Office of the General Assembly

Administrative Commission on Mid Councils (ACMC)

General Assembly Item 00-19 - On Establishing a General Assembly Administrative Commission on Mid Councils
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - 2021: $11,860; 2022: $15,610
Composition:   7 Members | Appointed by the Co-Moderators of the 224th General Assembly (2020). 
Authorized by:   224th General Assembly (2020)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 225th General Assembly (2022)

Commission authorized to:  Act as the General Assembly upon requests of synods and presbyteries, with the authority of the General Assembly by “approving the acts of synods to organize, divide, unite, or combine presbyteries or portions of presbyteries” according to G-3.0502e.

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

October  1, 2021 -  Noon (EDT) - Zoom

Business to be considered: 

Request of the Synod of the Northeast to: 

• Change the boundaries of the Presbyteries of Central New Jersey and the Highlands of New Jersey so that the First Presbyterian Church of Titusville is moved to the Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey.
• Change the placeholder name of the Presbytery of Central New Jersey to the Presbytery of the Coastlands.

More Information, or to address or observe the meeting:
Tricia Dykers-Koenig
tricia.dykers-koenig@pcusa.org

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Decade of Intercultural Transformation

General Assembly Item 11-11
Financial Implication:   PMA Annual Budget - $16,500; Per Capita Annual Budget - $23,740
Composition:   Unspecified Number of Members | Cross-sectional
Appointed by: Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Develop and publish priorities and guidelines for congregations, mid councils, and General Assembly entities for the “Decade of Intercultural Transformation.”
• Recommend appropriate resources to deepen understanding and skills for resisting discrimination based on race, class, gender, sex, or sexuality.
• Promote awareness of resources currently available that deepen understanding of intersectionality and skills for resistance.

Members:    TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More information:
Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo
lemuel.garcia@pcusa.org

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Family Leave Task Force

General Assembly Item 06-NB in response to Items 06-03, 06-14, 06-15, 06-17, 06-20
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $13,344
Composition:   6 Members | Representatives from ACSWP, ACWC, BoP to advise the task force with voice, but no vote. 
Appointed by:   223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Work, pray, and discern on the issue of paid parental and family leave for PCUSA employees, including but not limited to ministers.
• Implement a faithful resolution with all the challenges associated with paid family leave.
• Gather information from multiple sources regarding implementing paid family leave.
• Enter into discussion with Board of Pensions and other applicable bodies to discern how to most effectively implement and finance the recommendations of the committee, those being: provides eight weeks of paid family leave and four weeks unpaid leave for plan participants. 

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

More Information:
Cora Brown
cora.brown@pcusa.org

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Task Force to Investigate the Need for a LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Committee 

General Assembly Item 10-03
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $11,060
Composition:   5 Members with a commitment to gender, gender-identity, sexual identity, and race inclusiveness & balance. 
Appointed by:  General Assembly Nominating Committee
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Investigate the need for creating an Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Concerns.
• Meet with the boards and/or representatives of More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, Covenant Network, and Parity.
• Meet with a diverse (age, gender, race, etic.) collection of Presbyterian individuals from various segments of the country who identify as LGBTQIA+.
• Review the history of PCUSA policies and actions impacting LGBTQIA_ people directly, and ultimately the entire denomination.
• Review the scope of the history of ACWC’s advocacy work on behalf of LGBTQIA+ people.

Members:  

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Courtney Hoekstra
courtney.hoekstra@pcusa.org

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Jarvie Commonweal Endowment Reconciliation Team

General Assembly Item 13-01
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $23,100
Composition:   Not Specified 
Appointed by: Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

In regard to the Jarvie Commonweal Endowment, the Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) are directed to form a Reconciliation Team to identify and engage those concerned in a peacemaking and reconciliation process, and report out to the 224th General Assembly (2020).

