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

[My commentary will be in brackets]

FYI: Youth Advisory Delegates are now (or at the next GA) called Young Adult Advisory Delegates, YAADs.

Thursday Evening, June 26, 2008
The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

7:58 PM
[Yes, I know I’m late, but I was having a great time of fellowship at dinner and stayed a bit longer.  But I made it back for the committee business.]

We have had Speakout and greetings from the ecumenical delegates from Asia.

Resume Committee 8 – Mission Coordination and Budgets
Our story so far…
Just before the dinner recess the Assembly voted, by a narrow margin, to reconsider 08-15 because a staff member’s comments after an amendment passed gave some of the commissioners second thoughts about the amendment.
The commissioners are now debating and asking about the availability of funds for congregational transformation.
Debate is closed by voice vote
We now revote on the previously approved amendment
Advisory have a split vote but YAADs and TSADs  were slightly against.  Commissioner vote against amendment by 58%
There are a couple of blue paddles raised.  The Vice-moderator calls on one
We’ve got the words but I don’t know where it goes.  The intent is to protect money that is supposed to be used only for New Church Development.
Point of order about were we not only considering the amendment?  Why are we revoting on the main motion?
The minutes are being checked
[Comment on the day over on the Scribblelive blog from Stephanie:  “Lets do th Hokey Pokey”]

GAMC Moderator says that the previously approved GAMC manual says that the necessary wording is already in place so this amendment is irrelevant.

Call the question and all pending questions, passed overwhelmingly on voice vote
Electronic voting: Advisory split, commissioners no 67%

Vote on the main motion: Advisory strong yes, commissioners 92% yes

8:23
Item 8-24: Budgetary and Finance Review Concerns
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 8-25:  Group Wind and Hail Insurance
The committee recommends disapproval because the presbytery of origination has asked to do it instead in presbytery consultation and bring it to the 219th
Commissioners vote yes by 92%

Fourth Theme:  Mission Effectiveness

Item 08-22: Create a GAC Review Committee
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 08-23: Evaluating the Standards of Review
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 08-16: Review of GAC Advisory Committees
Questions about the current review processes
Amendment about composition of the review committee.
Apparently this exactly undoes the committee action and there is a question if this should have been done as a minority report.  A member of the committee says that she tried to file a minority report but was told to do it on the floor.
[The place is getting tired and punch-drunk.  This evening could get long]
The question is called, passed on voice vote
Electronic vote: Advisory mostly no; Commissioners vote no by 63%
Main Motion: Advisory vote yes except for ecumenical where yes and abstain tied; commissioners yes

Bills and overtures moves that all remaining commissioner speeches this evening be one minutes
Needs 2/3 to suspend the standing rules
Advisory yes, Commissioners passes with 81%

Item 08-21:  Trust relationships
This was the “shotgun wedding” of the GAMC and the Foundation over designation of funds.
Linda Valentine speaks and states this is acceptable to GAMC
Robert Leech agrees that the Foundation is on board
GAMC chair thanks committee for “being the church for them”
ACC representative in a long statement says that 08-21 is constitutionally sound

No discussion
Passed on a voice vote.

This concludes the committee report, the committee moderator thanks the committee and says they ran out of amendment forms twice.

8:54
General Assembly Nominating Committee
With 08-22 approval the Review Committee needs to be staffed
No challanges
Slate passed on voice vote

8:58
Committee 16 – Worship and Spiritual Renewal
Item 16-01: On reaffirming our common faith in Jesus Christ
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 16-02: A Call to Seek God for the Spiritual Renewal of the Church
A couple of questions
No debate
Approved on voice vote

Report on how the committee worked using a communal discernment process:  Experience was a mixed bag.  A learning experience.  Two committee members walked out and did not return.  A YAAD really appreciated it.  Prior orientation or training would have been helpful.  A third-time commissioner said this was the least frustrating committee experience he’d had.

