Committee 5   Church Polity

Most discussion given to approving study for Korean-language synod      [6-22-06]

One controversial proposal, to allow ministers and congregations more choice in presbytery and membership, was rejected.

Unrestricted Accusations

Church Polity Committee (05) has before it two Overtures dealing with the lack of any restrictions on who may file Accusations against individual Presbyterians under D-10.0102. (The problem occurs when a single Presbyterian files numerous Accusations all over the country. Under D-10.0102, a governing body must automatically appoint an official Investigating Committee with its attendant costs when any such written Accusation is received.)

Item 05-20 from the Presbytery of Santa Fe (concurrence from Presbytery of San Francisco) and Item 05-21 from the Presbytery of The Redwoods offer a solution to this problem. Both call for restrictions on who may file Accusations, but they both protect victims by allowing for direct filing by any Presbyterian who alleges having been personally harmed by an alleged offense under D-10.0102a. (Alleged victims are also protected under D-10.0102b.)

There are two related Overtures - (Item 05-15) from Presbytery of Mission and (Item 05-16) from Presbytery of National Capital. Item 05-15 is Regarding Mediation and Reconciliation and Item 05-16 is Outlining a Process to Handle Frivolous Complaints.

The text of the overture >>

The committee leaders include: moderator: M; vice-moderator: V; committee assistant: A; parliamentarian/recorder: P.

Leadership:  the Rev. Lynne Myers, Chicago, M; the Rev. Chris Lenocker, San Diego, V; the Rev. Susan Krummel, Great Rivers, A; Elder Dick Coffelt, Grand Canyon, P

TSAD Tres Adams III, Washington
Elder Fred Banks, Mid-Kentucky
YAD Armando Cardenas, De Cristo
Elder Harriet Chapman, Eastminster
Elder Lois Clauson, Missouri River Valley
Rev. Anne Clifton, Grace
Rev. Joseph Crawford, Charlotte
Rev. Thomas G. Dendy, Coastal Carolina
Elder Johnna Dennis, Mission
Elder Cynthia DeVos, Central Florida
Elder Nancy Fenner, Glacier
Elder Meredyth Fox, Eastern Oregon
Elder Terry Frame, Great Rivers
YAD Michael Garcia, Trinity
Rev. Robin Garvin, Inland Northwest
Elder Sharon Hasenjaeger, The Cascades
Rev. Bob Henley, Kendall
YAD Matthew Hogg, Whitewater Valley
Elder Donald Houck Jr., Western New York
Rev. Louise Josephson, Genesee Valley
Rev. Kimberly Smith King, Twin Cities Area
TSAD Larissa Kwong, Newton
Rev. Chris Lenocker, San Diego (Vice-Moderator)
Elder Shirley Logan, National Capital
Rev. Mark Lomax, Greater Atlanta
YAD Charlie Ludden, Indian Nations
MAD Gloria Marriott
Rev. J. Robert Mellgard, East Tennessee
Elder Marion Mitchell, Giddings Lovejoy
Rev. David C. Moore, Heartland
YAD Victoria Morgan, Elizabeth
Rev. Daniel Morse, Hudson River
Rev. Lynne Myers, Chicago (Moderator)
Elder Rita Oestreich, Geneva
Rev. George Portice, Detroit
Elder Marvin Quattlebaum Jr., Foothills
Rev. Luis Quinones-Arnau, Philadelphia
YAD Katherine Raymond, Arkansas
YAD Kati Ruark, Baltimore
YAD Patrick Scanlan, Denver
YAD Abby Schonfeld, Lake Michigan
YAD Anna Marie Smith, Middle Tennessee
Elder Joo S. Song, Atlantic Korean-American
YAD Luke Speck, Kiskiminetas
Rev. Rose Taul, East Iowa
Elder Susan Thompson, Carlisle
Elder R.B. Turpin, Missouri Union
Elder Lee Walton, New Hope
Rev. Craig Wansink, Eastern Virginia
Rev. Don West, Flint River