Each time the General Assembly meets it receives suggestions for amending the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). After study and debate some of these suggestions are sent to the Presbyteries for vote. Our Presbytery will debate and vote on these items at the March 4, 2017, Presbytery meeting at First Church, Morehead City.
This year the General Assembly has proposed:
- one amendment to the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity,
- 10 amendments to the Form of Government,
- a complete rewrite of the Directory for Worship, and
- two amendments to the Rules of Discipline.
All of these sections are found in the Book of Order.
The Office of the General Assembly has prepared an online booklet listing all of these changes together with the rational offered by the Presbytery or Synod which proposed each item and the advice given to the General Assembly by the Advisory Committee on the Constitution. In previous years the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) printed copies of these booklets and sent to the presbyteries for distribution to minister members and commissioners from churches in the presbytery.
Now that so many presbyteries distribute their information electronically, the OGA has determined that the cost of printing and mailing these amendment booklets is prohibitive. The OGA can no longer afford to do that printing and mailing therefore those who desire to read to proposed amendments will need to read them online or download and print them.
Click on the link below to open the booklet.