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Per-capita remains voluntary

By Paula R. Kincaid
The Layman Online
Thursday, June 22, 2006
217th General Assembly
Birmingham, Ala.
BIRMINGHAM – The 217th General Assembly reaffirmed that paying per-capita apportionments in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is voluntary, but it did encourage congregations to make the payments.

The assembly voted to disapprove Baltimore Presbytery's overture, which asked for an authoritative interpretation to make mandatory per-capita payments from congregations to presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly. The Assembly action included the comment:
"We strongly encourage all congregations to take seriously their commitment to the connectional nature of the church. One evidence of that commitment is the per-capita contributions that help provide for the shared ministry beyond the congregation. We recommend that presbyteries exert pastoral care with congregations that choose to withhold per capita. Such pastoral care could be extended through their committees on ministry or other committees as designated by the presbytery council."
The assembly approved this action when it approved the General Assembly Procedures Committee's consent agenda.


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