GA Day 2 - Filled and Poured Out

Sunday morning and over 40 churches in the Detroit area hosted GA commissioners for worship. I had the great honor of worshipping at Broadstreet Presbyterian Church, an African American congregation. I think we tripled the worship attendance that day but it was an inspiring, moving, exhilirating experience (can you say that about your worship last Sunday?). Lo and behold there is a guest preacher who is none other than the Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon, a pastor only a few miles from the church I serve in Charlotte. I can't believe I had to go all the way to Detroit to hear Jerry preach, but it was well worth it.

With humor, energy, memorable illustrations, and calling out people's names during the sermon (including mine), one couldn't help but leave worship 10 feet off the ground, ready to show hospitality and love to our neighbor. The choir had a special welcome song for all of the visitors, we took at least 15 minutes to share the peace, we had an altar call (yes you can do that in the Presbyterian church), and we had a delicious lunch afterward. The one hour and forty five minute worship service flew by. What a blessing to be a recipient of Rev. Cannon's preaching.

Well, after worship like that, we came back to sit in a hard, sterile seat and listen to an hour's worth of four special committees make their pitch to support their recommendations. Of course they will do it again when we actually vote on these issues on Thursday or Friday, but I guess they wanted to get a head start persuading us. After a worship service like I had in the morning, it was sure hard to focus on the dry, boring presentations.

On a more hopeful note, we commissioned the Young Adult Volunteers and Mission Workers to overseas service which brought tears to my eyes.  It was in 1998 in Charlotte that I was standing where they were, commissioned to embark on my year in Ghana, West Africa. In fact, the entire Young Adult Volunteer program was lifted up for its 20 year anniversary. My time as a YAV was life changing and continues to influence me today. I am grateful to be a recipient of this amazing program.

Then it was time to go to our individual committees. There are 15 standing committees and commissioners are randomly assigned to one of the fifteen. Mine is Theological Issues and Institutions, but we would not get into any business today. Instead we worshipped and participated in ice breakers meant to get us to mingle and get to know each other. It was actually fun to get to know some more people and what we have in common.

We ended at 9:30 pm but since I had volunteered to read some minutes I stayed to talk with the moderator and parlamentarian about my edits. Somehow I was then asked to be the spokesperson for the group and to type up the edits and recommendations for tomorrow's meeting. I then spent until 11:30 pm creating that document. 

I went to bed exhausted but filled. Glad to be filled by the Spirit in the morning and glad to pour out my gifts to the committee at night.  Tomorrow we start the real committee work. We will see what God has in store!

GA Day 1 - Celebrations and Tribulations

Today is the first official day of the 221st General Assembly. Here is the view from my seat. Is it a coincidence that I am in the second row from the BACK? Thank goodness for the big screens up front or I wouldn't be able to see a thing.

There are about 650 voting commissioners at the GA. Well, 650 commissioners at least. The voting part could be debated. But we'll get to that in a minute.

The highlights for today begin with worship. It started with bagpipes, liturgical dance, and singing. We reaffirmed our baptism during the prayer of confession around the baptismal font (oh yes, that liturgy will show up at Alex's baptism on July 6). The sermon was on one of my favorite texts: the Road to Emmaus. We then celebrated communion together with pottery made especially for this assembly (and yes you can bet I bought one of these fabulous communion sets). We closed with more singing. It's amazing to be a part of 1,000 Presbyterians all worshipping together. I'm also excited to share that communion will be served each day that plenary meets. No matter our viewpoints we will all gather together at the table. I love that worship will daily bring us together to remind us what we have in common in an atmosphere that often reminds us what our differences are.

The second highlight was a video that blew me away, well if you are a diehard presbyterian that is. You gotta see this! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M0iYniL2WKg  It is HILARIOUS!! It was a great way to laugh at ourselves with the most influential leaders of our denomination. This video showed we can have fun even as we do the ministry of the church. Plus, I just love Les Miserables!

A third highlight was actually a lowlight. Despite our efforts to enter the 21st century, the online voting system was a complete catastrophe. After it became clear this system was not working, we went to plan B as clickers (like remote controls) were handed out. We then spent even more time practicing our voting procedures. After OVER AN HOUR we finally decided to move on, even considering Plan C, using paper votes for the 650 commissioners.  So much for technology! One of the more frustrating moments of the first day of GA, for sure.

Finally, our most important task for the day was to choose a new moderator for not only the General Assembly, but for the next two years until the next assembly meets. The moderator is the face of the PC(USA), the spokeperson for our denomination. There were three candidates: John Wilkinson, a pastor in New York; Heath Rada, an elder who is the former President of Presbyterian School of Christian Education; and Kelly Allen, a pastor in Texas. There was about an hour of debate before the first vote was cast. And yes...we used good ole paper ballots. Because a candidate needs 51% of the vote it was very likely that we would have to vote two times. But Heath Rada received over 50% of the vote on the first ballot.

I voted for Heath also. He brings a sensitivity to diversity that I appreciate. He intentionally chose a young, female, Chinese American pastor as his running mate because he knew his face needed a different partner to complete the image of the church. He is very inclusive of all people and will make all feel welcome in the PC(USA). He describes himself as a bridge builder, a needed gift in our denomination in these times. A picture of what he believes is below as well as him being installed as the new moderator. That's him secon from the right and Larissa is on the left holding her young child.

It was a long but fulfilling day at the General Assembly. The Spirit was present in a number of ways (except in the technology). May the Spirit continue to move among us and within us in the days to come.