PREFATORY STATEMENT:

      In keeping with the concept that the Bylaws are designed for the conduct of Presbyterian Church in America (A Corporation) in regard to civil matters, the Rules of Assembly Operation is designed to serve the General Assembly itself as an ecclesiastical organization.  Therefore, care should be taken that these Rules contain only that which is essential for the Biblical and efficient operation of the General Assembly ecclesiastically.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
 

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 ARTICLE I.  Organization of a General Assembly’s Meeting

      1-1.  The General Assembly shall be called to order at the designated time by the Moderator, and shall begin with a worship service, including a season of prayer, a sermon or exhortation by the retiring Moderator, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

      1-2.  The Stated Clerk shall present a report on the enrollment of Commissioners, and declare if a quorum is present.  If it is present, then the Assembly shall be declared to be properly constituted for the transaction of business.

      1-3.  The first order of business shall be the election of a Moderator.  There shall be only one nominating speech not to exceed five minutes for each nominee. No seconding speeches shall be permitted.

      1-4.  If more than one Commissioner is nominated, election shall be by ballot, on ballots provided by the Stated Clerk.  Tellers appointed by the Stated Clerk shall gather and count the ballots, and report the tabulation to the Stated Clerk.  If no nominee receives a majority of the votes cast, a second ballot shall be called on the two nominees who received the highest number of votes on the first ballot.  The Moderator shall declare an election when a nominee receives a majority of the votes cast by the commissioners present and voting.

      1-5.  As soon as a Moderator shall have been declared elected he shall assume his constitutional duties as Moderator.

ARTICLE II.  The Moderator

      2-1.  The Moderator shall preside at all sessions of the Assembly except when he may invite another Commissioner to act temporarily as the presiding officer.

      2-2.  The Moderator shall call the succeeding Assembly to order and preside over its sessions until a successor has been elected.  Ordinarily he shall present a retiring Moderator’s sermon or exhortation.  If the Moderator is unable to act, the Stated Clerk shall call the Assembly to order and preside over its sessions until a Moderator has been elected.

      2-3.  Any former moderator attending a General Assembly shall have the privilege of the floor.

ARTICLE III.  The Stated Clerk

      3-1.  The Stated Clerk shall perform the duties assigned by the Book of Church Order, the Rules of Assembly Operation, and the Bylaws of the Presbyterian Church in America, (A Corporation).   The Stated Clerk shall serve as chief administrative officer of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly. As such, he shall be responsible, under the supervision and subject to the direction of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly, for carrying out and executing the appropriate duties and responsibilities of said Committee.  The Stated Clerk shall be authorized to employ, with the approval of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly, a Business Administrator.  All other staff personnel for said Committee shall then be employed by the Business Administrator with the approval and consent of the Stated Clerk.

      3-2.  The Stated Clerk shall have the following responsibilities to the General Assembly:

a.   In his office as an elder he may, as appropriate, advise and counsel, and upon invitation, preach and teach.

b.   His duties are clerical, and as an ordained elder in the denomination he has no special role as spiritual leader or teacher to the denomination.

c.    He shall be responsible for the recording of the transactions of each General Assembly.

d.   He shall carefully preserve all of the records of each General Assembly.

e.   He shall obtain and grant abstracts from the Assembly records whenever properly required or requested.

f.    He shall prepare and distribute a Commissioner Handbook so as to reach commissioners one month prior to the convening of each General Assembly.

g.   He shall gather and assemble the items of business that come before each Assembly and refer such items of business to the proper committee or committees.

h.   He shall be responsible for publishing the minutes and statistical reports of the Presbyterian Church in America and periodically updating the digest of the minutes.

i.    He shall be the Parliamentarian of the General Assembly but may fulfill this function through the use of Assistant Parliamentarians whom he recommends to the Moderator for his appointment.

j.    He shall be an ex officio member of the Committee on Interchurch Relations.

k.    He shall be available to give advice to the boards and agencies of the Presbyterian Church in America if, as, and when so requested.

l.    He shall be responsible for the oversight of the PCA Historical Center for the preservation of the archives of the Presbyterian Church in America.

