GA 2020 DOCUMENTS

Use these quick links to navigate to the appropriate section:

Descending Overtures
Dockets
Commissioner’s Handbook
Other Documents
Permanent and Interim Committee Reports

When a General Assembly approves a recommendation that would amend the EPC Constitution, that recommendation becomes a “Descending Overture.” Following the General Assembly meeting, Descending Overtures (if any) are distributed for information at each presbytery’s fall meeting and voted upon in the winter meetings. Presbyteries may debate the substance of a Descending Overture as to adoption or non-adoption, but may not amend.

If a Descending Overture is ratified by 11 (75% of the EPC’s 14) presbyteries, it comes to the next Assembly as a recommendation. If not ratified by 11 presbyteries, it is presented as information but does not come to the floor for vote. When presented to the next General Assembly, the vote count of commissioners at each presbytery is included.

• Descending Overture 19-A from the 39th General Assembly (on addressing the examination of candidates for ordination).
• Descending Overture 19-B from the 39th General Assembly (on making explicit that the office of “co-pastor” is not constitutional).

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DOCKETS

Thursday, September 17
Friday, September 18

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COMMISSIONER’S HANDBOOK

COMPLETE HANDBOOK

40th General Assembly Commissioner’s Handbook (49 pages)

INDIVIDUAL PAGES: PRELIMINARIES

Stated Clerk’s Welcome Letter
Overview of Assembly Schedule
Assembly Permanent and Interim Committees
2019-20 Executive Summary: Moderator’s Report
2019-20 Executive Summary: NLT Chairman’s Report
2019-20 Executive Summary: Stated Clerk’s Report

INDIVIDUAL PAGES: MATTERS RECEIVED AND REFERRED

Summary of Action Items
         Communications, Overtures, and Recommendations
GA40-01: Recommendation from Stated Clerk
         Suspend “Rules for Assembly” for duration of 40th General Assembly
GA40-02: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
         Nomination of Moderator (RE Glenn Meyers)
GA40-03: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
         Slate of nominees for permanent committees and boards
GA40-04: Recommendation from Stated Clerk Search Committee
         Election of Nominee Dean Weaver as fourth EPC Stated Clerk
GA40-05: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Terms of Call for Stated Clerk-elect
GA40-06: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         EPC FY2021 Administration Budget
GA40-07: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Increasing select budget line items in response to revenue exceeding budget
GA40-08: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         EPC FY2021 Special Projects
GA40-09: Recommendation from Theology
         EPC Endorsement Policy
GA40-10: No Recommendation
         This item intentionally left blank 
GA40-11: Recommendation from Revelation 7:9 Task Force
         Continue through 42nd General Assembly
GA40-12: Recommendation from Revelation 7:9 Task Force
         Distribute Task Force reports
GA40-13: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Develop resources to aid congregations in financial collection practices
GA40-14: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Develop a plan to educate presbyteries and sessions on the purpose and role of the Office of the General Assembly
GA40-15: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Develop strategies to aid church leaders suffering from after-effects of prior denominational affiliation and practices
GA40-16: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Define “connectional” and “connectionalism”
GA40-17: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Continue through 41st General Assembly
GA40-18: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
         Nomination of Moderator-elect (TE Brad Strait)
GA40-19: Recommendation from World Outreach Committee
         Outreach Foundation
GA40-20: Recommendation from World Outreach Committee
         Pak7
GA40-21: Recommendation from World Outreach Committee
         Frontier Fellowship
GA40-22: Recommendation from World Outreach Committee
         Avant Ministries
GA40-23: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         C.L. vs. Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest
GA40-24: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Griffiths/Sherrill vs. Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest et al
GA40-25: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Ascending Overture from Presbytery of Gulf South
GA40-26: Overture from Presbytery of the Gulf South
         Book of Government G-13
GA40-27: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Provisional Opinion of March 11, 2020
GA40-28: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         I.Z. vs. Presbytery of the East
GA40-29: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Provisional Opinion of April 2, 2020
GA40-30: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Provisional Opinion of June 22, 2020
GA40-31: Communication from Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee
         Invitation to 41st General Assembly
GA40-32: Recommendation from the BRI Board of Directors
         Allow retired ministers drawing from their EPC 403(b)(9) account to designate up to 100% for housing allowance 
GA40-33: Recommendation from Fraternal Relations Committee
         Fraternal agreement between the EPC and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil
GA40-34: Recommendation from Women’s Resource Council
         Close Women’s Resource Council as permanent committee
GA40-35: Communication from 39th General Assembly Moderator
         Nominees for BRI Board of Directors Chairman and Nominating Committee vacancies
GA40-36: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Minutes of the 39th General Assembly (2019)
GA40-37: Recommendation from Stated Clerk
         Descending Overture 19-A
GA40-38: Recommendation from Stated Clerk
         Descending Overture 19-B
GA40-39: Recommendation from Presbytery Review Committee
         Minutes of presbyteries with Exceptions Requiring Responses
GA40-40: Recommendation from Presbytery Review Committee
         Responses of presbyteries to Exceptions

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OTHER DOCUMENTS

Rules for Assembly
2019 Annual Church Reports
2019-2020 Churches Received, Dismissed, and Dissolved
Auditors Report—2019 EPC Audited Combined Financial Statements
Auditors Report—2019 Benefits Plan Financial Statements
Auditors Report—2019 Retirement Plan Financial Statements
Provisional Minutes of the 39th General Assembly
Proposed FY 2020-2021 Administration Budget
Proposed FY 2020-2021 Special Projects
40th General Assembly Memorials

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PERMANENT AND INTERIM COMMITTEE REPORTS

Permanent Committees:
Benefit Resources, Inc., Board of Directors
Chaplains Work and Care Committee
Fraternal Relations Committee
Generosity Resources Committee
Ministerial Vocation Committee
Moderator
National Leadership Team
Next Generation Ministries Council
Nominating Committee
Permanent Judicial Commission
Presbytery Review Committee
Stated Clerk
Theology Committee
Women’s Resource Council
World Outreach Committee

Interim Committees:
Giving Culture Study Committee
Revelation 7:9 Task Force
Stated Clerk Search Committee

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