Preparation

For the past several months I have been reading articles and materials related to the business before the General Assembly.  I was assigned (randomly) to committee number 7, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

All overtures (proposals for action) that have been duly submitted are assigned to an appropriate committee.  It is the work of each committee to prayerfully study, listen to expert commentary and strive to discern the will of the Holy Spirit.  The committee can then recommend action to the whole body of GA commissioners (Plenary).  That action could be to approve the overture, disapprove, recommend further study before any action, etc.  The committee can also offer a reworded motion or offer a totally different substitute motion.  If there are committee members who disagree with the committees recommendation, they may file a minority report which is also sent to the Plenary to inform the commissioners' decision on the overture.

The most important action before our committee is to recommend the Confession of Belhar be added to our Book of Confessions.  For that to happen, the confession must be approved by a general assembly (2014), be approved by the presbyteries (2015) and be approved by a second meeting of the general assembly (which we are doing this year).

Today I have been working through a study called "Race and Reconciliation/Workbook on Confessions of 1967 and Belhar" written by our Stated Clerk, Clifton Kirkpatrick.  These two confessions, although written several years ago (1967 and 1982), are still very relevant today in the USA.  We are still struggling with racism and other forms of discrimination.  In this study, Kirkpatrick states that "The coming of these two confessions to prominence in our church is not just coincidental.  It is providential.  These confessions are meant for just such a time as this."

I highly recommend this study, which can be used as a group study.  For additional information on the  Confession of Belhar, please see :  http://pcusa.org/Belhar