General Assembly Blog

Minneapolis, MN - July 3rd - July 10th

Friday, July 2nd

     Well today was a travel day and all went well.  There was some concern about whether the plane was going to land properly concerning some cross winds.  And yes that was my concern for about one second but it did and we made it to Minneapolis.  Someone said with so many ministers on board from across North Carolina we were surely safe but I'm not sure relying on numerous ministers being on board wouldn't have just the opposite effect! 

     Ultimately a group of four of us had lunch at dinner time after registering and rounded out the day with an ice cream social.  Easy day.  Tomorrow things kick into gear.  Before I call it a night I have to study a proposed addition to our Book of Confessions.  It is the Belhar Confession.  Indeed God is a blessing.  Seen by so many Presbyterians from all over the country gathering together as well as seen through the joy of our children and teachers at VBS this past week!  Praise God!

Saturday, July 3rd

     I started out the day with what were called Riverside Conversations.  It was a way for us to begin to understand some of the major issues coming before G.A. this year.  I attended one dealing with civil unions and marriages.  It is a complicated issue especially for states that allow civil unions.  On the other hand, if we would simply make marriage services a Christian ceremony between a man and a woman only and leave civil unions, or whatever you want to call them, between the state and not the church that might make some things much easier.  It will be interesting to see what comes about in the next week. 

     One of the challenging questions I had today with one of our commissioners from Coastal Carolina boils down to this:  what would you do if God wanted you to vote in a way which could disrupt or greatly hamper the PC (USA) church?  Do we go against God's wishes?  Do we allow our vote to possibly hurt the denomination that we love?  Of course we love God more than any denomination, but it makes you ponder?  Are we courageous enough to follow God's will wherever it leads us?  Please continue to pray for all our 712 commissioners at G.A.

     This afternoon the plenary session, or entire body, met for the first time after lunch.  We did some orientation type of stuff like getting all our computers in sync, working out some bugs on our "remote control" voting gizmos.  It was actually pretty boring.  Yes, I said it!

     I had the joy of visiting with a seminary friend of mine during dinner that I hadn't seen since we graduated almost 15 years ago.  Yes, he is turning gray as well!

     The real excitement came tonight as we elected our moderator for the 219th meeting of General Assembly. There were six nominees running for the highest office in the church.  On the forth vote Cindy Bolback an elder, and the only elder running for the office won.  I think she will do a good job but we'll get a good sense in the days ahead. After her installation service the meeting was recessed until tomorrow. By the way it was after 11:00 p.m.!

  Tomorrow begins with a very exciting worship service and then we start meeting in our committees.  I am on the Middle East Peacemaking Committee which has turned out to be one of the more controversial committees because of certain issues coming before us.  It will be a long day as the work of the church really starts happening.  It's after midnight and I'm tired.  You all take care and we'll talk with you soon!! 

Sunday, July 4th

  Happy 4th of July everyone!  Today I enjoyed a Sunday morning worship service with several thousand in attendance. It was two hours long but it didn't feel like more than an hour and a half!  It was a visual spectacle, a rousing sermon from the outgoing Moderator, and even a baptism - which was the first ever done at G.A.  The music was powerful and incorporated music styles from the traditional to contemporary.  Well done.  Well done.

  After lunch we finally met with our committees to really begin the work of the G.A.  Just like I argue at the congregational level, the real work of the church is done in committees so it is the case at the level of G.A.  We have a committee, however, of about 45 people.  They consist of elder and minister commissioners, Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs), and Theological Advisory Delegates.  All are equal at the committee level, being given the power of voice and vote.  On the floor of G.A. only the commissioners have the power of vote though the other groups are polled as well.

  I quickly learned that the Middle East Peacemaking Committee will be dealing with several challenging issues and it appears that everyone is prepared.  That is a good thing.  We were supposed to meet until 4:30 p.m. but ran over till 5:30 p.m.  They got us out in time to enjoy a 4th of July picnic on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. 

  Tomorrow is coming quickly with a 7:00 a.m. breakfast with the rest of the 712 commissioners and then a full day of committee meetings. We are expecting to hear many opinions on what we as a committee should decide to do.  It should be a big day.

Monday, July 5th

  It was an early morning.  Breakfast at 7:00 to hear a speaker.  She had some very important stuff to say I'm sure but I was sitting in the back of a huge (by the way I mean really huge room) and the sound kept bouncing all over the place.  Nonetheless it was too hard to concentrate on all she had to say.  The Minneapolis Convention Center is just amazing! It is the biggest and nicest convention center I have been to by far.

      Anyway I was already thinking about hitting the work of my committee.  We heard speakers present their case on why the committee should or shouldn't vote a particular way.  We often had a group of over 100 people observing the proceedings.  One of the issues that was discussed was the divestment with the Caterpillar Corporation.  It is based in Peoria, IL which I will be traveling through in a week on our way to Iowa. The Presbytery Ex. who spoke against the church divesting from the Peoria area was also the minister who preached at my ordination service when I was ordained.  Small world.

