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
