The PC(USA) is the only mainline Protestant denomination that holds the meeting of its highest governing body every year. United Methodists meet every four years and Episcopalians every three years. This year's commissioners will receive a recommendation from General Assembly offices to change our meetings from annual to biennial. The proposal is made every few years and has always been rejected. There are good reasons to reject the proposal again this year.

Commissioners to General Assembly are elected by their presbyteries. No other G.A. body is elected by lower governing bodies. Every other elected body is nominated by the General Assembly Nominating Committee and elected by the G.A. That means that decisions by the General Assembly are more likely to represent the lower governing bodies than decisions by other offices and entities of the General Assembly, including the General Assembly Council (GAC). The effect of biennial assemblies will be to increase the decision making power of other bodies by decreasing the power of our most representative body.

There is unquestionably a financial crisis in the PC(USA). The most important question to ask in a financial crisis is one of priorities. If mission and evangelism are our priorities as a Church, commissioners could take the time and patience to examine the huge number of programs we support and make decisions about what is essential to those priorities. There are a multitude of cost-saving steps that can be taken before affecting our most representative G.A. level body.

Overture 02-46 asks the General Assembly to help the Board of Pensions (BOP) bring its coverage more faithfully into conformance with General Assembly policy on abortion. The BOP currently provides unrestricted abortion coverage in a medical benefits plan of its own design that is mandatory for all installed pastors.

The overture cites Scripture; G. A. actions; opinions from noted medical authorities, including the AMA; and legislative bans on the procedure by more than half the States (although struck down by courts) to support the need for this restriction in the denomination's abortion coverage.

The adoption of this overture would bring about the only exception to the BOP's abortion coverage. Every other form of abortion for any reason, at any time during pregnancy would continue to be covered. (more info)

Presbyterians whose consciences are violated by the requirement that they pay for this mandatory coverage may ask their sessions to request "Relief of Conscience," which shifts a portion of their dues in-tended for abortion coverage into an account that helps pay medical expenses for newly adopted infants. Contact PPL for further information.

Several overtures this year ask the G.A. to strengthen its affirmation of the biblical witness to Jesus Christ as only Lord and Savior for all humanity. Ovr. 02-56 asks the Assembly not only to make this affirmation, but also to "require the entities and agencies of the General Assembly that their written and oral witness are consistent with this belief."

The many overtures on this subject this year are responding to a near crisis that erupted when the G.A.'s Peacemaking office sponsored a speaker who asked, "What's the big deal about Jesus?"

Ovr. 02-10 asks the G.A. Moderator to form a special committee to conduct a study of the Christian and Reformed view of human life in relation to the practices of euthanasia, assisted death, assisted suicide, abortion, and infanticide.

The PC(USA) Board of Pensions (BOP) medical benefits plan covers childbirth expenses for plan members. Ovr. 02-46 is seeking equivalent coverage for plan members who adopt children. The provision would be offered through the BOP or another church agency.

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