" Church World Part 2B "

 

Empty Tomb Witnesses, Resurrected Jesus Seekers, Good News Bearers, Faith-Sharers,

Some of you may be wondering …what is General Assembly?  And why was the preacher spending two weeks in meetings online and in Salt Lake City?  The short answer is that General Assembly is “the highest council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—a deliberative, discerning body, responsible for leading and guiding the whole church in ministry and mission.  And though I was not elected, and didn’t have a vote, I also serve as the Presbytery’s Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of the Pines, and presbytery staff have supportive roles at the assembly. 

1,340 people registered on-site in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The Assembly gathered in one of the large plenary venues at the Salt Palace convention center downtown.  166 Presbyteries sent nearly 500 commissioners from across the country; additionally Presbyteries were represented by mid-council leaders and stated clerks who observe, but who don’t have privilege of voting.  Each Presbytery could also send a Young Adult Advisory Delegate.  11 PCUSA seminaries were invited to elect a Theological Student Advisory Delegates.  There are also a handful of Ecumenical Advisory Delegates and Missionary Advisory Delegates.  About half of the people registered are commissioners and advisory delegates.  The remaining participants are General Assembly staff, presbytery and synod leaders and stated clerks, support volunteers from the local presbytery, stage crew, musicians, resource persons, agency staff, and visitors/observers.  It’s a little bit like watching CSPAN …except there’s always about 1,000 people in the room, half of which are actively making decisions. 

Most days at the assembly are structured similarly.  Each day begins in worship; exciting preachers, rich liturgies, special music, and full-throated singing.  Plenary meetings often began with special greetings from ecumenical representatives, or greetings from churches across the globe.  And then sessions of listening to committee reports and voting on committee recommendations.  There’s a break for lunch, usually a group meal for commissioners, before a long afternoon session.  There’s a break for dinner, usually another group meal of predictable hotel kitchen fare, followed by an evening session where meetings lasted until about 9pm. 

The first day of the Assembly, the Assembly elects co-moderators from among the commissioners.  There’s a process for standing for moderator, so you have to declare your intention to stand many weeks before the Assembly; this assembly chose between two co-moderator teams and this Assembly elected Reverends Cece Armstrong and Tony Larson, Minister commissioners from South Carolina. 

What’s all the excitement about?  All assembly committees are responsible for action items for the General Assembly to take bold, prophetic action in response to issues and concerns.  A lot of this year’s work centered around different proposals to direct invested funds away from companies who make and use fossil fuels.  Another proposal seeks to change descriptions in part of the Book of Order, to more explicitly address forms of discrimination by adding some new language: 

“God unites persons through baptism, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, [gender identity, sexual orientation,] disability, geography, or theological conviction.  There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person.”

Still other proposals addressed gun violence, climate change, the unification of 2 national church agencies, a new unified budget for those agencies, and a host of new church initiatives. 

The exciting part—seeing, feeling, and witnessing to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.  Seeing old friends and making new ones.  Spontaneous hymn sings, and dance breaks.  Feeling the joy and love of Jesus manifested with, in, and through so many people.  It’s life altering and faith-changing.  And I’m so grateful for the opportunity to participate and be of service.