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]

Wednesday Afternoon, June 25, 2008
The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
2:20 
— The commissioner chairs are filling up.  People are filing in.  The observer section is about one-quarter full.

2:31 — Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow gavels the Assembly to order.  We are opened in prayer by a TSAD
2:35 — Greetings from the Ecumenical representative from the AME Zion church
2:37 — Bills and Overtures Committee.  Bring the minutes from Saturday and Sunday for approval.  Approved
Docket for the rest of the plenary
2:38 — Approval of the Rev. Byron Wade as Vice-moderator of the 218th.  Confirmed and he is being installed at this time.

2:49 — Finished the installation with the singing of the Doxology.  And Bruce admits that he can not sing.

2:50 — GAC Nominating committee reports two GA Commissioners have been nominated for the positions with the GAC.  Four more are needed and the deadline for nominations have been extended

2:52 — The Stated Clerk is giving info on speaking to orient the commissioners, or remind them what they heard last Saturday afternoon.  It has been a long week.
Now talking about making motions and using the motions form.  And the help available from stated clerks around the hall.  The information about dissents and protests if being covered.  Now the info on “moving the previous question.”  Finally, the process for “substitute motions.”  [This will get a lot of people confused the first few times it happens.]
The next topic is consent items and review of the voting systems.

And the GA is not paperless:  Paper copies of committee reports will be distributed.  This is a back up since PC-biz has been rough the last few days.

3:04 — Another orientation to PC-biz, this time including the green check marks following committee and Assembly action.  But still problems with SessionSync.  [I can see the slowness from the load]

3:08 — Presentation on the centennial of Presbyterian Camps and Conference Centers.

3:18 — The regular presentation of the financial implications to the per capita and mission budgets of commissioner actions.  Nothing has been approved yet so just reporting background.
My mistake.  They are reporting the proposed but not yet approved based on completed committee reports

3:27
Report of Committee 15:  Pensions, Foundation, and Publishing Corporation
There is no consent agenda on PC-biz
Report from the Board of Pensions about the CREDO program.  Eight day conference of renewal and reflection on their ministry.
Item 15-01 – No discussion, passed on voice vote.
Item 15-02 as amended – Relief of conscience plan annually.  No discussion, passed on voice vote
Item 15-03 – No discussion, passed on voice vote
Item 15-04 – No discussion, passed on voice vote
Item 15-05 with comment – No discussion, passed on voice vote
[The item is to confirm Robert Leech as president of the Foundation.  The comment commends Mr. Leech for his work.  The GAC may have a different view based on the GAC disagreement.]
Item 15-06 – No discussion, passed on voice vote
Back to 15-05 – Mr. Leech given three minutes to address assembly.  Announced the winners of the Youth Video Challenge.
Item 15-07 – To confirm Mr. Mark Lewis as the President of the Publishing Corporation.  No Discussion, passed on voice vote.  Mr. Lewis given three minutes to address assembly.

This concludes the report of Committee 15

Bruce: “See, this is easy”

3:42
Report of Committee 15: Church Growth and Christian Education
Consent agenda moved and passed

Item 12-01 – Strategy for Church Growth for African-American Congregations
Three minute presentation
Move to an advisory vote to exercise their arms.  Now raised hands for commissioners.  Passes overwhelmingly.

3:50
Item 12-02 – Grow God’s Church Deep and Wide
Three minute presentation by Tom Taylor, Deputy GAC Executive
Not just growing the numbers, but growing the individual members spiritually. Not one-size-fits-all but a call to action.  Plugs presbygrow.net.  [They are the ones with the Follow Mii t-shirts]  Move to video — looks like video was made interviewing people here about what particular churches are doing
Motion on the floor.  We have our first question from the floor!  Speaker in favor of the motion.
Passed on voice vote

4:03
Item 12-03, 05 – PILP approved in consent agenda

Item 12-04 – Jay Hudson confirmed as the President of PILP
Mr. Hudson addresses the Assembly

Item 12-06 – Advisory vote passes, commissioner vote passes both on voice

Item 12-07 – Children’s day, the Committee Recommends Disapproval
Committee recommendation (that is the item is disapproved) on voice vote but there was significant no votes.

4:12
Item 12-08 – Adolescence human development resources, with comment about setting aside differences
Speaker against.  I think he was on the committee.
YAD and minister from the originating presbytery speak in favor.
Bruce is still getting his sea legs on the debate system
Question about financial implications – Editor talks about costs and need to sell the curriculum for $60+
Motion to amend: Produce with 2011 budget year funds.
4:23 Amendment fails on voice vote
YAD speaks against and asks for someone who can to make an amendment that requires balanced views.  Reads text of his committee amendment that was misplaced in committee.
Amendment maker is not ready and Bruce moves on.
There are a lot of YADs speaking in this debate.
The commissioner is ready with his amendment.
4:34 It has now been posted Bruce: “it is my understanding that it is appropriate.  Welcome to General Assembly.”
One speaker against, no one lined up to speak in favor, Bruce moves to an electronic vote.  TSADs and YADs split, YADS no.  Commissioners vote no.
Back to the main motion.
Question about one of the original Assembly Committee on Women’s Concerns comments on the overture.  Committee representative answers question and then goes too far in advocacy and Bruce rules her out of order.
Commissioner moves YAD’s proposed amendment.
One against, someone tries to make an unrelated amendment so sits down, The YAD that originally mentioned it is now speaking for it.
Motion to close debate on this and all previous questions.  Passes on near unanimous hand vote.
Advisory delegates opposed on hand vote.  Commissioners opposed on hand vote.
(Commissioners are running to their seats for the final vote)
Final vote electronically carries in both advisory and commissioners by a wide margin.
This concludes the committee report

4:54
Bills and Overtures moves to continue on to Committee 7 since the Assembly is ahead of docket. (Moved up from after dinner) [This could be arrested for dinner since there are a couple of controversial issues.]
Approved

Committee 7 – Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Greetings from the National Council of Churches
Presbyterian heritage stretches from “Calvin to Kirkpatrick”

Consent Agenda approved

5:04
Item 07-05: Ecumenical Policy Statement
Presentation about development of statement.  Statement will guide PC(USA) for the next decade
Passed on voice vote

Interfaith relationships
Item 07-07:  No discussion, passed on voice vote
Item 07-01: Tolerance and and Peaceful Relations between the Christian and Muslim Communities
The item was amended by the committee to eliminate “worship the same God.”
Blue paddles for amendments
5:09
First speaker proposes amendment.  Changes
from worship the same God to share commandments.  Muslim leaders don’t necessarily think we worship the same God.
(People lined up at most microphones)
Debate continues and requests for interpretation from Office of Theology
No one to speak to Theology
Going to adjourn for dinner

Gradye gives announcments
Ecumenical delegate gives closing prayer
5:32 Adjourn
See you after dinner