Dear GA Commissioner,

As you may be aware the Form of Government Task Force will be presenting an almost complete revision of the Book Of Order to the General Assembly for approval and adoption.  The other members of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, its Executive Board and national office staff and I urge you to vote against the revision as presented by the task force.

The revision does nothing to enrich or protect lay employees of the church. The Presbyterian Association of Musicians, on behalf of all lay employees, submitted several proposed changes in the revision that would both enrich and protect lay employees of the church. A number of Sessions and individuals wrote to the task force recommending the adoption of the changes recommended by PAM, but the task force did not accept any part of the PAM suggestions.

Detailed information on the PAM proposal can be found on the PAM website, in the Christmas 2007 issue of our newsletter. 

PAM representatives will be at the General Assembly. They will be happy to respond to any question you may have about this matter.

We know the FOG Task Force had a lot to do in the two years afforded it by the last General Assembly, and we know they were unable to respond to the concerns of the people who will be affected by the revisions of the Book of Order.  

We recommend the revisions proposed by the FOG Task Force not be adopted, but be sent to the presbyteries and churches for study for one year, with recommended changes to be submitted back to the FOG task force for rewriting for submission to the 2010 General Assembly.

Yours in His Service,