A New Day at GA

Thursday and Friday at the PCUSA 218th General Assembly have been days of change for the church.  Some of the changes have involved individual people and others are changes that involve the church as a whole. 

The most prominent decision that involved an individual person was the election of Gradye Parsons as GA Stated Clerk. Our own Stated Clerk Rev. Dennis Hughes led the installation service. Parsons won on the first ballot with 57% of the vote and follows Clifton Kirkpatrick in this position. You can read more about Parsons on the GA218 website.  

In the Seattle Presbytery, our own Rev. Jean Kim, HR, was awarded the first annual Lifetime Peacemaking Award at the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program Dinner.  She was awarded this honor as a result of her years acting as an activist for the impoverished and her work with the Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness.  In addition to Jean’s award, Seattle Presbytery’s Elder Commissioner Steve Aeschbacher was voted to the General Assembly Council. Way to go Jean and Steve!!

Decisions made in the last two day that affect the church as a whole range from ecumenical relations and peacemaking, to FOG revisions and ordination standards.  Many decisions were made quickly by the assembly with a large majority vote, and others required much discussion and were won by a narrow vote.  Some decisions will take place immediately and others will be sent to the presbyteries to be discussed and voted on. I expect that you will be soon hear from our Executive Presbyter Scott Lumsden regarding the ones we will be discussing.

I want to assure you that no matter what your stand is on any particular issue, the commissioners and advisory delegates did not take their responsibilities lightly.  There was much discussion, prayer and discernment that went into each vote. The Presbyterian Church USA, in my experience, is a church that is led by Christian people who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and seek to do the will of God, living their lives in a way that will glorify God.  That being said, it is also my experience that these same people recognize that they are sinful beings who, despite their best intentions, know they are flawed and don’t always do what is right.  Some of the decisions made in the past two days were very controversial.  I urge you in this time to remember we are each members of Christ’s body, and it is during these times that it is most important that we continue to work together in seeking the will of God.  Seattle Presbytery is a wonderful entity that exudes the love of Christ in the way we treat each other with respect and dignity, no matter where we each may stand on any particular issue. I expect that with some of the overtures that GA will be sending to the presbyteries to review, Seattle will have the opportunity to be an example to others in the PCUSA of how to live as the body of Christ.

For details on the overtures that were passed, please visit the Committees page of the GA218 website. Some of the committees that presented a few of the more highly debated issues included the FOG Revision Committee, the Church Orders and Ministry Committee, the Health Issues Committee, the Theological Issues and Institutions Committee, and the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee.  I urge you to read not only the controversial issues, but educate yourself on all of the decisions that were made at GA, and get a complete picture of your church.

Now, as was prayed before the voting on many overtures, “May we remember to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” Micah 6:8

Heidi Francis
Communications Director, Seattle Presbytery 

 

GA Business Meetings Begin

This morning began with an ecumenical worship service, with Archbishop Elias Chacour preaching.  After worship many people spent the morning visiting the exhibition hall one last time, catching up with other commissioners, attending sponsored gatherings or resting in preparation of the long business meetings yet to come.  I attended a workshop on using video to tell stories of ministry, and enjoyed visiting with Randy Butler while eating lunch. We discovered that we grew up in the same town, lived only a mile (or so) from each other and graduated from the same high school – small world, indeed.

After lunch the General Assembly business meetings began. One of the first actions of business was to install and confirm The Rev. Byron Wade, pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC, as vice moderator of the 218th General Assembly.  After the installation, presentation of the overtures that the committees had worked on began.  At first, several passed with little or no discussion and slowly things began to pick up.  The first overture that involved much discussion and proposal of amendments was On Directing the GAC to Produce Adolescent Human Development Resources presented by the Church Growth and Christian Education Committee.  Other committees that presented overtures today were Business Referral; Bills and Overtures; Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations; Theological Issues and Institutions; Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Foundation and Presbyterian Publishing; and Youth. To view the committees, overtures and decisions, click on this link, then choose the committee and overture you are interested in.

At dinner tonight I attended the National PCUSA Multicultural Dinner sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Ministries and the Presbyterian Multicultural Network.  The keynote speaker was Tom Taylor, Executive Director for Mission, GAC.  He spoke about God created us each differently, put us in different situations, and allowed us to create different cultures. No one culture is better than an other, and all are to be celebrated.  He also reminded us that multicultural does not necessarily mean multi-ethnic or multi-racial, but rather focuses on culture. There can be a group of people from the same race, all with different cultures. The dinner was enjoyable, and the presentation thought-provoking. 

After dinner, on my way back to my hotel, I dodged a group of protesters (the one time all week, that I wasn’t carrying my camera!).  They were making their way to the convention center, and I didn’t think too much about them, but it was noted later that the protesters were more assertive than was comfortable to some of the commissioners who were entering the building. The protester’s actions were within the law, and no one was hurt, but it did make for a bit more exciting evening than many people had anticipated.

Tomorrow is expected to have some lively moments on the floor of the General Assembly.  If you like, you can stream the business meetings as they are happening from the GA218 website.  This site also has a link to PC-biz and the most up-to-date information on the decisions being made.

Please remember our commissioners, advisory delegates, and the whole assembly in your prayers as they seek to do God’s work in the next few days.

Heidi Francis
Communications Director, Seattle Presbytery 

 

Bruce Reyes-Chow is New Moderator

The first order of business was conducted last night.  As the commissioners, delegates, middle body governing staff, and observers gathered in the General Assembly meeting room, we were introduced to the four nominees for the GA218 moderator.

The process began with an introduction of each nominee, followed by an “election” speech given by the person officially nominating the candidate.  The candidates were Rev. Carl Mazza (New Castle), Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow (San Francisco), Elder Roger Shoemaker (Homestead), and Rev. Bill Teng (National Capitol).  After the (+/-) five minute speeches were given, the nominees then gave their acceptance speeches. It was at that point that the assembly began to get a real view of what each nominee was like and understand their personal vision for the future of the PC (USA).

At the end of the acceptance speeches, the floor was open to commissioners and delegates who had questions of the nominees.  Questions were not aimed at any particular nominee, and each nominee took turns answering every question.  The questions ranged from “How will your congregations be tended to if you become moderator?” to “What is your stance on inclusion?”  During the question/answer period the room began to buzz.  Some questions were answered more directly than others, but I believe the tables turned when Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, in addressing a question about inclusion stated that he doesn’t want to dance around an elephant in the room, but would rather address it directly.  He was the first candidate to openly state that he is for inclusion of all who are called to be ordained, regardless of sexual orientation.  He also stated that he knew that there are others who oppose that stance, and even though they may not agree, he believes that as discerning Christians, each are being guided by the Holy Spirit and they must now work together to understand the will of God.

Once the question/answer period was over, the delegates were asked to vote. (Their vote doesn’t count, but it is important in giving us a view of where they stand.)  Their vote was strongly in favor of Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow.  Then the commissioners voted.  A moderator must win by at least 51% of the vote.  After the first ballot, Rev. Reyes-Chow had won 48% of the vote.  A second ballot was taken, where he won the position of Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the PC (USA).