MINNEAPOLIS — About 20 protesters from a group called Soulforce disrupted the plenary of the 219th General Assembly tonight (July 9), and some were arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department.

 A group of protesters entered the plenary hall shortly before 5 p.m., and silently moved as a group to the front of the plenary hall, carrying signs protesting the policies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) regarding ordination standards; Christian marriage and same-gender unions; and pension benefits.

                    Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the assembly, immediately called a recess. She said during a news conference later that she didn’t know whether any of the protesters were Presbyterian, but said “I think they’re angry because this discussion (on ordination standards) has been going on in the church for quite a long time.” Bolbach said one protestor told her she was a former Presbyterian who had left the church; some were gays or lesbians, or have children who are gay and lesbian.

                    Parsons told the assembly that the protest was not organized by groups such as the Covenant Network of Presbyterians or That All May Freely Serve, which are working within the PC(USA) to change the denomination’s ordination standards.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly overwhelmingly approved an amended report on conflict in the Middle East that aims at a careful balance between Palestinian and Israeli narratives of injustice and the path to peace.

Church commissioners voted 558-119 today (July 9), for a committee’s rewrite of a report that in its original form was widely perceived by some church members as pro-Palestinian and factually suspect.

          The General Assembly also endorsed, by a 418-210 vote, the Middle East Peacemaking Issues Committee’s recommendation that it denounce Caterpillar’s profit-making from sales of heavy equipment that Israel uses for non-peaceful purposes, including the destruction of Palestinian homes. Church committees considered divestment but advised against it — meaning that the church’s Board of Pensions and Foundation will continue to hold Caterpillar stock worth nearly $11 million, plus $685,000 in the company’s bonds.

          After revising the report on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 53-member Peacemaking Issues committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend it to the General Assembly.

MINNEAPOLIS—The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved today (July 8) the formation of a commission to aid synods and presbyteries as they explore options for their future. The motion passed soundly 566 to 104.

MINNEAPOLIS – Once again, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted to remove the requirement in the denomination’s constitution that those being ordained practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.

That marks the fourth time since the “fidelity and chastity” language was ratified in 1997 that the denomination’s 173 presbyteries have been asked to remove it. Three times they have said “No” – but the margin has been growing closer.

This vote also comes during a year when the assembly is considering action on same-sex marriages – and Jerry Andrews, an evangelical who supports the “fidelity and chastity” standard, said it would be a “jaw-dropper” if the assembly voted to liberalize both.