This concludes the report

9:09
Committee on Theological Education  (That is not a commissioner committee)
Presentation of the Committee on Theological Education Award for Excellence

9:14
Committee 3 – General Assembly Procedures
Consent Agenda approved

Item 03-14: Approval of Associate Stated Clerks
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 03-07: Non-geographic presbyteries
Comments about the history of the proposal and the request for a non-geographic Korean language synod
TSAD speaks in favor of the item but urges the addition of a sunset clause.
No further debate
Passed on voice vote

Item 03-18: Continuation of Hanmi Presbytery
Comments by Committee Moderator
Same TSAD speaks in favor of a sunset clause
Committee member speaks about presbytery still having an influx of new immigrents.
Another speaker points out it is a temporary condition for congregations to transition.  A continuing need for it
Amendment to add a 10 year sunset clause
Commissioner from Hanmi argues that there should be no term limit and does not need to live as a “lame duck.”
Call the question, passed on voice vote
Voice vote: Advisory against, Commissioner against
Amendment to have a sunset clause on the congregations
[Got to be honest, I don’t understand this amendment.  Is it on the presbytery or the churches?  And the length of the sunset clause was not specified!]
Confusing wording does not matter, amendment fails on a voice vote
Vote on the main motion: Electronic: Advisory yes by a wide margin.  Commissioners yes 91%

Item 03-05: Flexible presbytery and synod membership
Committee recommends disapproval
No discussion
Committee recommendation passes on voice vote

Item 03-06: Evaluation of Synod Structure
Committee recommends disapproval
One speaker against, one clarification, One in favor because this will be part of the FOG review
Approved on voice vote

Item 03-20: Creating an office on healing from clergy sexual abuse.
View video
One commissioner who was a member of the San Francisco task force spoke about the need for healing
Another commissioner spoke about the need for resources for “alternative resolution” when a negotiated settlement is reached and there is no clear closure.
Passed on voice vote
One minute of silent prayer for the victims of abuse.

9:54
Item 03-21: Commissioner resolution about financial support for presbyteries’ legal fees on property issues
Allocate $50,000/presbytery for $2,000,000
This will increase the per capita by $0.92
Amend
ment – Add section 3 to create an extra commitment account
(people are lining up at the microphones)
Voice vote too close
Electronic: Advisory split; commissioners vote yes 60%
Debate on the main motion
One commissioner points out that they just could not spend $100,000 on healing abuse victims, has a moral problem now approving $2,000,000 on taking churches to court.
[This may be the quote of the day!]
Debate closed on a voice vote
Advisory vote is YAADs no, others yes; Commissioners 57% yes.

Item 03-09: Eliminate Mission funding in per capita by 2010
Committee recommends disapproval since no alternative plan was offered
One speaker against
Advisory delegates strongly yes, commissioners yes 82%

Item 03-08: On transferring items from the per capita to the mission budget
Committee recommends disapproval – Part of being Presbyterian is to be ecumenical
Debate about ecumenical activity
(Bruce is moving things along by suggesting calling the question)
Motion to call the question
Electronic: Advisory strongly yes; Commissioners yes 77%

Item 03-10 and 03-11:
Disapprove these items for the same reasons on 03-08
No discussion
Electronic vote:  Advisory delegates strongly yes; Commissioners yes 82%

Commissioner rises to criticize the Moderator for coercing debate by suggesting calling the question

Item 03-16 Recommendation 1: GA Per Capita Proposal
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 03-16 #2-6
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 03-16 #7
(rattling off line item amounts.  Any eyes that were not glazed over are now)
No discussion
Approve on voice vote
“The ayes are getting sleepier”

Item 03-03: Amending and suspending the standing rules
Committee recommends being approved as amended
[This is the amendment I missed so it is only amending but not suspending]
No discussion
Approved on voice vote

Item 03-22:
No discussion
Approved on a voice vote

Item 03-23: Publishing full audits
Committee recommends disapproval
Congregations need only publish that the audit has been done.  For PC(USA) the full audit would be substantial
Staff says that GAC/OGA publishes audits on web sites.  All others available if you want it
Amendment to publish electronically
Bruce points out that this motion is to disapprove, need to defeat this one first
Question called, passed on voice vote
Main motion passes on voice vote

Item 03-24: Amending standing rules
Committee recommends disapproval
No discussion
Committee recommendation passes on voice vote

Items for information on which the committee took final action

This concludes the committee report

(This concludes the afternoon docket.)

Bruce suggests one more committee.  Motion to plow on through.  Voice vote close

Committee 14 – Review of GA Permanent Committees.

Item 14-01 #1
Question about jumping around item numbers (this is a question that has been waiting a while and relates to the previous committee report)
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14-01 #2
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Recommendations 1 #1-4
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Recommendation 2
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Recommendation 3
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Recommendation 4
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Recommendation 5
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Report #3 Recommendation #1
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

Item 14 Report #3 Recommendation #2
Question where to find it on PC-biz?
No discussion
Passed on voice vote

There was a lot of confusion if this can be found on PC-biz
None of us in the gallery could find it.

about 500 motions to recess.  About the same number of seconds
Closing prayer
Recessed – Back in the morning