m.     Under the supervision of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly, he shall propose the docket of the General Assembly and shall be available to advise the General Assembly on means to expedite and complete the business of the General Assembly.

n. He shall be responsible for notifying all appropriate persons of the decisions of the General Assembly.

o. He shall serve as the secretary and treasurer of Presbyterian Church in America.

p. He shall receive progress reports and/or minutes from the committees appointed by the General Assembly, including special committees.

q. He shall have the privilege of the floor in all matters pertaining to his office at the General Assembly, to present necessary information on business before the meeting concerning the work and report of any committee on which he serves, and at such times when the moderator, the coordinators, the executive directors, chairmen of Assembly committees and agencies (or their designated representative), or any commissioner may request that he clarify matters before the court.

r.  He shall serve as custodian of the rolls of each General Assembly.

s.  He shall be the correspondent with the lower courts of the church.

t.  He shall be authorized to make public statements for and on behalf of the denomination only insofar as such statements are warranted on the basis of specific actions of the General Assembly.

      3-3.  The Stated Clerk shall have responsibility to the Administrative Committee of General Assembly as follows:

a. He shall work under the supervision of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly between the meetings of General Assembly.

b. He shall perform such duties as the Administrative Committee of General Assembly shall direct.

c.  He shall recommend a person to fill the office of Business Administrator, such recommendation to be made to the Administrative Committee of General Assembly.  He shall employ such Business Administrator, with the prior approval of this Administrative Committee.  The person filling the office of Business Administrator shall be responsible directly to the Stated Clerk, and through the Business Administrator the necessary personnel and equipment shall be obtained and utilized -- all under the overall oversight of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly.

d. He shall make a full report to the Administrative Committee of General Assembly each year pertaining to his assessment of and evaluation of the performance by himself and those under his supervision and control during the year, which full report shall be submitted by this Administrative Committee to the General Assembly.  This Administrative Committee shall have the responsibility of adding its comments, recommendations and suggestions to such report which shall include an evaluation of the performance of the person filling the office of the Stated Clerk.

      3-4.  The Administrative Committee of General Assembly has the responsibility of nominating to the General Assembly the person to fill the office of the Stated Clerk.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the Assembly through the regular process for additional nominations.

      3-5.  The qualifications for the person to fill the office of the Stated Clerk shall be as follows:

a. He must be either a Teaching or Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

b. He must be conversant with the history and distinctives of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition and in particular of the history and distinctives of the Presbyterian Church in America.

c.  He must possess a competent knowledge of the Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America.

d. He must have demonstrated managerial and organizational skills.

e. He must be loyal to the standards of the Presbyterian Church in America and be able to fairly represent the actions of each General Assembly.  He must be conversant with the breadth of Reformed thinking in the Presbyterian Church in America and able to communicate with the members of Presbyterian Church in America and with representatives of other Reformed denominations.

f.  He must be able to work in a capable, sensitive manner with persons who are in positions of responsibility in the Presbyterian Church in America organization structure.

g. He must understand and be committed to the proposition set out in BCO 14-1, 3:  "The work of the Church as set forth in the Great Commission is one work. . ."Therefore, such person must recognize and be committed to implementing the important principle of the interdependency of each Court, Committee and Agency of the PCA.

h. He must have an appreciation of the whole church of the Lord Jesus Christ as defined in BCO 1-3 and thus be able to work with the leaders of all branches of this true Church.

ARTICLE IV.  COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

      4-1.  The affairs and programs of the General Assembly shall be conducted primarily through its Permanent Committees and Agencies.

      4-2.  The Permanent Committees are those specifically created by the Book of Church Order:

            Administrative Committee (AC)

            Christian Education and Publications (CE&P)

            Mission to the World (MTW)

            Mission to North America (MNA)

            Reformed University Ministries (RUM)

      The Administrative Committee shall function as a service committee to the General Assembly and the denomination.  The Committees on Christian Education, Mission to North America, Mission to the World, and Reformed University Ministries shall be known as Program Committees.

      4-3.  The Agencies are:

            Covenant Theological Seminary

            Covenant College

            Ridge Haven Conference Center

            PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc.