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

More Information:
Luke Choi
luke.choi@pcusa.org

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Moving Forward Implementation Commission

General Assembly Item 04-03, #1 and #5 
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $47,640 (2019) and $5,140 (2020)
Composition:  12 Members | 4 from the 2016 Way Forward Commission, 4 of the 2016 All-Agency Review Committee, and 4 to be appointed from the commissioners of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) (including one young adult advisory delegate)
Appointed by:  Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• The task of reviewing and ensuring the effectiveness of the changes to the Amended Bylaws of the PC (U.S.A.), A Corporation, revising the membership of its board of directors and selection of president.
• Report to PCUSA, A Corporation board any additional recommended changes to such Amended Bylaws within one year.
• Committee is required to make themselves available for a year following the conclusion of the 223rd  General Assembly to consult with such governance committees, standing rules committees, and other committees and councils of the church as may wish for advice in conforming their bylaws or manuals of operations as necessary to the changes in board governance of A. Corp.
• Ensure compliance and implementation of 2018 assembly action on recommendations from the Way Forward Commission and the All-Agency Review Committee.
• Ensure continued implementation of collaborations and commission administrative actions underway as outlined in this report and the report of the All-Agency Review Committee.
• Coordinate with the 2020 Vision Team.
• Report findings and make recommendations to the 224^th General Assembly.
• Work together with the Stated Clerk and the President/Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, may secure an outside consultant to address the issues raised in the June 12, 2018, Administrative Action Regarding Trust and Transparency.
• Direct an evaluation of Shared Services and report to the 224^th General Assembly (2020).

Upcoming Meetings: 

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Special Committee on Per-Capita Based Funding & National Church Financial Sustainability

 Members:    

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Kerry Rice
kerry.rice@pcusa.org
Denise Hampton
denise.hampton@pcusa.org 

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Place and Purpose of the Humanities Task Force

General Assembly Item 10-02
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $23,240
Composition:  7-10 Members | Faculty, administrators, & chaplains at related Presbyterian-affiliated colleges and universities; with existing staff within Theology, Formation & Evangelism and Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy. 
Appointed by:  Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020) for interim report and 225th General Assembly (2022) for final report. 

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Work with the cross-disciplinary team on the design and execution of a study in conjunction with the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, Social Ethics Network of Presbyterian ethics and religion professors, specialized scholars and scholarly organizations dealing with undergraduate education in the humanities, religion, and ethics, and ecumenical, public/research university, and foundation partners as appropriate.
• Make an interim report to the 224^th General Assembly (2020) and a final report to the 225^th General Assembly (2022) with recommendations to the church as well as academic institutions.

Members: TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Beth Hessel
bhessel@history.pcusa.org
Barry Ensign-George
barry.ensign-george@pcusa.org
Chris Iosso
christian.iosso@pcusa.org

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Advocating for Black Girls and Women Task Force

General Assembly Item 11-07
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $11,060
Composition:  5 Members | Majority black women and members with a passion and experience of advocating for black girls and/or women. 
Appointed by: Assembled by the Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns
Deadline(s):   

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Study the research on disparities of black girls and women, including the result of the report “Girlhood interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood” published by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and inequality with the intention of intersecting and expanding the work that is already being down around the national church in the area of racial justice.
• Make recommendations on how the PC(USA) can strategically and prophetically engage and determine how the church might be most effective in impacting in this important social issue.

Members:  

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Shanea Leonard
shanea.leonard@pcusa.org

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 Special Committee on Racism, Truth, and Reconciliation

General Assembly Item 11-25
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $40,000
Composition:  14 Members | No less than four members to be persons of color 
Appointed by:  Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020) for interim report and 225th General Assembly (2022) for final report. 

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• First meeting shall be no later than September 30, 2018.
• Bring a progress report to the 224^th General Assembly.
• Bring a final report and recommendations to the 225^th General Assembly.

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

Future listening session information is coming soon.

Rules of Discipline Task Force

222nd General Assembly (2016) Item 06-14
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $8,120
Composition:  Not Specified
Appointed by: Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly (2016)
Deadline(s):  Final report to the 225th General Assembly (2020).

