Editor’s note: Presbyteries have been voting on overtures to be considered by the 32^nd 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 1-2 are printed below along with the Committee(s) to which they have been assigned for consideration and recommendation to the General Assembly.

Overture:  #1

From:  Heritage Presbytery

To:  Bills and Overtures & Committee on Constitutional Business

Title:  “Add Knowledge of Holy Scripture to Ordination Requirements for Ruling Elders and Deacons”

This overture is presented to correct a serious omission in BCO Chapter 24-1.  In the list of required subjects for the examination of officer candidates, no reference to examination in Bible content is made.  This overture seeks to make explicit that which has already been implicit.

Whereas, Holy Scripture is the only inerrant, infallible and inspired Word of the Living God (2 Tim 3:16);

Whereas, Holy Scripture is the sole written revelation from God so as to reveal Himself and declare His will to His Church (WCF I-1);

Whereas, God sets forth the offices of Elder and Deacon in Holy Scripture and calls men to teach and to “hold to the deep truths of the faith” (1 Timothy 3:1-10); 

Whereas, officers must possess a working knowledge of Holy Scripture (Reference see requirements for Licensure, 19-2-b-2 and for Ministers, 21-4-a-3);

Therefore, be it resolved that the following requirement for the examination of nominees for the offices of the Church be added to BCO 24-1 as item b (so requiring the rest to be re-lettered c, d, e,) to correct a significant inadvertent oversight:

“b. HIS KNOWLEDGE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.”

Adopted by Heritage Presbytery at the stated meeting on May 13, 2003

Attested by:  /s/ Bruce Howes, Stated Clerk

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Overture:  #2

From:  Eastern Canada Presbytery

Title:  “Amend BCO 24-3 Regarding Election of Ruling Elders and Deacons”

To:  Bills and Overtures & Committee on Constitutional Business

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

Whereas, in the provisions for electing ruling elders and deacons, BCO 24-3 refers to the provisions for electing teaching elders, BCO 20-4, and

Whereas, the provisions of BCO 20-4 are also expressed in BCO 24-4, in a form specifically for ruling elders and deacons, and

Whereas, this redundancy suggests that a numerical error was made in inserting this reference, and

Whereas, BCO 20-5 gives directions about dealing with highly divided votes which are not found in BCO 24, and which might be to the point in elections of ruling elders and deacons as well as teaching elders, and

Whereas, this overture was referred back to the Presbytery of Eastern Canada by the 31st General Assembly, to refine it to avoid a conflict reported by the Assembly's Constitutional Business Committee,

Therefore, the Presbytery of Eastern Canada overtures the 32nd General Assembly to amend BCO 24-3, by deleting “See also BCO 20-5)”; and by adding BCO 24-5 (renumbering the following sections); "24-5. On the election of a ruling elder or deacon, if it appears that a large minority of the voters are averse to a candidate, and cannot be induced to concur in the choice, the moderator shall endeavor to dissuade the majority from prosecuting it further; but if the electors are nearly or quite unanimous, or if the majority insist upon their right to choose their officers, the election shall stand."; OR that the Assembly do otherwise as it sees fit to correct this reference (as it stands redundant) in BCO 24-3.

Adopted by Eastern Canada Presbytery at the stated meeting on October 24-25, 2003

Attested by:  /s/ D. A. (Don) Codling, Stated Clerk