            PCA Foundation                                                         

The relationship of the Agencies to the Assembly remains as a committee although they may be incorporated separately for civil purposes.  The composition and responsibilities of the Agencies are set forth in the Bylaws.

      4-4.  The Special Committees are:

            Interchurch Relations Committee

            Committee on Constitutional Business

            Nominating Committee

            Committee on Review of Presbytery Records

            Theological Examining Committee

      4-5.  The membership of committees or agencies shall be limited to the same constitutional provisions (BCO 14-1.12) as those of the permanent committees: namely, that those who have served for at least a full term, or at least two years of a partial term on one of the Assembly’s permanent committees or agencies shall not be eligible for re-election to an Assembly committee or agency until one year has elapsed, unless provision has been approved by the agency Bylaws.  Nominations shall be handled according to the BCO 14-1.11.  These provisions shall not apply to Ad Interim committees, study committees or other committees appointed.

      4-6.  No individual shall serve on more than one Assembly committee, or agency at one time, except those who serve as permanent committee representatives on the Administrative Committee of General Assembly and those who serve on Ad Interim Committees.

      4-7.  Employees of the Assembly’s committees or agencies are not eligible for office on an Assembly’s committee or agency which administers matters directly related to their area of employment.

      4-8.  The chief administrative officer of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly shall be the Stated Clerk.  The chief administrative officer of the four program committees shall be the Coordinators and of the agencies shall be the Executive Directors or Presidents. 

      4-9.  The four program committees shall nominate annually a coordinator for election by the General Assembly.  The Administrative Committee shall nominate annually a Stated Clerk for election by the General Assembly.  If the nominee has not been examined by the Theological Examining Committee such an examination must take place prior to the election when it is a first time employment.  A new coordinator shall assume office at the end of the Assembly meeting, or at such time thereafter as designated by the General Assembly.

      4-10.  Permanent Committees may appoint subcommittees for specific tasks or areas of responsibility assigned by the General Assembly, according to the following guidelines:

a. Membership of subcommittees may include persons not elected to the permanent committee, provided the subcommittee chairman is a permanent committee member.

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b. All policies and procedures of a subcommittee must be approved by the permanent  committee prior to implementation.

c.  The staff of a subcommittee is controlled by the permanent committee through its coordinator.

      4-11.  The budget for each permanent committee and agency shall be submitted to the Administrative Committee of General Assembly which shall independently evaluate the proposed budget of each permanent committee and agency and report to the Assembly its considered opinion on the adoption.  In order to protect the fiduciary responsibility of the Agencies, the financial coordination and independent evaluation of the agencies’ proposed budgets by the Administrative Committee is for “audit purposes only”. 

      Should modifications in budgets be deemed necessary by the Assembly, special care shall be taken that changes not be made in such a way as to threaten the continuity or effectiveness of the committee’s or agency’s ministry.  Budgets of permanent committees and agencies that are agreed upon by the Administrative Committee may be changed only by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly commissioners present and voting at the time the budget is submitted for adoption.  In the event the Administrative Committee disagrees with the budget submitted by one of the committees or boards, in whole or any item thereof, the General Assembly may adopt either the committee’s or board’s budget or the Administrative Committee’s recommended budget by simple majority.  The requirement of a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly applies only to changes not recommended by the Administrative Committee, initiated on the floor of the Assembly.  With respect to the agencies, financial coordination is to the Assembly from the agencies, and to the agencies from the Assembly, and the Administrative Committee is a “filter upward” and has no downward authority.

      4-12.  All funds received by the Corporation that are designated for the benefit of any particular permanent committee shall be disbursed by the Treasurer to the proper committee.  There shall be no equalization of funds so designated.  Any funds received by the Corporation not designated as being for the benefit of a particular Permanent Committee shall be distributed by the Treasurer as directed by the General Assembly.

      4-13. Each permanent committee, by resolution adopted by a majority of its committee members, may designate the place, date, and time for regular meetings of the committee, which should be held as needed, but no less than twice a year.  Written or printed notice of such resolution should be given to all committee members within a reasonable time after the adoption thereof.  Notice of the time, place or purpose of such regular meetings of the permanent committee shall not be required to be given.

