Wed, October 09, 2024

UPDATED All proposed changes to Book of Order from GA 225 take effect July 9, 2023.

UPDATE 3: ALL proposed amendments were ratified and take effect July 1.

225th Amendments to the Book of Order- Votes by Presbytery  As of 05.11.23
Note: All items have been approved and ratified to be amended in the Book of Order.

225th Amendments to the Book of Order- Voting Totals  As of 05.11.23
Note: All items have been approved and ratified to be amended in the Book of Order.

UPDATE 2: February’s votes on Amendments to the Constitution are noted below. Remaining amendments will be considered at the May 6 Presbytery Meeting.
ON UPDATE: Newer version from 11/11 uploaded.

The Book of Order is the Constitution of PC(USA). At the November Presbytery meeting Stated Clerk Rev. Erica Rader will announce that we intend to consider changes proposed by the 225th General Assembly in several parts in 2023. All proposed changes are available in one, 139-page document linked above.  This resource by Rev. Gregory A. Goodwiller, Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk at Presbytery of St. Andrew is reproduced below. It lists a one-line description of each proposed amendment.

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of the PC(USA) Approved by the 225th General Assembly (2022)

22-A
F-1.0302c THE CATHOLICITY OF THE CHURCH (POL-16 1a)
Expands inclusive language with reference to gender identity
22-B
F-1.0404 OPENNESS (POL-16 1b)
Expands inclusive language with reference to gender identity
22-C
G-1.0501 MEETINGS (ROD-06 2)
Establishes Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR) as the default parliamentary authority for congregational meetings, and authorizes electronic congregational meetings.
22-D
G-1.0503 BUSINESS PROPER TO CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS (ROD-06 1)
Adds receiving a disciplinary decision against a church member (as opposed to a minister) to the list of proper business at a congregational meeting
22-E
G-2.0503 CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP (POL-07)
Removes “honorably” before “retired” as the category for retired ministers
22-F
G-2.0505a(1) TRANSFER OF MINISTERS OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS (POL-15)
Adds the requirement to consult with the other denomination when receiving immigrant pastors without otherwise acceptable PC(USA) ordination educational requirements
22-G
G-2.0603 PURPOSE OF INQUIRY (HSB-05 2)
Adds the requirement of boundary training during the inquiry phase of preparation for ordination as a minister of the Word and Sacrament
22-H
G-2.0605 OVERSIGHT (HSB-05 1)
Adds a requirement of sessions to “report to the presbytery of any matters of sexual misconduct” of their members who are enrolled as inquirers or candidates
22-I
G-2.0804 TERMS OF CALL (HSB-06)
Adds the requirement of a minimum of twelve weeks of paid family leave in terms of call for all installed pastors/associate pastors
22-J
G-2.1001 FUNCTIONS (MC-08)
Adds language allowing Commissioned Pastors to be commissioned to more than one validated ministry at a time
22-K
G-2.1002 TRAINING, EXAMINING, AND COMMISSIONING (HSB-05 3)
Adds the requirement of boundary training for those elders seeking to be Commissioned Pastors
22-L
G-2.1103 CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS (HSB-05 4)
Adds the requirement of boundary training for those elders seeking to be certified as Christian Educators
22-M
G-3.0104 OFFICERS (MC-05)
Adds language that “it is appropriate” to adopt procedures for electronic session meetings
22-N
G-3.0105 MEETINGS (ROD-06 3)
Adds provision that all councils and their commissions and committees may meet electronically
22-O
G-3.0106 ADMINISTRATION OF MISSION (HSB-05 9)
Adds language regarding boundary training, including sexual abuse to the requirement for sexual misconduct policies required of councils
22-P
G-3.0106 ADMINISTRATION OF MISSION (POL-10)
Adds the requirement of an antiracism policy to the required policies of councils, and clarifies other language in that list
22-Q
G-3.0303c RELATIONS WITH SESSIONS (MC-03)
Authorizes presbyteries to establish minimum requirements for severance packages in terms of call
22-R
G-3.0401 COMPOSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES (MC-06)
Authorizes synods to enroll those serving terms in elected offices of the synod as additional members of the synod as a way to fulfill principles of participation and representation
22-S
G-4.0301 TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY (ROD-07)
Expands and clarifies “confidentiality” requirements for ministers and commissioned pastors
22-T
W-3.0205 CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS (TWE-05 1)
Adds administration of the sacrament of Baptism to the list of appropriate actions following the proclamation of forgiveness in a service of worship
22-U
W-3.0409 THEOLOGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER (TWE-05 2)
Adds “when appropriate” to the recommended act of providing an invitation to baptismal preparation for those who come to the table who are unbaptized
22-V
W-3.0414 COMMUNION (TWE-05 4)
Removes the current requirement that a minister of the Word and Sacrament lead the prayer of thanksgiving that concludes the Lord’s Supper liturgy
22-W
W-4.0403 ORDER OF WORSHIP (TWE-06)
Adds a sentence about “signs and symbols of blessing” to the section on ordination and installation services
22-X
W-5.0104 HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP (TWE-05 5)
Adds a sentence on the importance of household worship in faith formation in the Reformed tradition
22-Y
W-5.0104 HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP (TWE-05 6)
Adds an additional paragraph to the existing section on household worship
22-Z
W-5.0201 THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH (TWE-05 9, 1 & 2)
Adds “discipleship” to a list of the Church’s ministries that are connected to its worship, and adds references to statements in the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity
22-AA
W-5.0204 PASTORAL CARE (TWE-05 7)
Adds “particular specialized pastoral care” rather than adding to an existing list of such specialties
22-BB
W-5.0204 PASTORAL CARE (TWE-05 8)
Adds clarifying language in a section on “services of wholeness” to better express a Reformed understanding of those services
22-CC
D-3.0106 WHEN JURISDICTION ENDS (ROD-05)
Allows a disciplinary process to continue after an accused has renounced jurisdiction
22-DD
D-10.0302 IF CHARGES ARE TO BE FILED (ROD-04 3)
Grammatical change to an existing provision of the Rules of Discipline
22-EE
D-10.0303 PETITION FOR REVIEW (ROD-04 1)
Amends the current Rules of Discipline to include notifying the person accused if no charges will be filed (instead of just the person(s) who made the accusation)
22-FF
AMENDING THE USE OF “THE ACCUSED” IN THE CURRENT RULES OF DISCIPLINE (ROD-04 2)
Changes “the accused” to “the person accused” wherever it occurs in the current rules of Discipline
22-GG
REPLACING THE CURRENT “RULES OF DISCIPLINE” WITH A NEW “CHURCH DISCIPLINE” SECTION (ROD-03) Proposed a complete revision of the Rules of Discipline

God loves you. So do we.