This is no nursery rhyme but rather the cast of characters lining up to appear at the 2012 Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly meeting in Pittsburgh.

ACT I: An assault on marriage

The chameleon:  This character will attempt to lead commissioners to see marriage differently than the Church has historically defined it. Separating marriage from the Biblical narrative of creation and the Biblical witness of Jesus' affirmation between one man and one woman, the assembly will be asked to see a "new normal" that is inclusive of gay marriage.

Presented plainly, the redefinition of marriage will arrive at the assembly through an overture seeking to amend the Book of Order. If any one of the overtures seeking to replace "man and woman" with "two people" passes at the General Assembly in July 2012, it would have to be ratified by a majority of the 173 presbyteries before taking effect in July 2013.  But the chameleon isn't counting on that.

The chameleon in camouflage:  This is the same character, but dressed down so as to more easily blend in with the relativistic culture of accommodation and sneak in the back door whilst no one is the wiser. The chameleon's tactic morphs from a direct engagement of the issue to a stealthy one, effecting the change in the church without achieving the votes in presbyteries necessary to change the actual constitutional standard.

It's called an authoritative interpretation (AI) and it can be achieved by a simple majority vote on the floor of the assembly. No ratification would be required. No one beyond the commissioners to the 2012 assembly would have a say in the matter. The effect of such an action by the GA takes effect immediately upon the adjournment of the GA in July 2012.

Presbyteries have already begun sending overtures to the GA down both paths. Overtures that seek to make changes to the Book of Order can be found here.  Overtures asking the GA to offer an Authoritative Interpretation of the constitution can be found here.

To help you see the camouflaged chameleon, here's the proposed language of the AI: "Teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders authorized to conduct services of Christian marriage may exercise pastoral discretion when asked to officiate at such a ceremony for two people who have obtained a civil marriage license, and sessions may permit the use of church property for such services. Teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders may refuse to conduct such services, and sessions may refuse to permit the use of church property for such purposes."

In 2010 a similar overture was defeated on the floor of the assembly by 24 votes. 

ACT II: Grin and ask others to bear it

The Cheshire cat:  Riding a wave of victories from the Peace, Unity and Purity report in 2006 to the stripping of sexual standards for ordained officers in 2010-2011, there will be those who perceive themselves as sitting in the cat-bird seat at this assembly.  We will hear invitations to mutual forbearance, gracious hospitality and full inclusion even as a claim is staked to the "new normal," which not insignificantly, is still considered an aberration if you take God at His Word.  

The "business" here is nuanced:

·         A retranslation of The Heidelberg Catechism that will be broadly supported but will face attempts in committee to strike all reference to Biblical passages that condemn homosexual behavior.   

·         A report with recommendations from the Board of Pensions (BOP) related to the extension of benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of church employees. No one knows exactly what the report will include (all meetings are being held behind closed doors with gag orders on participants). However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine that the BOP will fail to comply with the GA's directive, particularly in light of the reality that one BOP director and another BOP employee attended the board's fall meeting with their same-sex partners.

·         A report with recommendations from a GA committee on which historic AI's still apply under the new Form of Government and how some that have gone unenforced should be. (Watch this in relationship to sessions and presbyteries that have passed "supra-standards" related to ordination standards after the elimination of those standards from the Book of Order through Amendment 10A.)

·         The GA Nominating Committee's recommendations for people to serve on everything from the GA Permanent Judicial Commission, to advocacy committees, the GA Committee on Interreligious and Ecumenical Relations, the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation.

Canaries: There will be canaries as well. The kind that live in coal mines to alert miners when the quality of the environment has become toxic and for preservation of life, immediate exit is necessary.  The canaries will appear as:

·         An overture seeking to restore the "fidelity and chastity" requirement for ordained officers.

·         Overtures seeking a national approach to departing congregations and a national gracious dismissal policy.

·         Overtures seeking to amend or eliminate the property trust clause.

·         Overtures seeking to allow for non-geographic presbyteries or an altogether new Reformed body into which PCUSA congregations might easily migrate with their property, pensions and pastors intact.

Although the script is not written, recent GA trends do not bode well for the life-span of canaries in this particular drama. Watch for signs of satisfaction on the face of the Cheshire cat.

ACT III: Divestment

The Caterpillar: Cast by the GA's Mission Responsibility through Investment (MRTI) committee as the consummate villain, Caterpillar, Inc. will reappear on the chopping block at the 2012 GA, for allowing its products to be used in Israel for "non-peaceful" pursuits. But Cat won't be alone. The recommendation from MRTI to the General Assembly Mission Committee (GAMC) has been outlined by the chairman, Rev. Brian Ellison, at both the fall meeting of the GAMC and the BOP.  Along with divestment from Caterpillar stock, MRTI is also recommending that Presbyterians divest of Hewlett-Packard and Motorola stocks. Both companies have technologies that are used by the state of Israel in its attempts to protect its people and property from attacks and insurgency.

More drama expected to emerge

Other characters are certainly expected to appear in the drama which unfolds every time the GA meets. We're watching out for cowardly lions, red herrings, straw men and, since we'll be in Pittsburgh over the fourth of July, I feel confident in predicting the appearance of Pirates and plenty of fireworks.

The PCUSA General Assembly convenes on Saturday, June 30 and concludes on Saturday, July 7, 2012.

 

Timeline for submitting business to the 220^th General Assembly 

March 2: Book of Order amendments and reports

May 1: Financial implications 

May 16: All other overtures

May 31: Consultations