PCANews -

Editor’s note: Presbyteries have been voting on overtures to be considered by the 32nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America. The General Assembly will meet in the Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., June 14-18, 2004. Overtures 4 and 5 are printed below along with the Committee(s) to which they have been assigned for consideration and recommendation to the General Assembly.

 

 

Overture: #4

From: Southern Florida

To: Mission to North America 1

 

Title: “Divide Presbytery of Southern Florida to Create Gulfstream Presbytery”

 

To the 32nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America:

 

Whereas, the Presbytery of Southern Florida was the 6th Presbytery organized by the General Assembly of the PCA, being established on June 4 , 1973; (1) and

 

Whereas, since the establishment of the Presbytery of Southern Florida the total number of members has increase from 6,751 (3) to 20,498; (4) and

 

Whereas, since the establishment of the Presbytery of Southern Florida the total number of ministers has increased from 20 Ministers (5) to 66 staff Ministers and 34 other Teaching Elders as of December 31, 2003; and

 

Whereas, since the establishment of the Presbytery of Southern Florida the population of the eight counties making up the Presbytery has increased dramatically from year 1970 population of 2,415,332 to year 2000 population of 5,550,000; (6) and

 

Whereas, as God has granted substantial growth to the Presbytery of Southern Florida, the work of the Presbytery has also increased beyond what can be carefully and effectively accomplished in the quarterly meetings of Presbytery; and

 

Whereas, it has become apparent that at least two distinct geographical units within the boundaries of our Presbytery have developed with unique personalities, namely the three counties in the South: Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Broward and the five counties in the North: Palm Beach Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River;

 

Therefore be it resolved that the Presbytery of Southern Florida overtures the 32nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America to divide the Presbytery of Southern Florida, with effect from January 1, 2005 into two presbyteries as follows:

 

1) A continuing Presbytery named the “Presbytery of Southern Florida,” comprised of the following counties: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and the Cayman

Islands.

 

2) Create a new Presbytery named the “Gulfstream Presbytery,” comprised of the following counties: Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River, and St. Lucie.

 

3) Teaching Elders carried on the Roll as Honorably Retired, Outside Bounds, or Without Call may choose the Presbytery they want to be a member of. If they do not make a choice they will remain on the Roll of the Presbytery of Southern Florida. Candidates Under Care, Interns, or Licentiates will be in the same Presbytery as their home church.

 

Adopted by the Presbytery of the Southern Florida at the stated meeting on January 20, 2004.

Attested by: /s/ Daniel J. Domin, Stated Clerk

 

 

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Overture: #5

From: Westminster Presbytery

To: Ridge Haven, Committee on Constitutional Business 1

 

Title: “Revise Makeup of Ridge Haven Board of Trustees”

 

To the 32nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America:

 

Whereas, the initial Board of Directors of Ridge Haven was deliberately structured to be composed of two Teaching Elders and seven Ruling Elders with business experience, for a total of nine members in three classes of three (Minutes of the Seventh General Assembly, p. 267); and

 

Whereas, this was done because the purpose statement and theological position, as adopted by General Assembly, were carefully worded so as to leave little room for interpretation and application by the Board (Minutes of the Seventh General Assembly, p. 268-271); and

 

Whereas, it was believed the major work of the Board would be related to the business operation of Ridge Haven; and

 

Whereas, in the ensuing years the Board has evolved into being composed of seven Teaching Elders and three Ruling Elders in five classes of two for a total of ten members; and

 

Whereas, this has reversed the strength of the Board from the intended one of being strong with men of business background and experience;

 

Therefore be it resolved that Westminster Presbytery overtures the Thirty-Second General Assembly to take appropriate action so that the Ridge Haven Board of Trustees be restructured into a fixed division of three Teaching Elders and seven Ruling Elders with business experience, for a total of ten members in five classes of two.

 

Adopted by Westminster Presbytery at the stated meeting January, 2004

Attested by: /s/ Daniel Foreman, Stated Clerk