General Assembly Commissioner Training Cliff Creel, Stated Clerk Presbytery of Northern New England

 Registration  Travel arrangements  Hotel assignment / roommate  Packing  Dress casual and comfortably – lot of walking  Plenary may be cool – bring sweater or light jacket  Umbrella may be useful  Cell phone – we will communicate by cell phone. 2 Preliminaries Presbytery of Northern New England

 You MUST have a laptop / tablet computer.  You may use your own or GA will provide you with one (if you are a commissioner).  GA is now paperless.  PC-BIZ is used to view all documents.  Computer Presbytery of Northern New England

Arrival at Airport 4  COLA = Committee On Local Arrangements – they are volunteers from the hosting presbytery and will be wearing T-shirts of a certain color that usually stands out.  You will be directed to buses that will take you to your hotel (should be no charge).  Look for COLA volunteers Presbytery of Northern New England

5 Detroit Area Map

Presbytery of Northern New England6 Detroit Area

 After checking into your hotel, go to the convention center to register for the GA.  A packet should be waiting for you. You will need a photo ID.  You will get a name badge that you must wear at all times when in the convention center.  You should also get tickets for any special meals or events you paid for (and maybe a tote bag). 7 Registration Presbytery of Northern New England

Name Badge 8  Blue – Commissioners  Navy – Advisory delegates  Red – Staff of OGA, GAMC, BOP, etc.  Grey - Elected members COGA, GAMC, BOP, etc.  Black – Presbytery & Synod Stated Clerks and staff  Orange – COLA  Brown vinyl – Observers  Orange vinyl – Exhibitors  Green vinyl - Press  MUST wear in convention center area.  REMOVE outside convention center area – otherwise can be an easy target for thieves, etc. – marks you as an out-of- towner. Presbytery of Northern New England

 Saturday  Riverside Conversations (Informal conversation about hot topics)  Opening Worship  Plenary  Moderator’s Election  Sunday -> Tuesday  Daily Worship  Committee Meetings  Tuesday Evening: Presbytery Dinner  Wednesday -> Saturday  Daily Worship  Plenary 9 Docket Summary Presbytery of Northern New England

10 Docket Details

Opening Worship 11Presbytery of Northern New England

Committee Work Presbytery of Northern New England12  You are randomly assigned to a committee.  You will spend most of 3 days in committee.  YAAD can vote in committee, but not in plenary.  May work as quasi committee of the whole.

Committees 13Presbytery of Northern New England  Overtures are debated, amended and a recommendation voted.  Overture advocates will speak to the overtures before your committee. Some may speak against.  In committee and plenary you vote as guided by the Holy Spirit.

Plenary Presbytery of Northern New England14  All 800+ commissioners debate and vote together.  Vote on the recommendation of the committee.  If the committee recommends against an overture,  Then voting YES is a vote against the overture.  If recommendation fails, then vote on overture.

Plenary 15Presbytery of Northern New England  You must go to a floor microphone to speak or make a motion.  Stated Clerk & RP has assigned seating outside, but near the commissioner area.

Plenary 16  Voting may be by:  Voice  Hand  Electronic  Parliamentarians are at floor mics to help if needed.  Colored signs used to signify why you are standing. Presbytery of Northern New England

Electronic Voting 17Presbytery of Northern New England

18 Moderator’s Reception Presbytery of Northern New England

 The Committee and Plenary meetings are conducted by Robert’s Rules.  The will of the majority shall prevail.  The rights of the minority are protected.  Protection of the rights of the individual.  Protection against instability.  All actions subservient to the PCUSA Constitution & GA Manual. Presbytery of Northern New England19 Robert’s Rules

 Motion: “I move that …” state succinctly what, when, how, who and how much it will cost. Do not normally state why. You must gain the floor to make a motion.  Second: Any commissioner can second without getting the floor. If coming from committee, it doesn’t need a second.  Most motions just need simple majority to pass – that’s more than half of those present and voting.  Motions that affect the rights of the minority require a supermajority. 20 Robert’s Rules Presbytery of Northern New England

 Only two degrees of amendment allowed.  Must be germane.  Insert or add contiguous words or a paragraph.  Strike out contiguous words or a paragraph.  Strike out and insert (must be germane unless unanimous consent)  In same place: words must be related  In different place: words must not be materially different Presbytery of Northern New England21 Amend

 May apply to paragraph, section or complete motion (usually seen applied to complete motion).  Moved to substitute motion S for the main motion M.  1. Ask for any amendments to M (perfecting M)  2. Ask for any amendments to S (perfecting S)  3. Vote: Shall the substitute motion become the main motion?  4. Yes: Discussion on new main motion. (No further amendments allowed except by adding something that does not modify existing content.  5. Vote on main motion.  No: Original main motion survives and can be further discussed and amended. Presbytery of Northern New England22 Substitute Motion

 Previous Question – Stop debate and vote, requires 2/3 vote.  Reconsider - can only be moved by someone who voted on the prevailing side. Must be made on the same or next day of the vote.  Limit Debate – motions to limit the time each person can speak or the total time, requires 2/3 vote. 23 Robert’s Rules Presbytery of Northern New England

 Rescind – to undo an action (2/3 vote or previous notice).  Lay on Table – no time associated, cannot use to kill.  Postpone Definitely – delay to a specific time.  Point of Order – you believe a mistake was made.  Request for Information – you have a question – do not use this for debate.  Appeal – you believe the moderator erred in a ruling.  Amend Something Previously Adopted (2/3 vote or previous notice). 24 Robert’s Rules Presbytery of Northern New England

 Any 2 commissioners (different presbyteries) may propose an item of new business.  No commissioner may sign more than 2 resolutions.  It may not deal with business that requires amendment or interpretation of the Constitution.  It may not deal with business already before the Assembly nor whose purpose can be achieved by the regular process of amendment and debate.  If the resolution deals with substantially the same issue considered by one of the two previous GA’s, it may be rejected. 25 Commissioner Resolutions Presbytery of Northern New England

 GA Office located somewhere – you may have to ask where.  Go there if you have problems.  File Commissioner resolutions.  Register your cell phone number for overture advocate. Presbytery of Northern New England26 GA Office

 Same Sex Marriage  Ordination Standards (G b)  Mid-Council Report (restructure of synods)  Middle East Issues / Divestment  Belhar Catechism  New Directory for Worship 27 Hot Issues Presbytery of Northern New England

 Learn to use PC-Biz proficiently.  Be familiar with GA Manual (in PC-Biz).  Study ALL overtures and reports.  Study in depth all overtures and reports assigned to your committee.  Be rested and prepared for hard work. 28 Preparation Presbytery of Northern New England

 We will communicate by cell phone. Be sure Cliff has the cell phone number you will have at GA.  The directory you will receive at registration will show where everyone will be seated.  ONLY commissioners are allowed in the commissioner area. So, you will have to come to us or call us – we can’t go to you.  If anyone has to leave early, becomes ill or has to be away from committee / pleanary for any reason, let Cliff know. 29 Communications Presbytery of Northern New England

 Remember….  Commissioners will be expected to give a report to Presbytery at the September meeting. You should each plan to speak for about 5 to 10 minutes about your overall experience and your specific committee work. Coordinate with each other about the overall talk. 30 Report to Presbytery Presbytery of Northern New England