THIRTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

31-35  Assembly Reconvenes

            The Assembly reconvened at 8:00 AM on June 12, 2003 with the singing of “My Jesus I love Thee” and prayer by TE Ron Lutjens.

31-36     CoC on Ridge Haven

TE Robert King, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 1705-6).  He yielded to TE Mo up de Graaf, who reported on the ministry of Ridge Haven and led the Assembly in prayer. 

Recommendations 1,3-6 were adopted.  Recommendation 2 was deferred to the report of CoC on Administration.  The Chairman led the Assembly in prayer.

31-37     CoC on Retirements and Benefits, Inc (RBI)

RE J. Edmund Johnston, Jr., Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 1613-14).  He yielded to William Koh, President, who introduced Gary Campbell (Investment Committee Chairman) and RE Tom Stein (Insurance Committee Chairman), who both addressed the Assembly.  Mr. Koh further explained the Health Insurance programs available.

Recommendations 1-3,5-10 were adopted. Recommendation 4 was deferred to the report of CoC on Administration. 

31-38  CoC on Covenant Theological Seminary

            TE Scott Parson, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 1405-7).  He yielded to TE Bryan Chapell, President of CTS, who reported on the state of the seminary.

            Recommendations 1-5,7  were adopted.  Recommendation 6 was deferred to the report of CoC on Administration.            The Chairman led the Assembly in prayer.

31-39  CoC on the Administrative Committee

RE William “Bingy” Moore, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 343-350).  He introduced RE Ed Hackenberg, Chairman of the Permanent Committee.  Dr. Taylor, Stated Clerk, introduced RE Richard Doster, who made a presentation concerning the new denominational magazine, “byFaith”.  TE John Robertson, Business Administrator, also encouraged the Assembly to support this new venture. 

            Recommendations 1-9,12,12a.,13-20,22 were adopted (note: Rec. 10 and 11 were vacated, Recommendation 21 was adopted in an earlier partial report [31-51 above]).  The Chairman led the Assembly in prayer.

            The Assembly paused to sing Psalm 91 from the Trinity Psalter.

31-40  Report of Theological Examining Committee

TE Ligon Duncan, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 1001).  A correction was noted on lines 21-22, that RUM, not MNA, issued the calls.

31-41  Minutes of Tuesday and Wednesday

            The Minutes of Tuesday and Wednesday were distributed (Journal, p.3001-8), with the notation that on page 3005, line 43, the word “purposes” will be changed to “stated intent” based on the latter being the spoken form of the motion voted on by the Assembly.

            Also, yesterday the following Constitutional Inquiry #2 from Frank J. Smith was referred to the Committee on Constitutional Business:

Question 1 – In a matter of restoration in which a court that imposed censure has, through its authorized agency, consented to the assumption of jurisdiction by another court and has raised no objection within thirty (30) days (the Constitutional standard for contesting a matter) to said transfer of jurisdiction, is it appropriate for the original court to attempt to interfere with the efforts by the sister court to restore the individual?

Question 2 – In regards to the circumstances described in Question (1), is it appropriate or in accord with Biblical standards of justice, mercy, and compassion for the court that imposed censure to object to the individual’s restoration after the sister court has already begun his restoration?

Question 3 – In light of BCO 37-8 and 37-9, must the restoration of a disciplined minister (who has not been excommunicated) be conducted at the Presbytery level?

31-42  Report of the Nominating Committee

            By a 2/3 vote of the Assembly, the Special Order for 1:45 PM was changed to allow the Assembly to proceed to the uncontested portions of the Report of the Nominating at this time. 

RE E. Bill Mitchell, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 1001-1030).  All uncontested slates of nominees were elected.  The uncontested floor nominee to the Theological Examining Committee was elected (See Journal below for the complete slate of persons elected to all committees and agencies).

31-43 Recess to worship

The Assembly recessed to worship at 10:15 AM to reconvene for business at 1:30 PM.

June 12, 2003

31-44  Assembly Reconvenes

            The Assembly reconvened at 1:30 PM on June 12, 2003 with the singing of “Blessed Assurance” and prayer by TE Tom Troxell.  The Assembly heard a memorial thanking God for the life and ministry of TE Rodney Stortz.  The Assembly also noted the passing of Arthur Matthews and the retirement of Walter Lastovica as timekeeper.

TE Wm. C. Hughes, Mississippi Valley   RE Wm. H. Moore, Chesapeake

                                                                        RE Pat Hodges, Calvary

TE George Fuller C. Fuller, New Jersey            RE  John W. DuBose, North Florida

TE Bryan Chapell, Illiana                          RE E. J. Nusbaum, Rocky Mountain

TE Morton H. Smith, Western Carolina            RE John Ward Weiss, SE Alabama

RE W. David Marshall, Blue Ridge

TE Lonnie Barnes, Central Carolina                       RE James R. Jolly, Tennessee Valley

TE David Rountree, Calvary                                    RE Wm. J. Montgomery, N. Florida

TE Arthur E. Scott, Palmetto                         RE Donald E.  Rittler, Chesapeake

                                                                        RE Bruce C. Williams, Nashville

Terry L. Johnson, Central Georgia

TE Don K. Clements, Blue Ridge               RE Barron Caulfield, Covenant

                                                                        RE Joseph R. Westerlund, Rocky Mtn

TE L. Wm. Hesterberg, Illiana               RE Casey Johnson, Calvary

TE  Robert Flayhart, Evangel                                    RE Wm. B. French, Missouri

TE  David Sinclair,  Palmetto                                   RE Carlo Hansen, Illiana

                                                                        RE Craig Stephenson, Eastern Carolina

                                                                        RE Walter Turner, Pittsburgh

TE Derek Thomas, Mississippi Valley   RE Robert Ashlock, Tennessee Valley

TE Cecilio N. Lajara, North Georgia                        RE James D. Walters, Calvary