      4-14.  Special meetings of the permanent committees may be called at any time or place by the Chairman of the committee, or by a majority of the committee members.  Written notice stating the place, date, and hour of such special meeting shall be delivered by the Chairman of the committee to each committee member at least ten days prior to the date of such meetings, and such notice should specify the purpose of such special meetings.  Attendance of a committee member at such a

meeting will constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting.  The act of the majority of the committee members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

      4-15.  A majority of a permanent committee shall constitute a quorum.

      4-16.  The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and any other officers of each permanent committee shall be elected annually at the last regular meeting of the committee prior to the meeting of the General Assembly.  Notice of this meeting shall include notice to the effect that these elections shall take place. 

      4-17.  In the event any administrative personnel employed by a committee and approved by the General Assembly resigns, dies or is unable to act, such committee may employ a provisional replacement, who has been examined and approved by the Assembly's Theological Examining Committee, and who shall serve until the next General Assembly.

      4-18.  Chairman of special committees (4-4), subcommittees, commissions including the SJC, ad interim committees, and study committees (8-1, 2, 3, 4) that are funded through the Administrative Committee or whose funds are administered by the Administrative Committee, have the authority to call, postpone, or cancel meetings.  The Stated Clerk has the authority and responsibility to notify the chairman that a meeting(s) to be held between assemblies will not be funded if the resources are not sufficient to meet the General Assembly defined spending requirements.  These requirements dictate that committee and agency expenses not exceed income and reserve levels.

ARTICLE V.   ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

      5-1. The Administrative Committee of General Assembly shall consist of twenty (20) members:  (a) Eleven members in classes elected through the standard nomination and election procedure, (b) One member each from the following program committees or agencies:  (1) Christian Education and Publication; (2) Covenant College; (3) Covenant Theological Seminary; (4) PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc; (5) Mission to North America; (6) Mission to the World; (7) PCA Foundation; (8) Ridge Haven Conference Center; (9) Reformed University Ministries.

      The eleven members at large shall serve a term of four years.  The chairman of the Administrative Committee shall be one of its members at large.

      Each program committee and agency shall designate its member each year at the last meeting of the committee or board before the meeting of General Assembly.  The chief administrative officers of the program committees and agencies may attend any meeting of the Administrative Committee.  They shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but shall not have a vote and must be excluded when an executive session is called.

ARTICLE VI.  PROGRAM COMMITTEES

      6-1.      The Committee for Christian Education and Publications.

      The affairs of the Church in the areas of Christian education and publications are assigned to the Committee for Christian Education and Publications, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the General Assembly.           

      6-2.      The Committee on Mission to North America.

      The affairs of the Church involved in its extension in the United States and Canada are assigned to the Committee on Mission to North America, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the General Assembly.

      6-3.      The Committee on Mission to the World.

      The affairs of the Church in the area of world missions outside of the United States and Canada are assigned to the Committee on Mission to the World, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the General Assembly.

      6-4.      The Committee on Reformed University Ministries

      The affairs of the Church in the area of campus ministry are assigned to the Committee on Reformed University Ministries, whose duties and authority shall be designated by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE VII.  SPECIAL COMMITTEES

      7-1. Interchurch Relations Committee.

      There shall be an Interchurch Relations Committee composed of three teaching elders and three ruling elders who may serve two consecutive, three-year terms of office. There shall be a ruling elder and a teaching elder to serve as alternates.

      The committee shall serve as liaison between the Presbyterian Church in America and other denominations and church councils as approved by the Assembly.

      7-2. Committee on Constitutional Business.

      There shall be a Committee on Constitutional Business composed of eight members divided into four classes of two members each serving four-year terms.  Each class shall be composed of one teaching elder and one ruling elder.  There shall be one teaching elder and one ruling elder to serve as alternates.

        The Committee on Constitutional Business shall, between the General Assembly meetings:

(1)    Function as advisor to the Stated Clerk when requested by him.  Such advice shall be for information only and without binding authority and shall not be reported to the General Assembly.

