
Motion to call the question, passes on voice vote
Committee report passes on voice vote

Item 11-33 as amended: Commissioner Resolution on Peace with Iran
Amendment from the floor: Need to have the report communicated if it is to have impact so send it to the President
Amendment passes on voice vote
Another amendment made and withdrawn that would just do editorial work
Amendment passes on voice vote

The Peacemaking Program gives each commissioner and delegate a Liberian Cross.

This concludes the report of the Peacemaking Committee

Bruce resumes moderating.  One minute to stretch as you feel called
5:24
Twelve committees down, Three to go.

Committee 4 – Church Polity
Consent Agenda approved, including new status for several congregations to keep in your prayers

Item 04-01 as amended: Replacing “sympathy” with “empathy” for the deacons
Committee recommends “concern”
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 04-02 as amended: Membership vows
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 04-03: Accounting practices
Committee recommends disapproval with comment
No discussion
The committee recommendation passes on voice vote

Item 04-04: On meetings of the congregation and absentee voting
Committee recommends disapproval with comment
One speaker speaks in favor emphasizes “active” member
Committee recommendation passes on voice vote

Item 04-06 as amended:  Writing PJC decisions
A GAPJC member urges disapproval
No further discussion
Committee recommendation fails on voice vote
Motion to disapprove 04-06 made and passes on voice vote

Item 04-07:
No discussion
Passes on voice vote

Item 04-08 with comment: The definition of marrage
(Committee Moderator begins reading and then says that she has the wrong script)
Substitute motion from the floor: Assembly approve the original overture 04-08

No amendments to the main motion: the main motion is perfected

No amendments to the substitute motion:  The substitute motion is perfected

Shall the substitute motion become the main motion?
(lines forming at the microphones)
The committee worked hard and this is not the time for another controversy
Need to recognize loving relationships
Jesus taught against it
Homosexuality is a natural construct

Motion to recess for dinner (in the middle of debate: Advisory yes, except MAD no; Commissioners yes 89%

Announcements
Prayer for dinner
Back at 7:30 PST