The Overtures Committee resumed its work at 8 am on June 29. Here is a summary of its action:

– The committee recommended that the Assembly answer Overture 23, “Amend BCO 17 by Adding a Clause Which Prohibits Ordination for Men Who Self-Identify as ‘Gay Christians,’ ‘Same-sex Attracted Christians,’ ‘Homosexual Christians,’ or Like Terms” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 88-38-2. Read the amended language here. There will be a minority report.

– The Overtures Committee recommended that the Assembly answer Overture 18, “Amend BCO 24-1 to Clarify that a Session Has Discretion on the Timing of Some Parts of the Exam of Officer Nominees,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 118-0-1. Read the amended language here. 

– The committee recommended that the Assembly answer Overtures 6, “Amend BCO 24-1 Allowing Some Session Discretion on the Timing of Portions of the Examination of Elder and Deacon Candidate Nominees,” with reference to its answer on Overture 18. The vote was 109-0-0.

 – The Overtures Committee has voted to recommend that the Assembly answer overtures 32, 43, 36, 47 (overtures on study committees) in the negative. The votes were as follows:

Ov. 32: 98-26-1

Ov. 43: 103-20-2

Ov. 36: 107-20-0

Ov. 47: 95-26-1

 – The committee voted to recommend answering Overture 15, “Revise RAO 11-2 to Disallow Electronic Communications Regarding Voting at the General Assembly,” in the negative. The vote was 102-12-2.

 – The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly refer Overture 12, “Amend BCO 31-2; 32-2 to Clarify that Investigation Shall Precede Process” back to the presbytery without prejudice. The vote was 114-0-0.

– The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly refer Overture 28, “Amend BCO 31-2 to Describe Sequence of Discipline Investigation,” back to the presbytery without prejudice. The vote was 116-1-1.

– The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly recommend Overture 29, “Add BCO Appendix of Investigation Suggestions,” back to the presbytery without prejudice. The vote was 112-2-0.

 – Overtures Committee voted to recommend that the Assembly answer Overture 33, “Amend BCO 38-1 re Confession Document for Case Without Process,” in the affirmative. The vote was 113-4-2.

 – The Overtures Committee voted to refer Overtures 34, 35, 19, 20, 21 to the Overtures Committee of the 49th GA in Birmingham and to the Standing Judicial Commission to give its advice to the 49th General Assembly’s Overtures Committee. The vote was 120-1-1.

– The Overtures Committee voted to answer Overture 22, “Amend BCO 32-20 Regarding Time Considerations for Offenses,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 95-22-3.

 – The Overtures Committee recommended that the Assembly refer Overture 41 back to the presbytery without prejudice. Later the committee voted to reconsider Overture 41, “Amend BCO 35-1 to Expand Potential Witness Eligibility.” It voted to recommend that the Assembly commit the overture to the 49th GA Overtures Committee and in the interim refer it to the Standing Judicial Commission and Ad Interim Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault for advice. The vote was 105-11-2.

– The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly commit Overture 40, “Amend BCO 32-13 and 35-5 to Allow Victim Protection Provisions,” to the Overtures Committee of the 49th General Assembly and the Ad Interim Study Committee on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault. The vote was 110-7-2.

– The Overtures Committee has voted to recommend that the General Assembly answer Overture 48, “Repudiate Anti-Asian Racism,” with a statement at the end of the amended overture, found here. The vote was 111-9-2.

– The committee voted to recommend answering Overtures 45, “Seek Asian American Flourishing”  by reference to the Assembly’s action on Overture 48.

– The committee voted to recommend that the Assembly answer Overture 46, Seek Asian American Flourishing, by reference to the Assembly’s action on Overture 45. The vote was 112-2-3.

 – The Overtures Committee voted to recommend that the Assembly answer Overture 27, “Amend BCO 36 to Require Public Excommunication,” in the negative. The vote was  70-49-1.

 – The Overtures Committee voted to answer Overture 26, “Amend BCO 10 to Permit Telecommunication Meetings,” in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 115-7-1.

The committee adopted grounds for its recommendations on answering in the negative overtures 1, 32, 43, 36, 47, 15, and 27. Read the grounds here.