The Assembly convened after a worship service and elected Kevin DeYoung to serve as moderator of the 52nd General Assembly. Read about DeYoung here. 

Teaching Elder Bryan Chapell gave a report to the Assembly. “I have sought to apologize to all that my comments have harmed, and I apologize to you, asking your forgiveness,” he said. He then pronounced a blessing on the denomination which he has called home for nearly 50 years. 

Stated Clerk’s Report

Stated clerk pro tem John Bise offered the Stated Clerk’s Report. 

BCO Amendments

The Assembly voted to ratify four BCO amendments that were first approved by the 51st General Assembly and then sent to the presbyteries for approval. Items 2 and 4 were ratified together. Items 1 and 3 were then ratified separately. Read more about those BCO amendments here. 

Partial report from Review of Presbytery Records 

The Assembly heard a partial report from the Review of Presbytery Records. The Assembly voted to approve changes to the RAO as outlined in Recommendations 9, 10, and 11. 

Partial Report of Overtures Committee

The Assembly heard a partial report from the Overtures Committee concerning overtures dealing with changes to the RAO (34 and 43). Neither Overture 34, “Amend RAO 16 to Require Reporting on Session and Diaconate Membership and Duties” nor Overture 43, “Amend RAO 4-11 regarding Data on Age and Ethnicity,” received the required ⅔ of votes to amend the RAO.

The Assembly heard a partial report of the Standing Judicial Commission dealing with changes to RAO. The changes were approved.

Overtures Committee

The Overtures Committee reconvened Tuesday morning to continue its work. The committee made recommendations on the following overtures:

Overture 34, “Amend RAO 16 to Require Reporting on Session and Diaconate Membership and Duties,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 93-32-1. Read the amended language here.

Overture 10, “Amend BCO 22 to Affirm the ‘Consent of the Governed’ Regarding Assistant Pastors,” back to Central Florida Presbytery. The vote was 119-7-2.

The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly refer Overture 9, “Amend BCO 14-1 to Make AC Members Appointed by Committees and Agencies Non-voting Advisory Members,” back to James River Presbytery. The vote was 75-51-1. 

Overture 30, “Amend BCO 8-4, 20-1, 21-1, 21-12, and 23-1 re the Calling and Dissolution of TE Relationships for Needful Works,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 112-4-7. Read the amended language here

Overture 24, “Amend BCO 24-1 to Clarify a Session’s Role in Examining Officer Nominees,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 103-12-2. Read the amended language here. 

The committee voted to recommend referring Overture 25, “Amend BCO 46-4 to Add a Class of Associate Membership for Honorably Retired TEs,” back to Northwest Georgia Presbytery. The vote was 114-2-1.

Overture 48, “Erect an Ad Interim Committee for a Pastoral Letter on Christian Citizenship and Church-State Relations,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 113-8-1. Read the amended language here.

Overture 47, “Erect Ad Interim Committee on Christian Nationalism,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 73-50-0. Read the amended language here. 

The committee voted to recommend answering Overture 3 and Overture 4, with reference to its recs on Overture 47.

Overture 26, “Erect Ad Interim Committee to Revise the Directory for Worship for Authoritative Use,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 82-40. Read the amended language here .

The committee has voted to recommend referring Overture 49, “Erect an Ad Interim Committee on AI,” to the 53rd General Assembly. The vote was 113-6-0.

The OC voted to recommend answering Overture 5, “Grant BCO 60-63 Full Constitutional Status,” with reference to Overture 26. The vote was 112-7-2. 

Overture 27, “Erect Ad Interim Committee to Receive Suggestions for Permanent Committee and Agency Operations, Resources, and Expenses,” in the negative. The vote was 111-7-1.

Overture 11, “To Study Incorporating Bitcoin into Session, Presbytery, and Committee & Agency Balance Sheets,” in the negative. The vote was 100-15-2.

OC voted to recommend postponing indefinitely Overture 50, “Encouragement to Discernment and Compassion regarding Immigrants.” The vote was 84-29-1.

Overture 43, “Amend RAO 4-11 regarding Data on Age and Ethnicity,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 76-28-3. Read the amended language here.