| This year’s GA was “The Accountability Assembly.” Backlash from the mission co-worker fiasco created a fierce desire among commissioners to hold national staff (see below on the new nomenclature for “GA”) accountable and not to entrust them with additional authority. One action calls for the formation of a commission to conduct a four-year investigation into the process that led to the closure of World Mission and the elimination of all mission co-worker positions. The assembly voted as well to form an advisory group to develop a new missiological framework for the mission involvement of all levels of the church: local congregations, presbyteries, mission networks, and the national office. A third action prohibits leadership at the national level from the use of employee covenants with non-disclosure clauses. Additionally, the assembly edited the proposed manual of operations used by staff to disallow them from making substantive changes to the General Assembly’s mission and vision, program initiatives, or induce significant personnel cuts between assemblies. Simply put: the spanking administered was clear. I could almost hear my dad saying, “Son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” The commissioners caution and concern that all things be done decently and in good order was expressed also in their tabling for further study and review both the new confession and any action on questions regarding sexuality and the family. The new confession was received with mild interest at the Assembly, with most people considering the work a good start but somewhat thin; the depth of Reformed faith does not yet shine through the confession as currently drafted. A task force of 15 newly appointed teaching and ruling elders will build on the work of the previous task force but have been given the option to “start over, if they deem that is best.” The new confession task force was directed to engage the entire church—presbyteries, sessions, and members—in these conversations to seek grassroots input to inform their recommendations. Regarding the study on sexuality and family, rather than act on a proposed overture (the so-called “monogamy overture”) that was poorly drafted and would have created multiple discrepancies in the Book of Order, the Assembly chose to deepen our corporate reflection and appoint a task force to study the issues that present themselves to us in today’s church and world. Significantly, both newly appointed groups are task forces and not commissions, so they have less authority to act on their own but must report back to GA in 2028. As at most Assemblies, there were reports submitted by various national level agencies. These reports do not have legislative or governing authority but are submitted to advise and instruct; that is, they do not “bind the conscience” but “engage the dialogue.” The Assembly affirmed reports on the ethical use of AI in ministry and a report on Christian Nationalism that were quite well written and can be found here, AI, and here, CN. Also, as at most Assemblies, actions were taken on climate, Israel, etc. that mirrored the left-wing of the Democratic party. There was lots of good material in these reports and actions, in my opinion, but they tended to lack nuance or a collaborative spirit, also in my opinion. An interesting phenomenon was the presence of a group of conservative young leaders who were readily recognizable as folks in suit jackets, ties, dresses, etc. Some YAADS from among their group created a stir by speaking out in YAAD gatherings against LGBTQ participation and/or racialized theologies (e.g. Black theology, etc.). Some YAADS felt they were being targeted on racial or sexual identity grounds and felt unsafe. This is a story that will linger, I fear. I hope that we can learn how to speak the truth in love to one another, able to affirm the dignity and imago dei within all persons. Brad Munroe *When the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) and Office of General Assembly (OGA) merged to create cost savings and administrative efficiencies, the new group formed was called the Interim United Agency (IUA). The IUA became, as of this assembly, the Presbyterian Life and Witness (PLAW). So, the folks working out of Louisville are now PLAW. PLAW is supported by the Administrative Services Group (ASG). This concludes your acronym lesson for today… |
