General Assembly will consider biennial general assemblies By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Volume 35, Number 2 Posted April 8, 2002 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The General Assembly Council, with no discussion, has endorsed a plan for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to have general assemblies every other year, instead of every year. The proposal, from the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and the executive committee of the council, recommends that the last annual assembly be in 2004 and the first biennial gathering in 2006. The proposal will go before the 2002 General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio for consideration. Reasons for the recommendation include: The number of commissioners to general assemblies is declining. In 1984, there were 690 commissioners, but because of the changing membership in the denomination, there were only 558 in 2001. By changing assembly meetings to once every two years, the number of commissioners could be increased. Biennial assemblies also would give Presbyterians more deliberation time concerning changes in the Book of Order, would allow for the establishment of two-year goals and give more time to fully develop the programs to achieve those goals before reporting to the next assembly. The cost of an assembly is almost $5 million a year. Costs include housing and travel for commissioners, advisory delegates, governing body staff and elected members of the General Assembly committees and agency boards. Costs also include facilities, voting machines and audio/video equipment.

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