COMMISSIONER’S HANDBOOK

COMPLETE HANDBOOK

41st General Assembly Commissioner’s Handbook (51 pages)

INDIVIDUAL PAGES: PRELIMINARIES

Stated Clerk’s Welcome Letter
Overview of Assembly Schedule
Assembly Permanent and Interim Committees
2020-21 Executive Summary: Moderator’s Report
2020-21 Executive Summary: NLT Chairman’s Report
2020-21 Executive Summary: Stated Clerk’s Report
2020-21 Executive Summary: Stated Clerk-elect’s Report

INDIVIDUAL PAGES: MATTERS RECEIVED AND REFERRED

Summary of Action Items
         Communications, Overtures, and Recommendations
GA41-01: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
         Nomination of Moderator (TE Brad Strait)
GA41-02: Recommendation from Permanent Judicial Commission
         Provisional Opinion 2021-01, allowing hybrid General Assembly
GA41-03: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Amendments to Rules for Assembly
GA41-04: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
         Nominees for permanent committees and boards
GA41-05: Recommendation from Revelation 7:9 Task Force
         Continue through 43rd General Assembly
GA41-06: Communication from Ward Presbyterian Church, Northville, Michigan
         Invitation to 42nd General Assembly
GA41-07: Recommendation from Stated Clerk
         Descending Overture 20-A on the Ordination and/or Installation of Officers
GA41-08: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Minutes of the 40th General Assembly
GA41-09: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         Jeffrey Jeremiah as Stated Clerk Emeritus
GA41-10: Recommendation from Theology Committee
         Withdrawing approval of Bethany Christian Services as an Approved Agency
GA41-11: Recommendation from Theology Committee
         Amendment to Book of Government 19-4.C.1 on resources for ministry to and inclusion of the disabled
GA41-12: Recommendation from Theology Committee
         Amendment to Book of Government 20-4.A.3 on agencies/institutions for education or other purposes
GA41-13: Recommendation from Theology Committee
         Amendment to Book of Worship 7-5 on responsibilities of a Session
GA41-14: Recommendation from Theology Committee
         “Connectional” and “Connectionalism”
GA41-15: Recommendation from Chaplains Work and Care Committee
         Amendment to Book of Government 9-5E and Book of Worship 3-1A on administering the sacraments
GA41-16: Recommendation from Chaplains Work and Care Committee
         Policy Statement on Chaplain Ministry to Same-Sex Couples and LGBTQ Individuals
GA41-17: Recommendation from Giving Culture Study Committee
         Funding Formula Study
GA41-18: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         FY2022 Administration Budget
GA41-19: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         FY2022 Special Projects
GA41-20: Recommendation from National Leadership Team
         The Role and Purpose of the Office of the General Assembly
GA41-21: Overture from Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic
         Creation of three Presbyteries from current Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic
GA41-22: Recommendation from Chaplains Work and Care Committee
         Acts of Assembly 11-13 on the Chairman of the CWCC as Chaplain Endorser
GA41-23: Recommendation from Chaplains Work and Care Committee
         Amendment to Rules for Assembly X.10-1.I.3 on the Chaplain Endorser
GA41-24: Recommendation from Benefit Resources, Inc. Board of Directors
        Allow retired ministers drawing from their EPC 403(b)(9) account to designate up to 100% for housing allowance
GA41-25: Recommendation from Nominating Committee
        Nomination of Moderator-elect (RE Rosemary Lukens)
GA41-26: Communication from 40th General Assembly Moderator
        Nominees for BRI Board of Directors Chairman and Nominating Committee vacancies
GA41-27: Recommendation from Stated Clerk
        Omnibus items from Standing Committees
GA41-28: Recommendation from Presbytery Review Committee
         Minutes of Presbyteries with Exceptions Requiring Responses
GA41-29: Recommendation from Presbytery Review Committee
         Responses of Presbyteries to Exceptions
GA41-30: Recommendation from Presbytery Review Committee
Churches with no engagement with Presbytery in 2020

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DOCKETS

Wednesday, June 23
Thursday, June 24
Friday, June 25

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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
Stated Clerk-Elect
Theology Committee
World Outreach Committee

Interim Committees:
Giving Culture Study Committee
Revelation 7:9 Task Force
World Outreach Executive Director Search Committee

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OTHER DOCUMENTS

Rules for Assembly
2020 Annual Church Reports
2020-2021 Churches Received, Dismissed, and Dissolved
Auditors Report—2020 EPC Audited Combined Financial Statements
Auditors Report—2020 Benefits Plan Financial Statements
Auditors Report—2020 Retirement Plan Financial Statements
Provisional Minutes of the 40th General Assembly
Proposed FY 2022 Administration Budget
Proposed FY 2022 Special Projects
Revelation 7:9 Task Force 2021 Interim Report

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STANDING COMMITTEE ROSTERS

The Nominating Committee assigns all commissioners completing their registration for General Assembly by May 31 to a Standing Committee. Except for a few items, all the business coming to the floor is first discussed and recommendations are made in these Standing Committees that meet on Thursday, June 24, from 3:00–5:00 p.m.

Standing Committee Assignments for the 41st General Assembly
Standing Committee Chairmen and Recording Clerks

Commissioners should check their Standing Committee Assignment and prepare for the Committee meeting by reading the appropriate section(s) of the Handbook.

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STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Standing Committee reports are posted as soon as possible following adjournment of the meetings on Thursday afternoon, June 24.

Administration (National Leadership)
Memorials and Appreciation
Theology
World Outreach (The Standing Committee on World Outreach had no business referred to it, so there is no report)

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DESCENDING OVERTURES

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 20-A from the 40th General Assembly (on the ordination and/or installation of officers).

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