Things may have seemed quiet around here yesterday, but today it feels as though the wind is picking up. Committees met all day and into the evening, breaking only for meals. Overtures are being crafted, discussions are lively, meetings are orderly, and decisions are being made. No matter what the mood is in the room, it is heartwarming to see every committee pray or sing a hymn before and after every break – a constant reminder why they are here and who they are serving.
Every committee I visited today (7) were discussing issues that people were passionate about. Topics included things such as: full communion with ecumenical partners; our stance on torture for military or security reasons; how the church addresses the abortion issue; making the Heidelberg Catechism translation more authentic; and deleting the fidelity and chastity clause from the Book of Order. To follow the work of the committees and the overtures they are creating, log on to PC-biz, click on Committees at the top of the page, then choose the specific committee you are interested in on the left-hand side. Or, once you are on the site, you can search for the subject you are interested in by clicking on the Explorer tab at the top of the homepage.
At the lunch break today, the commissioners and delegates from the Seattle Presbytery, North Puget Sound Presbytery and Olympia Presbytery ate their meal together. It was a great time to catch up, share their experiences about their committees, and pray for each other.
In addition to the committee work, there is much sharing and collaboration also happening at GA. People are learning about the variety of ministries and resources that the PCUSA offers, along with what other churches, organizations and groups are doing to spread the love of God. Today I spoke with a representative from Oikocredit, an organization that facilitates micro-finance loans; I learned about the PCUSA Campaign for Fair Food and their efforts to get corporations to work with farmworkers to end human rights abuses in the Florida fields; I provided copies of our Signs of Hope DVD to be distributed after it was viewed by others who are interested in creating similar videos for their own ministries; and I had dinner with the Hispanic Caucus.
The dinner was enlightening. I sat at a table with people from Costa Rica, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Columbia. Some were ecumenical representatives, and others had Hispanic ministries here in the US. The dinner was a wonderful experience, including a word from both Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and our new Moderator Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow. The Hispanic Caucus Moderator Rev. Alfredo Miranda also spoke. We were entertained with a Latino band who led the Hispanic constituents in song, and dancers who performed native dances from a variety of South American countries. This experience gave me incentive to be more intentional in studying my Spanish and begin to break the language barrier between myself and our own Hispanic fellowships.
As you can see, the days are full and much is being done. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide the commissioners and delegates as they seek God’s will in their decision-making process.
Blessings,
Heidi Francis
Communications Director, Seattle Presbytery
