The Board of Pensions made no comment when asked how the committee planned to hear from other Presbyterians — many of whom are not on presbytery staffs or members of presbytery committees and who were not able to attend the two events.

Although they’ve listened, members of a Presbyterian Church (USA) special committee of the Board of Pensions are not yet ready to talk in the wake of recent listening sessions concerning the extension of plan health benefits to same-sex couples.

In 2010, the 219th General Assembly of the PCUSA approved an increase in mandatory dues paid to the BOP to fund spousal and dependent benefits for same-gender domestic partners and their children.

The unprecedented increase calls for all congregations to pay up to a one-percent increase of total effective salary to fund the measure, which would provide benefits to same-sex partners equivalent to those made available to spouses and dependents of current plan members. The BOP administers a $6-billion benefits and assistance program which serves 50,000 PCUSA ministers, church workers and dependents.

In response, the BOP board formed the Special Committee on Domestic Partner Benefits to study the effects of the increase and expansion of benefits. The committee will report back to the 220th General Assembly in 2012.

The study committee, in turn, held two listening sessions in May in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in conjunction with the BOP’s regional benefit consultation.

“Each session was open to anyone who was registered for a consultation, signed up in advance or asked to be registered at the door,” statement released June 13 by BOP president Robert W. Maggs Jr. read.

“In each session people who were not otherwise registered for the consultations were welcomed and given an opportunity to speak,” the statement added.

According to the event rosters, the Philadelphia session drew 308 registered attendees, including BOP members and staff, while the Los Angeles session drew 210.

During the sessions, attendees expressed sentiments both in favor and against the proposal. Proponents claimed the move would bolster the PCUSA’s “commitment to justice,” while opponents see the plan as unbiblical and in violation of traditional church beliefs concerning sexual relationships among ordained ministers.

The controversial plan comes on the heels of a sweeping change in ordination standards with the recent passage of Amendment 10A. The change to the Book of Order will allow for the ordination of non-celibate single heterosexuals, those who commit adultery, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals to positions as deacons, elders and ministers in PCUSA churches.

Others voiced that opinion that such an increase and expansion represented a form of taxation without representation.

“It was made clear to the audiences that, as explained at the General Assembly, if the proposal is adopted by the Board of Pensions, the board expects that such adoption would not affect dues for the medical plan but could, over time, have an effect on the cost of the pension plan because of the extension of survivor benefits to domestic partners,” the BOP statement made clear.

“Because increases in pension plan dues (as opposed to medical dues) require approval of the General Assembly, the commissioners granted contingent approval of an increase in pension plan dues in the event the board were to determine that the extension of survivor benefits to same gender domestic partners, if adopted, would require such action,” Maggs said via the statement.

‘Present not to talk’
Some attendees felt that the committee should have spoken out about its progress despite the listening nature of the sessions.

“There was no presentation about where the committee was in their process,” said the Rev. David Lambertson, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Central Washington, who attended the West Coast session.

Lambertson said that, although the BOP offered a chance for all sides to speak out, he felt as if their words may not reach the ears of those making the final recommendation.

“They are clear that they are present not to talk, but are present to give you the opportunity to talk and if you have something to take back to the committee, you need to write it down and send it to them,” he said.