Who we are

The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) is a servant of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We develop, interpret and monitor policies that encourage and challenge the Church and society to reflect and act in faithful response to God's call to do justice.

• About us
• Function of ACSWP
• The history of ACSWP

Special offer on Church & Society back issues

Fellow Presbyterians:

Some of the best reading I did this past summer was of old issues of Church and Society magazine. I had never known of the Presbyterian publication until recently when I began categorizing issues dating back to the early 1970s. I was disappointed to discover in my discussions with fellow members that few within the denomination had access to this journal. Church & Society, “C&S” was actually 98 years old and had existed in several formats. For this college student, reading about the history of the Presbyterian Church’s involvement in social justice was very enlightening. It is for this reason that I want to share this publication with others so that they too can learn more about our socially active church.  Read the rest of this letter from Erica Arave, ACSWP's 2008 Summer Assistant.

Order Church & Society magazine back issues.

Lift Every Voice: Democracy, Voting Rights, and Electoral Reform

This report recommends ways to strengthen democratic — small d — promise and practice in the political life of the United States based on principles of Reformed Christianity. Presbyterian political scientists, ethicists and others studied why so many Americans do not vote, despite the 2007 renewal of Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination. Remedies include voting machine paper trails, non-partisan election commissions, re-enfranchising former felons, D.C. voting rights, weekend and instant-run-off voting and innovative structural improvements.

Download a single copy of Lift Every Voice

Order the printed report
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Also read Christian Iosso's October 2008 article in The Presbyterian Outlook, "The General Assembly and the general election."

A Memorandum on Social Witness at the 218th General Assembly

This is one of periodic memos sent on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy and follows most directly the memo of April 2008, “Prophetic Choices before the 218th General Assembly.” That memo outlined the ten actions that the Advisory Committee was bringing before the General Assembly. This memo is designed to update you on this part of the Assembly’s work and touch on other matters of importance to those concerned with social justice work in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). [Keep reading]

ACSWP Reports Approved by the 218th General Assembly (2008)

Download a printer-friendly flier with a list of ACSWP studies and recommendations for action.

• ACSWP Agency Summary.
• Comfort My People: A Policy Statement on Serious Mental Illness
  Affirming the gifts of those living with mental illness.
• A New Social Creed
  A practical, ecumenical vision for renewing our country and its role in the world. Learn more about the Social Creed.
• Costly Lessons of the Iraq War
  What can we learn from the invasion and occupation, and what responsibilities do we have?
• From Homelessness to Hope: Constructing Just, Sustainable Communities for All God's People.
  Proposes next steps for society and offers tested programs
  to the church.
• God's Work in Women's Hands: Pay Equity and Just Compensation
  Ethical analysis, strategies and tools.
• Lift Every Voice: Democracy, Voting Rights and Electoral Reform.
  Appendix: Election Logistics 101.
  This resolution presents new and tested measures to protect voting rights and strengthen our democracy.
• Struck Down But Not Destroyed: From Hurricane Katrina To a More Equitable Future.
  While thousands of wonderful volunteers continue to help rebuild the Gulf Coast, reconstruction lags and diaspora continues. Recommended: ways to build on hope and end abandonment.
• The Power to Change: U.S. Energy Policy and Global Warming.
  This resolution lays out a clear and well documented path toward sustainability and equity to protect future generations.
• Report on Human Rights in Colombia.
  How do we stand with our partners in a country beset by long patterns of human rights violations?

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