(2)    Receive from the Stated Clerk all non-judicial references submitted by presbyteries under BCO 41-1 and 41-4, and, if it accedes to the request, give its advice to the presbytery sending the non-judicial reference.  Such advice shall be for information only and without binding authority or precedent but shall be included as a part of the annual report of the Stated Clerk to the General Assembly.

      The Committee on Constitutional Business shall, during the General Assembly meetings:

(1)        Advise the General Assembly of the effect of any proposed amendment to the constitution (including but not limited to overtures requesting amendment submitted under RAO 10-5 and 10-6).  Such advice to the General Assembly shall be given at the time the proposed amendment is submitted for action.

(2)        Report directly to the General Assembly on all constitutional inquiries submitted to it by the General Assembly.

      The committee shall not be separately funded but administratively will operate as a subcommittee of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly.  (See also 10-5 and 10-6, and 12-3 thru 12-6)

      7-3. Theological Examining Committee.

      In accordance with BCO 14-1, 14 there shall be a Theological Examining Committee composed of three teaching elders and three ruling elders of three classes of two men each.  There shall also be one teaching elder and one ruling elder as alternates to fill any vacancy that may occur during the year.

      7-4. Nominating Committee.

      The Assembly’s Nominating Committee shall operate under the following guidelines:

a. Every member of the Nominating Committee should make a reasonable effort to attend the next General Assembly.

b. The Nominating Committee should be reminded of paragraph BCO 14-1, 9 regarding proportionate representation wherever possible.

c.  No presbytery shall ordinarily be represented by more than one person nominated for any given Committee.  This includes alternates.

d. A typed biographical form must accompany each name submitted to the Nominating Committee.  All nominees should be contacted by their Presbyteries to ascertain their availability and willingness to serve prior to submission of names to General Assembly’s Nominating Committee.

e. Presbyteries should send names of nominees on forms to the Stated Clerk’s office no later than four months prior to the General Assembly.  The Stated Clerk will then make the forms available to the Convener of the Nominating Committee.

f.  A list of members, by Presbytery currently serving on the Permanent Committees should be furnished to the Convener of the Nominating Committee by the Stated Clerk.  The Directory of the current Assembly Committees should indicate the Presbytery of each committee member.

g. “In addition to the new nominees from Presbyteries, alternates not assuming any vacancies during a year will be automatically considered by the Nominating Committee as candidates for nomination to that same committee...” (BCO 14-1, 11)

h. The committee shall present its nominations to the Assembly through the Commissioner Handbook or Supplement.  This presentation shall include a brief statement regarding each nominee.

i.  Additional nominations may be made in writing on forms supplied by the Stated Clerk, which shall include consent of the nominee to serve, if elected, and a brief statement regarding the nominee.  The nominee is to give consent to only one nomination.  The deadline for these nominations is the close of the afternoon session of the second day of the Assembly.  The Clerk’s office shall issue a supplement to the Assembly’s Nominating Committee report during the third day’s business sessions.

j.  The time for the election shall be docketed as a special order.  Only those commissioners present or on the floor of the Assembly shall be eligible to

vote.  The voting procedures may be conducted either by voice vote or by standing vote, or by use of ballots as determined by the General Assembly.

k.    In the event of the resignation of any member of an Assembly elected committee or agency, such resignation should be presented to the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.  The Stated Clerk, shall, after consultation with the Chairman of the respective committee or board, be authorized to accept such resignation on behalf of the Assembly.  He is to report such actions to the next General Assembly, and arrange for the nomination of a replacement by the Assembly’s Nominating Committee, where such replacement is appropriate.

      7-5.      Committee on Review of Presbytery Records.

a.   The Committee on Review of Presbytery Records shall be comprised of one representative from each presbytery elected by the Presbytery in the manner set forth in BCO 14-1.11 for the election of the Nominating Committee.  A person who is serving as a member of or on the staff of one of the permanent or special committees, or boards of the General Assembly shall be eligible to serve on this committee.

b.   The Committee shall be scheduled to meet prior to the opening session of the Assembly, usually at the same time during which the Committees of Commissioners shall be meeting.

c.    A chairman and vice-chairman for the following year shall be elected by the committee from members who shall be serving in at least the second year of their term.