     I promised myself that I wasn't going to speak up much during the proceedings.  I don't need to hear myself speak but sure enough on the first of four overtures that we did act on today I was right in the mix.  Amendments to Overtures have to be put into writing and then presented, discussed, and finally voted up or down.  Overture 14-07 deals with issues with prayer, support, and the like for the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.  Well one section was just a little too political for my liking and I was able to convince the majority of the committee of 45 to see it from my point of view. The overture was approved but without section E.

  We also approved to denounce Caterpillar for the use of their bulldozers that have been used to bull-doze the homes, destroy olive trees, build dividing walls, and likes against the Palestinian people.  On the flip side we decided not to start divestment of our Church's stock from the company.  Most felt this was a healthy compromise to keep us at the table with Caterpillar.  I will, however, be the first to share that we should not penalize the Caterpillar Company for how Israel uses their equipment. 

  So when we finally called it a night at 9:05 p.m. we had voted on four of the ten overtures for our committee. So tomorrow we have to complete the remaining six.  It's going to be a long day.  During the day even as things became passionate during deliberations people kept away from personal attacks and that was a very positive thing to see.  We Presbyterians are a diverse group but are firmly grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

     Tomorrow is yet another day and I look forward to finishing the work of the committee so everything can then come before the entire General Assembly for vote.  May God continue to guide and lead each of us as we keep an open mind discerning the will of God.

Tuesday, July 6th

     Friends I'm a little excited.  Instead of writing to you at midnight, as has been the norm the last couple of nights, it's not even six o'clock!  The work of the Middle East Peace Making Committee is now complete!  We started out the morning with the major report completed by the Middle East Study Committee (MESC).  It is a 134 page docuement not counting the appendixes, with roughly 37 recommendations.  Needless to say at lunch time we were still working on approving the overture to accept this document.  About two o'clock our work on it was finally completed.  We made some major changes to it.  But we knew if we didn't the whole piece would probably get rejected on the floor of General Assembly.  We'll have to see what happens.  Over the next three hours we were able to approve the remaining five overtures.  At the conclusion of our work a loud roar of being completed was puntuated by singing the doxolgy and prayer.  This committee had major disagreements at time but everyone did a wonderful job in respecting one another.  That speaks volumes about the integrity and love of Jesus displayed by all.

     I'm getting ready to go and eat dinner with the entire group from Coastal Carolina Presbytery.  There are eight commissioners representing you and being led by God.  I have started to hear the reports from other committees as their work is also being completed.  Some of the news causes great pause for me but maybe not for you.  The committee dealing with marriage has approved changing the words in the book of order from "between one man and one woman" to "between two people." 

     Now let me take this moment to remind you (or teach you) what happens next.  Next the General Assembly must approve the work of the committee.  Even after it is approved by General Assembly, however, it does not become "law."  Next it must be ratified by a majority of the presbyteries.  Only then are such changes possible to the Book of Order.

     Over the next 16 hours or so I will be examining the work of the different committees to be prepared to vote and speak if need be.  

     My thoughts and prayers are with each of you.  Just as I know you are lifting me up in prayer.  Please keep all the commissioners in your prayers.  There are some very difficult decisions coming our way.  Pray that God's will be done and not our own.   

Wednesday, July 7th

     Well this morning I actually had a little free time.  So I went to the exhibit room which is huge of course.  It's where all these booths are plus Cokesbury and couple of places to eat.  Well today was the last day of the exhibits so I went around looking one last time and did pick up a couple free things for Elizabeth and Catherine.  I can still get away with that but the time is coming to an end. 

     Union Seminary has changed its name again now to Union Presbyterian Seminary.  (It was Union Theological Seminary when I was there and it was something else afterwards).  Had the chance to see a couple of friends from my seminary days which was fun.  We noticed how we are all starting to frost our hair grey.  Ha! Ha!

     Finally 1:30 rolled around and plenary session was reconvened.  We hadn't met for several days because we had all been in our committees working.  We elected our Vice-Moderator Landon Whitstitt.  There will not be a test on any of this material. 

     We soon began hearing the reports from the committees.  The first committee was rather quick and very non-controversial.  Then the Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions began.  They had two big issues that came before the G.A.  The first was making some changes to the Heidelberg Confession which was made to correct some incorrect translations from German many years ago.  The biggest issue, however, to come up was the Belhar Confession.  It is a 1982 confession from South Africa talking about unity, peace, and reconciliation during a time of apartheid.  There has been some controversy on this confession but it passed 77% to 22% with 1% abstaining.  This now has to get approved by a majority of the presbyteries and then the next General Assembly (the last step is an extra step that isn't required for a change in the Book of Order).

     The biggest news of the night (we finished up about 9:30 p.m.) was approving the new Form of Government affectionately called N-Fog.  It passed with a vote of 69% to 30% with 1% abstaining.  I have some great issues with it but we will have to see what happens.  It will now go out to all the presbyteries for a vote.  It requires a majority vote.  

     Tomorrow is a full day of hearing and deciding on reports.  Please keep all your commissioners in your prayers including me.  God bless each of you for all you do for God's church!   

