General Assembly – Friday

Posted by Marvin on July 9, 2010 under Uncategorized

Worship at General Assembly today was led by the Reverend Ruth-Aimee Belonni-Rusario, who preached on Living Waters and our part in them.  We were called to reach across lines of race, not because of diversity, but because we are a people of God.

Other worships leaders included the Kenyan Fellowship Choir, which was wonderful in leading the congregation in their native music.  overall it was a wonderful worship service.

In significant action the GA has approved a committee recommendation denouncing Catapillar for non-peaceful uses of its products.

I’m unaware of what happened to the Middle East Study Report.  It was a hot-button issue, but was unresolved when I left for a few minutes and I was unable to determine the outcome.  We’ll have to wait for the minutes to be posted before we know for certain. 

In major debate and action this afternoon the Board of Pensions was ured to provide health and pension benefits to same-sex spouses and domestic partners where one of the partners is a member of the Board of Pensions Plan.  There is a provision for “relief of conscience” in this provision.  The BOP suggested that this would result in an increase of BOP dues of between .6% and 1% at the effective date of 2012.

As was expected, this afternoon the assembly disapproved the PSL overture on CLPs.  We were advised that no change has been made to current standards.

And just before Jean Marie and I left the assembly passed one final piece of legislation that will affect PSL.  This was in relation to the YAV program.  The assembly approved $50,000 per year for the next two years to support scholarships for YAVs.  In addition YAV site coordinators “should be treated as ‘mission co-workers’”.

We don’t know just what this final statement means, but it should become clear in the near future.

I will not be posting anything to this blog tomorrow.  The assembly has only budget information to work on and the closing worship.  We will all be traveling back to Louisiana and not have access to internet services.  If you all have any questions any one of us who was present will be more than willing to try to answer for you.

Marv