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Charged with revising the entire Rules of Discipline.
• Make the Rules of Discipline more accessible to the church.
• Preserve and enhance the accountability of councils and individuals to the church.
• Expand the role of mediation and alternate dispute resolution.
• Provide flexibility in crafting censures and remedies, particularly in light of recent learnings in ethical and social development and experiments by the secular legal system with alternative sentencing.

Final Work from the Rules of Discipline Task Force: 

• Proposed Church Discipline
• Side-by-Side comparisons:  Old to New & New to Old
• Proposed Amendment to Church Discipline - Removal of Time Limits for Filing Allegations

More Information:
Laurie Griffith
laurie.griffith@pcusa.org

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Safe and Sacred Space Task Force
222nd General Assembly (2016)  Item 03-NB
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $9,234
Composition:  Representatives from mid councils and local governing bodies. 
Appointed by:  Office of the General Assembly
Deadline(s):   

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Work with congregations on implementing child/youth/vulnerable protection policies.
• Find, use, and/or create appropriate resources.

Members: TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Laurie Griffith
laurie.griffith@pcusa.org

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Survivors of Sexual Misconduct Task Force
General Assembly Item 11-09
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $76,120 (2019), $38,620 (2020); PMA Budget - $5,000 (2019), $0 (2020)
Composition:  5 Members | Survivors and advocates for survivors of sexual misconduct. 
Appointed by: General Assembly Nominating Committee
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Oversee the implementation of Recommendations 1-4 of Item 11-09.
• Undertake a comprehensive examination of Presbyterian policy, judicial process, and rules of discipline.
• Evaluate the need for a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator within each presbytery.
• Evaluate the collection of the number of sexual misconduct allegations and charges occurring within the bounds of the denomination.
• Report back to the 224^th General Assembly with recommendations how the PCUSA can be more effective in ensuring justice, accountability, and pastoral support for indviduals, families, and congregations when charges of sexual misconduct have been made.

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

More Information:
Tricia Dykers-Koenig
tricia.dykers-koenig@pcusa.org
Ruth Gardner
ruth.gardner@pcusa.org

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Task Force to Study the Socio-Economic & Political Realities in Central America

General Assembly Item 09-10
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $12,000 (2019), $18,500 (2020)
Composition:  N/A - See committee tasks below. 
Appointed by:  Advocacy Committee for Social Witness Policy
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020) 

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• In consultation with the Latin America Office of World Mission and a team of five persons working with the mission personnel in the region, and included the theological and ethical reflection required. 
• Develop a comprehensive study of the current socioeconomic and political realities in Central America.
• Report its findings and recommendations to the 224^th General Assembly.

Members: TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Chris Iosso
christian.iosso@pcusa.org
Amanda Craft
amanda.craft@pcusa.org

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Task Force to Develop a Letter to Accompany the Belhar Confession

General Assembly Item 14-01
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $13,364
Composition:  7 Members (PCUSA) | From the fields of theology, social ethics, ethnic and racial history, and/0r philosophy.  Up to 4 Members | from Other Reformed and/or Full Communion churches. 
Appointed by: Co-Moderators of the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (for PCUSA members); and Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to extend the invitation to the denominations to nominate (single) representatives to serve on the task force. 
Deadline(s):  Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020) 

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Develop a U.S. letter to accompany the Confession of Belhar that addresses the participation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and other Reformed bodies in racism in our historical context, building on prior statements of repentance and apology.
•  Include within the development of this U.S. accompanying letter such topics as unjust land acquisition; genocide of native peoples; the enslavement of African men, women, and children; and a system of white privilege that unfairly discriminates against people of color.
• Share this work with other U.S. Reformed churches and full communion partners, building on past ecumenical efforts to address the sin of racism in view of enduring tensions, and on a common concern to honor our identity as churches “reformed, always to be reformed according to the Word of God” (Book of Order, F-2.02).

