General Assembly Update: Middle Governing Body Commission

This morning the Assembly created a Middle Governing Body Commission to address issues related to Synods and Presbyteries between General Assemblies.  In a really tiny nutshell.  Keep in mind that no nutshell can contain the whole truth!  I've put at the end of this post the actual powers of the commission as approved by the General Assembly, so take a look at that.  This is significant because there has been debate for years about the continuation of synods, and the role of presbyteries.  This commission will not end those debates, but will allow us to try out new forms and make changes without waiting two years before the next General Assembly meets.  This is especially important for those presbyteries and synods that are in severe financial and leadership crises.

One important part of this formation is that the commission cannot act without a TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE.  Some were concerned that they had too much power to redraw presbytery and synod lines and form new presbyteries and synods.  The General Assembly added this requirement of a 2/3 majority vote, and was careful to put limits on the powers of this committee to change synod and presbytery bounds and create new synods and presbyteries, or do anything else with presbyteries and synods, only when specifically requested by the synods and presbyteries affected by the requested action.

The action passed with a vote of 566 for, 104 against, and 4 abstentions.


Action of the General Assembly:

The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly recommends that the 219th General Assembly (2010) direct the Moderators of the 218th and 219th General Assemblies (2008 and 2010), in consultation with the General Assembly Nominating Committee, to appoint twenty-one persons to a General Assembly Commission on Middle Governing Bodies with the following focus and powers:

1.   The commission will consult with sessions, presbyteries, synods, and the wider church on the mission and function of middle governing bodies.

2.   The commission will develop models that reflect the roles of middle governing bodies in our polity and the changing context of our witness in the United States and their relationships with other governing bodies.

3.   The commission will prepare a report to the 220th General Assembly (2012) of its findings and any recommended Book of Order changes.

4.   The commission will implement, within the powers granted it, any decisions forwarded from the 219th General Assembly (2010) and approved by presbyteries regarding the form and function of middle governing bodies with a report to the 220th General Assembly (2012).

5.   By direction of the 219th General Assembly (2010), or upon a majority affirmative vote of the affected presbytery or presbyteries or a majority affirmative vote of the presbyteries in the affected synod or synods, the commission is authorized to act as the General Assembly according to

      a.         G-13.0103m: “to organize new synods and to divide, unite, or otherwise combine synods or portions of synods previously existing;”

      b.         G-13.0103n: “to approve the organization, division, uniting, or combining of presbyteries or portions of presbyteries by synods.”

6.   The commission will supervise the Special Administrative Review Committee on Puerto Rico and act on any recommendations they may make within the powers given to the commission.

7.      The actions of the commission shall require a two-thirds majority for approval.