The dues increase related to this action is capped at one percent of total effective salary and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

The 219th General Assembly approved increasing the mandatory dues congregations pay to the Board of Pensions benefits plan up to one percent to pay for extending spousal and dependent benefits to “same-gender domestic partners, and the children of their same-gender domestic partners, on the same basis as, and equivalent to, benefits made available to” married Benefits Plan members.

The dues increase related to this action is capped at one percent of total effective salary and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

The assembly action included a comment that the Board of Pensions “be highly urged to provide relief of conscience, to be implemented simultaneously with these actions, for those congregations for whom these actions cause a moral dilemma.” When asked about implementing a relief of conscience program, Andy Brown, a representative of the Board of Pensions said that the board “will study the issue, and try to make it work.”

Another commissioner said that if approved by the assembly, “Our sessions are being asked to have a one percent increase … it’s not a choice, it just is.” He asked, so sessions “have no option to not pay this?” “The answer is yes,” said Brown.

Before the vote, the assembly voted down a minority report that included the comment

“The PCUSA supports the availability of health care for all individuals. The 219th General Assembly (2010) encourages sessions that wish to provide benefits for same-gender spouses and domestic partners to seek coverage through other available benefits plans rather than the Board of Pensions (G-10.0102n). The Board of Pensions is funded by constitutionally mandated dues from congregations (G-14.0534) and as such they share an agreement that the plan will be administered consistently with the confessional and constitutional standards of the church in order to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church.”

The assembly also rejected an attempt to refer the business to the 220th assembly creating time for the financial and implementation questions to be answered.

Comments from commissioners during the debate include:

Elder Howard Prol of Los Ranchos Presbytery said the issue was the mandatory requirement of congregations being involved in the pension fund. “There is coverage available for everyone, if they want it,” he said. “There is adequate coverage for everyone that can be provided by every session. …. The mandatory requirement is the problem. … We are selling churches, cutting staff and there is the matter of conscience here.” He spoke against approving the motion.

Youth Adult Advisory Delegate Kati Chan of San Francisco Presbytery said the item was not about ordination or same-gender marriage. “It is about social and financial equality,” she said.

Harry Hughes of New Castle Presbytery said that passing the motion would validate same-gender relationships and would be set PCUSA policy at open odds with Scripture, the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. “It’s putting the cart before the horse because it’s trying to affect a constitutional issue by changing policy,” he said.

Mindy Douglas Adams of Salem Presbytery spoke in favor of the extension of benefits. “What I am hearing is that we are not going to consider doing the right thing if it costs too much money,” she said.

As this assembly action requires no ratification by presbyteries it will be in full effect prior to the next assembly, the next available opportunity to re-evaluate the policy.