Thursday, July 8th

     Today was our first full day of plenary session on the floor of GA.  Things started out all right at first but it didn't take long before we had a technological problem.  It grounded GA to a halt for 15 minutes which I guess isn't long but it sure seemed like an eternity.  Most of our voting is done by a wireless remote control (kind of like a TV remote).  Well it wasn't working.  So we sang a little and the young adult advisory delegates (YAADs) led us in an energizer.  

     We approved an administrative commission to look into the middle governing bodies of the church.  In other words, they will look into the need for synods. 

     Now make sure you seat down if you are standing, though you maybe have already heard about this.  The ordination standards have read for many years may be about to change depending upon what the presbyteries do with this one.  In the past G-6.0106b has read, "Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church.  Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity, within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness...

     Well as of today the wording has been changed to, "Members who are called to ordained service in the church, by their examination and assent to the constitutional question for ordination and installation, pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, striving to follow where He leads through the witness of scripture, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the confessions..."

     The concern is that this now makes it possible for a practicing homosexual to become an ordained officer or minister in the church.  This will be worth talking about more in detail.  (It is too late to go into detail).  The vote was 53% in the affirmative to 46% in the negative and 1% abstaining. 

     The last big issue we tackled was the report concerning civil unions and marriage.  We did compromise by accepting both the majority and minority report. Then the most exciting move happened of the entire day.  GA was getting ready, I feared, of changing the terminology from "one man and one woman" in marriage to "two people."  A commissioner then made a substitute motion that the majority and minority report answer the rest of the committee's report.  It was a very good move.  Why say we are going to study the whole civil union and marriage issue and then go ahead and change the definition of marriage before it could be studied?  After much debate the vote was 51% for and 48% against with 1% abstaining.  In my opinion this was a big win for moderate and conservative Presbyterians.  We will now have two years to discuss and study this issue at the local church level and I look forward to sharing my insight that I have gained with everyone at FPC.    It's time to call it quits for tonight.  God Bless! 

Friday, July 9th and Saturday, July 10th

     As I was walking to the convention center from my hotel (about 2 blocks) by way of a skywalk, which is what cities have that have almost unbearable winters (thank goodness we don't), I started to notice something which made me walk with a little more purpose.  I saw two signs saying "Reconsider Committee 12."  Committee 12 was the committee that was somewhat sidetracked from part of their motions by a crafty substitute motion that simple allowed the study of marriage and civil unions go out to the church.  What some wanted, or what they were sensing in the air was that they were going to be able to see the words defining marriage between a man and a woman replaced with two people.  All this was dashed by the approval of the substitute motion.  

     It is always amazing how we see this in all parts and ways of life...I like the democratic way of doing things as long as the outcome is what I want.  If it doesn't go our way then let's do away with believing that the majority is led by God.  They have it wrong and we have it right.  

     Anyway after rounding another corner those signs were now being held up by individuals and then more individuals and still more individuals.  By the time I found my way to my seat I knew as well as everyone else that the minority group was not happy.  It tooks only a few minutes into business that a commissioner motioned that we reconsider the actions made by the night before.  This can be done, however, it is not always a wise move.  

     It was not a wise move this time either.  After spending a lengthy time opening up the things from last night the reconsider motion lost  by a 60% to 40% vote.  This vote may have been even a more powerful vote than the night before.

     We then tackled the work done by my committee - Middle East Peacemaking.  The GA acted on two, well three major issues.  First it voted to denounce the Caterpillar Coorporation because their equipment was being used by Israel to tear down Palestinian homes and buid walls and tear down their olive trees.  I would rather denounce Israel for this and not those CAT employees.  We did decide to stop short of divestment which was a good thing.  For the reasons I already mentioned.  

     The other big issue was a study document entitled "Breaking Down the Walls" which was believed to be very biased in its viewpoint.  The new document with changes I think I mentioned earlier in the week made it a much more balanced report.  I look forward to our church having the opportunity to discuss it in the next two years.

     We handled many other pieces of business throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening but the real excitement came during the debate of some ordinary business.  I was getting ready to leave my seat when I saw a group coming my way.  This group of protesters came (into the area where only commissioners are allowed to enter) carrying signs with three words Ordination, Marriage, and Pension (don't ask me the meaning - we are still trying to figure out why Pension).  Video cameras were marching in with them recording the protest.  Our moderator immediately had us stop – taking a break by singing “Celebrate the Journey” (we sang that the Sunday before I left for GA).  After that she led us in prayer.  They came in beside us and marched down to the front of the assembly.  They stopped by the front and started singing.  Approximately 7 of them were arrested.  The rest of them left without being arrested.  It appears that this was a conservative group not related to the Presbyterian Church (USA).  I'm very proud of how our moderator and the entire assembly acted!

     To sum up this General Assembly I would say some things were passed that I'm not very excited about as well as a few which I am.  This GA was definately leaning to the left in a larger way than even what I expected.  I am grateful for our presbyterian system which does require a majority of the presbyteries to ratify these things to the Book of Order and I believe many things will not pass.  I look forward to sharing with you the excitement of all that took place at GA when I get home from vacation.  May God bless you and bless the Presbyterian Church (USA) as well as First Pres!