ARTICLE VIII.  AD INTERIM COMMITTEES

      8-1.  The Assembly may elect or appoint ad interim or study committees of a temporary character to handle particular matters of business as designated by the Assembly.

      8-2.  Only two (2) ad interim study committees may be appointed or continued in any given year, (with no committee continuing with undesignated Administrative Committee funding beyond the third year of its inception and no more than two (2) committees existing in any one (1) year), and any additional committees would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of commissioners, with financing provided from outside the Administrative Committee budget.

      8-3.  The total number of committee members per committee is not to exceed seven (7) members.  Each committee’s appointment and/or extension must be ratified by a majority vote of the commissioners.

      8-4.  All ad interim and study committees shall be considered by the General Assembly for appointment or extension at the time during the General Assembly docket of the Administrative Committee’s report so that due consideration be given as to their priority and their effect on the budgets.

ARTICLE IX.  The Assembly Arrangements

      9-1.  There shall be a General Assembly Local Arrangements Committee, which shall function under the Administrative Committee.  Final approval of all decisions regarding the Assembly shall rest in the Administrative Committee.  The Assembly’s Administrative Committee and the Local Arrangements Committee shall operate under a Manual approved by the Administrative Committee.

      9-2.  The Local Arrangements Committee shall be composed of the following:

    a.   The Chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee, who is appointed by the host presbytery.

    b. The Treasurer of the local committee

    c.    Other members of the local committee as set forth in the General Assembly Arrangements Manual.

    d. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.

    e. The Business Administrator of the Administrative Committee.

      9-3.  Worship services shall be included as approved by the Assembly.  The Administrative Committee must approve any non-PCA speaker.

      9-4.  The Administrative Committee shall set a suitable registration fee, subject to the approval of the General Assembly.

      9-5.  The Administrative Committee must approve any non-PCA exhibitors in accordance with the following:

      Guidelines for Displays at the Assembly.

      Subject to space available, priorities for exhibitors will be as follows:

a. Committees of the Presbyterian Church in America, including agencies or institutions with which they have formally, through their minutes, established a working relationship.

b. Agencies or institutions with which the General Assembly, through its minutes has established a working relationship.

c.  Agencies and institutions which in the opinion of the Committee have objectives, policies, or programs in general conformity with those of the Presbyterian Church in America.

d. A disclaimer statement should be printed in the General Assembly Docket distributed to all commissioners, stating in effect that permission granted to place an exhibit does not mean the Presbyterian Church in America necessarily fully endorses the exhibitor’s product, services, or objectives.  These guidelines are to serve as the ordinary guidelines.  If the Administrative Committee feels that an exception must be made, it has the authority to do so, and is to report such actions and the reasons to the next Assembly.

      9-6.  In case of extraordinary events occurring or unusual circumstances arising that make it impractical for the General Assembly to hold its annual stated meeting on the dates or at the site previously approved by the Assembly, the Moderator with the Administrative Committee shall be authorized, upon the recommendation of the Stated Clerk and Moderator, to make alternative arrangements.

ARTICLE X.  Communications and Overtures

      10-1.  A communication to the General Assembly is formal correspondence received by the Stated Clerk from other churches, from interchurch agencies to which this Church may be related, from committees of this Church on matters which can not be included in regular reports, and from organized bodies outside the Church proper having business with the General Assembly.

      10-2.  Ordinarily, communications from individuals shall not be received by the General Assembly, unless they originate with persons who have no other access to the Assembly.  If the Assembly desires to receive and consider any such communications, other than as information, the Stated Clerk shall recommend reference to the proper Assembly committee.  Letters, telegrams, or telephone calls from communicants or congregations of the Presbyterian Church in America are not proper communications, and are not to be received by the Assembly.

      10-3.  The Stated Clerk shall recommend to the Assembly reference for all proper communications.

      10-4.  An overture ordinarily is the request of a presbytery for action by the General Assembly upon a specific matter.

