GA Day 4 - Get to Know the Belhar Confession

After our perfunctory approval of the minutes and a brief disussion to disapprove designating a Sunday for Presbyterians celebrating the gift of evolution, the rest of our time together 9:30-5:00, was spent on learning about and debating the Belhar Confession.

The Belhar Confession was written in South Africa in 1982 and adopted into the church in Belhar, South Africa in 1986. In the context of apartheid and racism, this confession boldly stood up to discrimination and spoke about unity, reconciliation, and justice. It talks about the sin of segregation, prejudism, and hatred. You can read it and find out more about it at pcusa.org/belhar.

The question before us was whether or not this confession belongs in our Book of Confessions. Now that's a BIG DEAL. The last time a confession was added was in the mid 1980's. Before then it was in the late 1960's. Before then it was the time in Nazi Germany in the 1940's and before then it was the Westminster Confession in the 1600's. All that is to say, adding something to the book of Confessions is a once in a generation, if not lifetime, opportunity.

Clifton Kirkpatrick led our discussion. So what makes a confession worthy of inclusion? We ask questions like, does it speak to our time? Is it a prophetic or needed word to include to our historical documents? The overwhelming answer is YES. Racism still exists in our country. The church hour is still the most segregated hour of the week. The church needs to speak up against this injustice where people are still judged by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. 

Christians in South Africa stood up against their racial injustice. We are asked to the same in our country. Of almost 60 people on our committee, only 1 person was against the Belhar. Now it goes to the entire General Assembly and if it passes it goes to Presbyteries throughout the next year to get a 2/3 majority vote. We will see what happens.

After our business, I engaged in another important part of GA: socializing and networking. First the entire Presbytery of Charlotte went out to dinner. It was a time to share our experiences, check in with each other, and talk with people we might not see too often. As you can see, we all had a great time led by our positive and uplifting Transitional Presbytery Executive Rev. Betty Meadows. 

Princeton Theological Seminary had a reunion and it was good to meet new people and catch up with long time friends. I met the former moderator Neal Presa who did such a great job representing our denomination the past two years.

I also had the chance to meet the current Vice Moderator Larissa Kwong Abazia, pastor of a thriving multi-cultural church in New York. So glad she will help represent our denomination in the next two years. Here she is with my room mate for the week, Nancy Wilson.

Finally, I ran into the former chaplain at Princeton Theological Seminary with whom I worked as the chapel assistant. Michael Livingston is one of the saints of the church and I was glad to see him again.

While we come here to do ministry, we also strengthen our connections around the denomination as we get to know new people and reconnect with past friends. Tuesday was a great day. We finished our business and strengthened our connections with those in the church.