Members:    TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Barry Ensign-George
barry.ensign-george@pcusa.org
TBD

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Special Committee to Study the Reformed Perspective of Christian Education in the 21st Century

223rd General Assembly Item 14-06 & 222nd General Assembly Item 14-12
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $13,732
Composition:  11 Members | To include at least 4 members whom are racial ethnic minorities or serving in racial ethnic minority congregations and/or ministries. 
Appointed by:  General Assembly Nominating Committee
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020).

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

The following provides the further work called by the 223rd General Assembly (2018).  The committee's work called on by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) can be found here.  

• Further study of the certified Christian educator process and recommendations for its future.
• Further study of Christian education and faith formation in racial ethnic minority congregations and small congregations

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

More Information:
Jason Santos
jason.santos@pcusa.org
Martha Miller
martha.miller@pcusa.org

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Study to Adopt the Letter from Birmingham Jail as Contemporary Statement of Faith (But not with Constitutional Standing)

General Assembly Item 14-05
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $20,540
Composition: 15 Members
Appointed by: General Assembly Nominating Committee
Deadline(s):   

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• For study as a resource that provides prophetic witness that inspires, challenges, and educates both church and world, and furthermore, to begin the process to include it in the Book of Confessions according to G-6.03 in the Book of Order.

Members:    TBD

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
David Gambrell
david.gambrell@pcusa.org
TBD

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Administrative Commission to Address Issues of the Synod of the Covenant 

General Assembly Item 05-03; See also General Assembly Item 05-06
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $24,888
Composition:  No fewer than 7 members
Appointed by:  Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020)

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

• Honor the principles of Seeking to Be Faithful Together with the intent to restore trust and mutuality between the synod and its staff with its constituent presbyteries and their staff and elected leadership.
• Conduct a Special Administrative Review for the purpose of inquiring into and settling allegations of disorder.
• Review and Recommend revisions to synod procedures, to institute changes that are necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the PCUSA principles of participation and representation.
• Assure effective consultation with the synod committees and commissioners, synod staff, racial ethnic caucuses, Presbyterian Women, presbyteries, and, presbytery executives.
• Assure Adequate support for the ministry and mission of its presbyteries as they seek to support the witness of congregations.
• Assure adequate communication with and among its presbyteries.
• Assure pastoral care among its presbyteries in order that the synod may live in the unity represented in the Sacraments.
• Address conflicts in a pastoral manner that promotes reconciliation, healing, and restores unity between synod and its presbyteries using professional mediation services if necessary.
• Assume original jurisdiction if deemed necessary by the commission.
• Have full authority to enforce the findings and recommendations with due process, granting fait notice and an opportunity to be heard by all parties.

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

More Information:
Flor Velez-Diaz
flor.velez-diaz@pcusa.org
Jihyun Oh
jihyun.oh@pcusa.org

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Vision 2020

223rd General Assembly Item 04-05 & 222nd General Assembly Item 04-NB
Financial Implication:   Per Capita Annual Budget - $31,760
Composition:  15 Members | At least 6 teaching elders and 6 ruling elders; factor in gender identity, geographic location, inclusion of people under the age of forth (with special attention paid to YAADs), racial ethnic minorities, those engaged in both parish and validated ministries, and theological diversity with the following skills: strategic planning, visioning, experience on an administrative commission. Co-Moderators of the General Assembly shall serve as ex-officio members. 
Appointed by: Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly (2012)
Deadline(s):   Report back to the 224th General Assembly (2020) with the new vision for the denomination. 

Committee/Task Force Called to: 

The following provides the further work called by the 223rd General Assembly (2018).  The committee's work called on by the 222nd General Assembly (2016) can be found here.  

• Continue to build on the Guiding Statement and invite feedback through electronic surveys, email and structured listening sessions led by 2020 Vision Team members.
• Develop materials to help agencies, sessions congregations, and other bodies of the church interact with the statement. 
• Assure the accessibility of the statement to all those in the denomination and beyond, which will include translated versions of the Guiding Statement and supporting materials. 

Members:

Upcoming Meetings: 

TBD

More Information:
Rick Jones
rick.jones@pcusa.org
Kathy Francis
kathy.francis@pcusa.org

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