Thread by @presbyterianpew

Discussing O11 - require MNA to share data about church planter assessments. Motion to answer in the affirmative as amended.

Vote to answer O11 in the affirmative at amended.

✅O11 104-18-4

Discussing O32 - require committee and agency standing rules and manuals to CoC for review. Motion to refer back to Presbytery.

↩️O32 125-2-0

Adopting more grounds from actions in morning OC. No objection. Grounds adopted.

Motion to refer items 1-60 on docket back to Presbytery. (Note: this isn't Overtures 1-60. It's a range of Overtures on the docket starting with 1 and ending with 60. It's about 24 Overtures, not in numerical order, some are numbers larger than 60.)

Amendment to strike O1 from the motion.

Point of order - we should treat this as an omnibus so that someone can pull an item out without needing to debate why it is being pulled out.

Chair rules that this is properly a complex main motion subject to amendment, not an omnibus motion. Chair is challenged.

For the ruling of the chair - it is at the chair's discretion whether to present something as a main motion or omnibus.

For the ruling of the chair - this cannot be an in gross motion. That requires bundling recommendations. There are no recommendations here to bundle.

For the challenge to the chair - if we don't deal with this as omnibus, we force a person wishing to take something out to argue the reasons why it needs to be taken out.

Support the chair - if you want something removed, just move that it be removed from the complex motion.

Support the challenge to the chair - this would effectively give the OC the power to end debate on an O with only a 50% majority, not 3/4.

Should the chair be sustained. Yes. 103-26-3

In support of amendment - this was the first amendment proposed in 2025. We should allow it to be discussed.

Point of inquiry - if we vote to refer all back in one big motion, could they still be pulled out separately during OC report? This would be a single recommendation.

Vote to amend (remove O1 from large, complex motion). Yes. 86-42-4.

Amend to remove O39 and O55 from the main motion.

Against the amendment - there isn't time to deal fully with questions about assistant pastors. We should refer back and consider another year if needed.

Vote to amend by striking O39 and O55. Yes. 64-60 2.

Motion to amend by striking O90 - it didn't come from a Presbytery so it can't be referred back to Presbytery.

Move all matters before the house. Yes. 112-17-0

Amendment to strike O90 from the main motion. Adopted. 67-64-0

Vote on main motion (20 remaining Os to be referred back). Yes. 102-28-0

↩️17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,30,49,58,64,68,82,84,85, 31,60

Discussion of O1 - lower the bar for assistant or associate to succeed sr pastor

Amendment to move 2/3 vote requirement from Presbytery to congregation.

Amend the amendment to restore requirement for Presbytery 2/3 vote (in addition to 2/3 congregation vote). Adopted. 96-27-3

Amend the amendment to add "by secret ballot" (restoring provision in original BCO language). Adopted. 103-20-5

Vote on the amendment (2/3 vote by congregation and 2/3 vote by Presbytery). Adopted. 103-14-4

Substitute motion to answer in the negative. Speaker got 78% at church to succeed to sr pastor. It was a good thing he didn't take a job with a lower percentage.

For substitute - this would dissuade the church from just making the easy choice without doing the hard work of a search committee

For substitute - people who vote no are going upstream to do that, these are people who have seen this man at work. Why make their "no" harder to matter.

For the main - yes, a high bar is good and may be right in specific situations, but shouldn't be required across the board.

Call the previous question. Yes. 111-17-2

Shall the substitute (answer in the negative) become the main? Yes. 89-41-2

Voting to answer O1 in the negative.

❌O1 95-32-3

Motion to amend the docket by changing adjournment from 4 to 5 pm. No. 65-66-1.

Motion to answer O39 in the negative. A solution looking for a problem. Erroneous assumption that assistant pastor has governing authority, or that the role is a threat to the sr pastor. "Ordinarily" is usually followed by exceptions; this isn't. We should leave the decisions with sessions.

Substitute motion to answer O39 in the affirmative. Motion to hear from the author of the Overture.

Moved all questions before the house. Yes. 114-11-1.

Should the substitute (answer in the affirmative) become the main? No. 29-102-2.

Voting to answer O39 in the negative.

❌O39 105-21-1

Motion that all remaining Overtures be referred back to those who sent them (one Presbytery and one session).

Motion to amend the docket by extending 20 minutes. No. 76-53-1. (not 2/3)

Voting to refer O55 and O90 back to sender (Presbytery, session). 116-13-0

↩️O55
↩️O90

Standing ovation for Dr. Waters and his exemplary leadership in a very challenging OC year. Commendation from Dr. Waters to the OC for the decorum and demeanor as Overtures were debated.

Adopting the grounds. No objection. Adopted. OC adjourned. Until next year, y'all!

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