BOOK OF DISCIPLINE TASK FORCE

SUMMARY OF WORK

1. Reviewed Book of Discipline and prepared proposed revisions for purposes of simplifying, clarifying and reorganizing its provisions with a goal of making it easier to use.

2. Considered changes to address the topic of abuse in a clear and comprehensive manner. 

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Book of Discipline Task Force has no recommendations for the 45th General Assembly.

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

From the Sub-Team on Simplifying, Clarifying, Organizing

Need for revision of the Book of Discipline (“BOD”). There is a general sense that the BOD is hard to follow.

• Experience using the BOD has revealed places that are unclear or inconsistent or have left unaddressed situations that should be corrected.
• Abuse (physical, emotional, or spiritual) is of increasing concern and is not addressed in the current BOD.

Values behind the proposed revision:

• Create an easy to follow, step by step organization eliminating the need to skip from one place to another to find information on a topic or process.
• Clarify and simplify language by eliminating wherever possible the “legalese” so those untrained in law can easily understand.
• Fill in gaps that experience has shown to exist.
• Correct any inconsistencies.
• Reflect our current cultural context and concerns where needed.

Substantive changes in the proposed revision:

• Add “abuse” as a category of offense. Definition of abuse has been left blank and will be developed following input from the ad interim committee and other groups working on the topic.
• Change sanction of “admonition” to “reprimand.”
• Clarify who is eligible to file a complaint.

Editorial changes in the proposed revision:

• Significantly re-organized to improve the flow of thought.
• Eliminated the use of gender-specific pronouns where they are unnecessary.
• Replaced technical terms when possible.
• Removed cross references to Book of Order from text. References will be included as footnotes so they can be updated without an amendment process.

Proposed process for approving the revision:

• Complete final adjustments of the revision for publication.
• May 2025: Create a three-column version of the proposed revision to the National Leadership Team (NLT).
• June 2025: Report progress to the General Assembly.
• Aug 2025: Ask the NLT to send the proposed revision to Presbyteries, Sessions, PJC, Presbytery Clerks and Moderators, and Ministerial Committee Chairs for comment.
• Sept-Dec 2025: Receive comments.
• Jan-Mar 2026 – Review and incorporate comments in the final proposed revision.
• Apr-May 2026 – Send final proposed revision through the NLT to Presbyteries and PJC for review.
• June 2026: Present final proposed revision to General Assembly for approval.
• August 2026: Send adopted revision to Presbyteries as a descending overture for approval.
• June 2027: Ratification by the General Assembly.

From the Sub-Team on Abuse

Need to appoint qualified ad interim committee to address abuse:

• NLT or GA should appoint a committee with expertise and broad representation to recommend further future revisions of BOD – should include professional psychological counselors and trial attorneys with expertise in the area and reflect racial, gender and age diversity. Members of the present Task Force do not possess such experience and expertise.
• The BOD definition of abuse should correspond with the definition that may be adopted upon revision of the Pastoral Letter on Domestic Abuse and Response – though the focus of BOD (discipline of the abuser) may differ from the focus of the Pastoral Letter (care for the abused).
• The ad interim committee should determine whether BOD’s treatment of abuse is more appropriately dealt with interspersed within the framework of BOD (as revised) or in a new separate Chapter of BOD.

Initial steps to treat abuse in Book of Discipline:

• The initial revisions contemplated by this multi-step revision process should at a minimum,
• Define Abuse, naming it as a separate Offense in BOD;
• Take into account trauma to an abused person from expectations that he/she must initiate steps to confront the alleged abuser, providing scriptural underpinning separate from Matthew 18:15;
• Revise limitation of action (statute of limitation) provisions to comport with current legal standards and practice;
• Take into account the need to balance interests of alleged victims and rights of accused abusers;
• Consider criminal law context of abuse and mandated reporting requirements.

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RECOMMENDATIONS (DETAILED)

The Book of Discipline Task Force has no recommendations for the 45th General Assembly.

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COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Betsy Rumer (Co-Chairman)
TE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Bob LeSuer
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Ed McCallum
TE, Presbytery of the West

Steve Bretsen
RE, Presbytery of Rivers and Lakes

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MEETING DATES

October 9, 2024: Video Conference
October 31, 2024: Video Conference
November 12, 2024: Video Conference
November 18, 2024: Video Conference
December 4, 2024: Video Conference
January 7, 2025: Video Conference
January 27, 2025: Video Conference
February 5, 2025: Video Conference
February 25, 2025: Video Conference
March 6, 2025: Video Conference
March 25, 2025: Video Conference 
April 2, 2025: Video Conference
April 10, 2025: Video Conference

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Rumer Co-Chairman
June 2025

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