 Overture calling for the end of abortion fails in committee By Angela R. Treadway The Layman Online Wednesday, June 30, 2004
The measure now goes to the full General Assembly. The overture (04-05) from the Presbytery of Upper Ohio Valley – "On Calling for the End of Abortion, and Inserting a Statement in the Book of Order Regarding Abortion" – called for a number of sweeping actions, including declaring errors in previous General Assemblies and the Board of Pensions, making a corporate public confession, educational reform, ministry development, petitioning the national government and amending the Book of Order. The commissioners had heard testimony on the overture in a public hearing in its Monday morning session. Speaking in favor of the overture were Daniel Moore, Barry Hall, Richard Gahm, Terry Schlossberg, Glenn Eason, Phyllis Brefeldt and Samantha Rhinehart. Speaking in opposition were David Dournach, Bruce Cameron, Mike Smith, Mary Jane Patterson, Charles Forbes, Sylvia Thorsen-Smith and Jim Rigby. After considering the testimony from the public hearing, listening to advice and counsel from PC (USA) resource personnel, and going through several iterations of amendments and substitute motions, the committee finally disapproved the overture by a vote of 29-32, and then approved adding the following comment: "In addition, we urge the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), in their mandated monitoring report to the 217th General Assembly (2006) on the implementation of the assemblies' policy on problem pregnancies, to include a survey of the ministries and educational resources seeking to implement the policies and to provide further encouragement and recommendations for additional ministries and resources as needed." Motion to approve the comment passed on a 56-4-1 vote. |
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