      10-5.  Upon receipt the Stated Clerk shall refer to the Committee on Constitutional Business all overtures requesting amendment of the Book of Church Order.  Upon receipt the Stated Clerk shall forward all overtures concerning presbytery boundaries or a new presbytery to the Subcommittee on Boundaries appointed by and under the jurisdiction of the Assembly’s permanent Committee on Mission to North America which shall report to the Permanent Committee and shall report to the Assembly through the Committee of Commissioners on Mission to North America.  All other overtures shall be referred by the Clerk to the appropriate Committee of Commissioners.  All overtures shall be printed in the Commissioner Handbook with reference for consideration indicated.

      10-6.  All overtures requiring references to the Committee on Constitutional Business shall be delivered by at least sixty (60) days prior to the opening of the General Assembly to the Stated Clerk in order to be referred to the committee.  No overture requiring reference to the permanent committee on Constitutional Business received later than sixty (60) days prior to the opening of the General Assembly by the Stated Clerk shall be referred or considered by the General Assembly convening in that year.

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      10-7.  All other overtures shall be delivered to the Stated Clerk at least ninety (90) days prior to the opening of the General Assembly in order to be included in the Commissioner Handbook for the next meeting of the General Assembly. 

      10-8.  Overtures received after the Commissioner Handbook is printed, and at least one (1) month (31 days) prior to the opening of the General Assembly shall be reported to the Assembly by the Stated Clerk, together with reference. 

      10-9.  No overtures received by the Stated Clerk less than one month prior to the opening of the meeting of the General Assembly shall be referred to or considered by the General Assembly convening in that year.  No bill or overture shall be accepted for consideration upon the floor of General Assembly subsequent to the final published date set by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly for publication of the commissioner's Commissioner Handbook for the General Assembly unless said matter receive two-thirds vote of the assembled commissioners.

      10-10.  No overture will be considered by the General Assembly until it first has been presented to a presbytery.  If approved by the presbytery, it will come before the Assembly as the overture of that court.  An overture requested by an individual communicant, a teaching elder, or a session, but rejected by the presbytery, may be presented to the Assembly, provided the fact that it was rejected by the presbytery is clearly stated with the overture.

      10-11.  All communications or overtures which propose or request that General Assembly appoint a study committee for any purpose shall contain as a part of the request or proposal a statement of the maximum amount to be budgeted for the study committee.  (See RAO VIII.)

ARTICLE XI.  Reports to the General Assembly

      11-1.  The permanent committees, agencies, special committees and Ad Interim committees of the Assembly shall make annual reports, which shall be transmitted to the Stated Clerk by at least ninety (90) days prior to the opening of the General Assembly.  These reports shall be referred to the proper committee of commissioners by the Stated Clerk, except that Nominations Committee, Committee on Review of Presbytery Records, Standing Judicial Commission and Ad-Interim committees shall report directly to the General Assembly.

      11-2.  Informational presentation of some special aspects of the work reported by a Committee of Commissioners shall be limited to five minutes.

      11-3.  All other business brought to the General Assembly shall ordinarily be referred to a Committee of Commissioners except reports of the Standing Judicial Commission, the Committee on Constitutional Business, the Committee on Review of Presbytery Records, the Nominating Committee, and Ad Interim Committees, which shall report directly to the Assembly.

ARTICLE XII.  New Business

      12-1.  Any matter presented in any form which has not been received by the Stated Clerk prior to the opening of the General Assembly shall be treated as new business.

      12-2.  New business must be presented to the Assembly before the close of the second day of business.  

      12-3.  The Committee on Constitutional Business shall be available as a reference committee, to assist the Clerk in referring all new business coming to the Assembly.

      12-4.  The appropriate committee shall receive and consider all such references, deliberate and report to the Assembly in compliance with the directions of these Rules.

      12-5.  All matters introduced as new business, if received, and touching on constitutional matters, including requested rulings by the Moderator on questions of order involving constitutional questions, shall be referred in writing to the Committee on Constitutional Business for consideration.

      12-6.  The Committee on Constitutional Business shall consider each such constitutional matter referred to it, and make recommendation directly to the Assembly.

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