Overture would ban press from debate about issues By John H. Adams The Layman Online Friday, May 9, 2003 Armed with their laptops, representatives of Presbyterian news media – including The Layman – have reported extensively on the deliberations of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity. But the reports have had little to do with debate about the real issues facing the task force because, after one and one-half years of meetings, they haven't surfaced. Wary about press coverage, the 20 members of the task force have focused on their own harmony and shunned candid discussion of the hot-button issues they are supposed to debate. The 213th General Assembly called on the task force to address Christology, the authority and interpretation of Scripture, the denomination's ordination standards and how power is divvied up in the Presbyterian Church (USA). During its meeting May 24-31 in Denver, the 215th General Assembly will consider an overture that would allow the task force to ban the press from its theological debates. The overture would be an exception to the denomination's open-meeting policy. The Presbytery of San Gabriel overture would add a sentence to the open-meeting policy of the Manual of the General Assembly: "8. The General Assembly Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the PC(USA) shall be exempt from this open meeting policy in order to go into closed session for discussion of theological issues." The presbytery's rationale says the change "would allow members [of the task force] to be free with each other to consider possible new approaches to difficult and complicated matters." Meeting without reporters present "is essential for wrestling with the major and vital issues facing the church," the rationale adds. "Premature spreading as fact those matters that are still undecided would only hamper the results the whole church is expecting from this special group. When conclusions have been reached, they should be widely reported, of course, for full discussion, consideration, and review." At their first meeting in December 2001, members of the task force expressed discomfort that the press was monitoring their discussions. But Gary Demarest of California, co-moderator of the task force, defended the open-meetings requirement. "We're high visibility," said Demarest. "I don't think that we want in any way to direct the media, exclude the media or control the media." If the task force is permitted to meet behind closed doors, reporters will not be privy to the theological reasons members of the panel use to eventually decide how to address divisive issues in the church. The perspectives of the individual members of the council could help Presbyterians assess whether the task force's final report represents views that are compatible with their own understanding of the Reformed faith. In its rationale for the overture, the Presbytery of San Gabriel cites a property issue that became public knowledge, noting that the deal was squelched because of that. However, the General Assembly Manual already says that property issues – as well as personnel matters and litigation – may be considered privately. Two agencies of the denomination have prepared written responses to the San Gabriel overture. The Advisory Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns called on the General Assembly to vote against the overture. The committee drew its reason to oppose the overture from the language of the open-meetings policy, including: "The work of the church is strengthened when it is done in a spirit of openness and trust. Church members have a basic right to know about the work done and the decisions made by entities within the church. Church leaders have a basic responsibility to honor that right by conducting their business with a spirit of openness and vulnerability to public scrutiny. Therefore, open meetings shall be the norm for all such entities." The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy called for a bureaucratic yes or no, saying that it "advises that Overture 03-26 be referred to the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly for a resolution." The committee added, "The Open Meeting Policy, approved by the 209th General Assembly (1997), designates the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to resolve questions relating to the application and interpretation of the Open Meeting Policy."

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