                                                                        RE John Jardine, Heritage

TE  Philip D. Douglass, Missouri                       RE Don Breazeale, Mississippi Valley

TE Don Ward, Blue Ridge                               

TE Dan King, Central Carolina                       RE Thomas E. Newton, SE Alabama

TE S. Michael Preg, Jr., Western Carolina

TE Joseph Creech, S. Florida                         RE Jay W. McMoran, Philadelphia

                                                                        RE Ronald Pohl, Missouri

TE James O. Brown, Jr., Heritage                       RE Don C. Barnes, Gulf Coast

RE C. Eugene McRoberts, Mississippi Valley

RE Jerry A. Sackberger, Missouri

DE David E. Pendery, Ohio Valley

PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc.

TE Robert L. Roane, South Texas

RE Wm. H. Brockman, Potomac

RE Albert C. Christman, Louisiana

RE John M. Mardirosian, New Jersey

TE M. Wilson Smith, North Georgia

TE Hubert C. Stewart, Evangel

RE J. David Woodward, Calvary 

TE Philip S. Kruis, Southwest

TE Steve Malone, Evangel                                    RE Wm. H. Porter, Blue Ridge

TE Melvin L. Sensening, S. New England            RE Charles A. Duggan, III, Central GA

TE Craig D. Childs, Sr.

RE W. Jack Williamson

TE D. Steven Meyerhoff, Chesapeake            RE Samuel J. Duncan, Grace

TE Michael Martin Rico, Siouxlands                    RE Steven T. O’Ban, Pacific Northwest

TE Paul D. Kooistra                                              RE Terry L. Jones

TE Michael D. Bolus, Fellowship                    RE Robert T. Thetford, Southeast Alabama

TE Stuart Latimer, Jr., Nashville                      RE Charles Waldrone, Missouri

The Chairman led the Assembly in prayer.  The Stated Clerk administered the oath of office in person to the new members of the SJC.  The oath will be administered to any not present in the Assembly either in writing or at the first meeting of the SJC.  The Assembly declared that the SJC as a whole will be its commission in accordance with BCO 15-1. 

31-46     CoC on Bills and Overtures

TE Don Clements, Chairman, read 2 Timothy 2:14, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 137-148).  Recommendations 2,5, and 7  were adopted.

Recommendation 3 was divided after “negative” (p.137, line 41).  A Minority Report was heard on Recommendation 3a (p. 139, line 8) and defeated.  Recommendations 3a and 3b were adopted. 

Recommendation 4 was divided after “amended (p. 139, line 36).  Recommendation 4a (to answer Overture 5 in the affirmative as amended) was adopted by a 2/3 majority of commissioners present, which was also a majority of commissioners registered.  Recommendation 4b was adopted.

A Minority Report for Recommendation 6 was heard and adopted 530-477, and was adopted as the main motion. 

A Minority Report for Recommendation 8 was heard and defeated.  Recommendation 8 was adopted. 

31-47     Recess

The Assembly recessed at 5:30 PM with the singing of “The Church’s One Foundation” and prayer by TE John Warren to reconvene for worship at 7:30 PM, then for business 15 minutes after the worship service concludes this evening.

Seventh Session – Thursday Evening

June 12, 2003

31-48     Assembly Reconvenes

The Assembly reconvened at 9:00 PM with prayer by TE Paul Warren.

31-49     Partial Report of Committee on Constitutional Business

TE Craig Childs, Chairman, led the Assembly and presented the report (Handbook, p 281-2) which was received as information. 

31-50     CoC on Bills and Overtures

TE Don Clements, Chairman, led the Assembly in prayer and presented the report (Handbook, p. 149-55).  Recommendations 9-13,15-16 were adopted.

On Recommendation 14, the Assembly directed the Stated Clerk to restore the original language at BCO 58-5 as an editorial change to address the matter identified by Ascension Presbytery in Overture 21 and by the Committee on Bills and Overtures.  The Assembly adopted a motion to amend BCO 58-5 by adding the parenthetical phrase proposed in Overture 21 (Handbook, p. 152, lines 28-29).

On a parliamentary inquiry, the Moderator was asked “When this Assembly adopted statements in the responses to Overtures 1 and 19, contrary to the statements requested by the Overturing Presbyteries, may I assume that these actions are construed to be in accordance with RAO by the Bills and Overtures Committee, the Moderator, and the Parlimentarians, and the 31^st General Assembly.”

The Moderator, stating that he considered the inquiry to be a complex question, said that he was unable to respond.

31-51     Protest from TE Morton Smith

The following protest was received by the Assembly:

In accord with BCO 45-1, the undersigned commissioners respectfully protest the adoption of the BCO 21-4 for the following reasons:

It is our conviction that as the PCA came into existence, it was the intent to establish a continuing Southern Presbyterian Church, which was clearly an Old School Presbyterian Church, which historically included the full or strict subscription to the Westminster Confession and Catechisms.

The adoption of the position set forth in BCO 21-4 is essentially the same position adopted by the PCUSA in 1927.  The history of the PCUSA shows that once this position was adopted the PCUSA moved toward liberalism.  The most extreme case of this movement was the Kaesman case in 1978 in which a man denied the deity of Christ with the approval of his Presbytery.  The PCUSA Assembly refused to correct this error on the ground that it was the prerogative of the Presbytery, and that Assembly could not reverse the Presbytery.  It is our fear that under this new amendment the PCA may move towards liberalism without safeguards to prevent it.

31-52     Recess

The Assembly recessed at 10:34 PM with prayer by TE Clements to reconvene at 8:00 AM for worship.