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
