Sunday at the General Assembly

Sunday began as Sundays do when you are a pastor . . . with worship. But, this week rather than serving as the pastor I got to serve as a participant in a wonderful opening worship service at the 219^th General Assembly. From the liturgical dancers and opening processional to the 250+ person choir and the sermon by Bruce Reyes-Chow (the now former moderator) the worship service was full of energy.

We celebrated both sacraments (communion and baptism) during worship, including the first baptism ever during worship at General Assembly. The baptism was a wonderful and moving experience; and on a personal note my former upstairs neighbor during seminary (Rev. Kara Root) provided the introduction to the baptism.

During the service there was a time of special recognition for military and veterans affairs chaplains thanking them for their dedicated service to the men and women who serve our country. Thank you to all who serve and have served as military & veterans affairs chaplains!!

Also, those Ministers of Word and Sacrament who have died and joined the great cloud of witnesses in the church triumphant since the last General Assembly were acknowledged. Among those acknowledged were several members of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, including the Rev. Jim Rankin who served at First Presbyterian – Delphi where I now serve.

The worship service was a wonderful experience and it was only after the service that I realized we had worshiped for 2 hours and 10 minutes (and that Bruce’s sermon was about 30 minutes long).

This afternoon found us beginning our committee work. I am serving on Committee #06 – “Church Orders and Ministry” which will be considering overtures related to Christian Educators, ordination standards, evaluating the call process, and behavior of ordained officers.

Today was a short day of committee work that focused on getting to know each other, orientation to the committee procedures and approving our docket. So, tomorrow we will move forward with three working sessions as we dive head first into the 20 overtures assigned to our committee.

I am also serving as an “Overture Advocate” in support of the Presbytery’s concurrence to Overture 04-05 “On Creating a Special Committee to Explore the Roles and Relationships of Synods and Presbyteries to Each Other, to the Agencies, and to Congregations.” So far, there has been very little advocating but the overture is on the docket for tomorrow evening so this will change tomorrow.

We capped off the 4^th of July with a “picnic” (and if you wanted to stay fireworks) on Nicollet Island in the middle of the Mississippi River.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4^th of July!!

Hello from Minneapolis!

Julianne Miller-YAAD
Upon arrival in Minneapolis, I was welcomed with open arms into the beautiful (and surprisingly clean) city of Minneapolis. There are 173 YAADs, young adult advisory delegates, who were given Thursday evening to get to know each other and explore the city for ourselves. Friday-the real work began.
Orientation for YAADs began with group building activities and energizers for those of you who have participated in Triennium. Energizers are a fun, upbeat way to get the blood moving and people excited to be where we are! I’ve met young adults from all over the country: California, Alaska, Iowa, New York, Idaho, Georgia-well you get the picture! Each of us comes from different homes, different cultures, different ages, yet there is one thing that unites us, Presbyterianism.
We are all one in Christ. Unity is the ongoing theme among the youth of this general assembly. There are worries about the tough, controversial issues that face the church. We each wonder how we can accurately do God’s work, when there are no clear answers to the issues such as civil unions and marriage or peacemaking in the Middle East. In our YAAD gatherings we consistently pray for the grace to go into committees with open hearts and minds. We pray that commissioners and advisory delegates alike will be able to listen to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not be obstructed by our personal beliefs.
There are four wonderful YAAD advisors who lead YAAD gatherings every evening-sometimes into the wee hours of the morning!- as a time to allow YAADs to converse and reflect on the day. Each time we meet they remind us that we are here to explore our own faith, and to make a voice for our personal beliefs. Their wisdom and encouragement is a blessing as I explore my personal beliefs on troubling issues, and work towards discovering God’s purpose for me at this assembly.

Opening session July 3, 2010

A glorious day in the Minneapolis area and we are about 1000 strong with 750 commissioners to the 219^th General Assembly and 140 Youth Advisory Delegates plus our presbyteries and synods staffs.

The four commissioners plus our Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD in Presby acronym language are seated together in the middle section and only 9 rows back. As we arrived in our seats this morning, there were goody bags from our Stated Clerk, Linda Long. She knows our abiding love of chocolate and the anticipated need for sustenance as the meeting continues into the evening hours.

We are being introduced to the 6 candidates for moderator of the 219^th General Assembly. Unfortunately, politics has invaded the process which I guess is inevitable. I’m sure they are all sincere in their commitment to the position.

The current moderator is a very young man, Bruce Reyes-Chow, who has brought us into the techie age with his proclivity to social networking, that is Twitter and Facebook. Having created a following who have become addicted to such a means of communication, we have been somewhat surprised that we do not have Internet access while here in the Assembly Hall. Of course, some who shall remain nameless, but is a minister commissioner serving on COM, have skirted the rules by using his phone to Tweet.

Now that the introductions are done, we hear the candidating speeches.

…. A couple of hours later… We are now into the question and answer period with the candidates. I had limited by decision to two candidates but now, there’s a third one added. We vote electronically… eventually… and the final number on the voting pad is the one that counts. These are the times the Holy Spirit really is among us.

During yet another techie glitch break… I mentioned the goody bags from Linda Long….included besides the food were tiny little bottles of bubbles. The five of us from Wabash Valley were blowing bubbles that wafted up to the dome of the Convention Center and the commissioners all seemed to delight in the diversion as well… except for the lady in the row ahead of us who complained that the bubbles were destroying her hairdo… believe me… the hairdo was begging for destruction!

Some time later… The Holy Spirit has now intervened and the electronic voting has been accomplished. It took a couple of votes, but the leader all the way is the Ruling Elder Cindy Bolbach. The term “Elders Rule!” has become the hot phrase tonight! She has quite a sense of humor and the leadership of the church will be in good hands.

Found Ginny and Darryl Baker in the observers gallery this evening. They are here as volunteers and will be assisting with communion at the opening worship, which I understand is really going to be memorable.

Long day… Committee work begins tomorrow.

Jill

from Alice Yacullo, Elder Commissioner

It is a great honor to be a small drop in that flowing river of believers. Last night's experience was grand. Getting to bed at midnight was a small price to pay to be a part of it all. I can honestly say I didn't decide on my vote until after the candidates gave their 5 minute talks and answered questions from commissioners. I must have changed my mind several times before that. But it was during last evening's speeches that the curtain parted and a clear vision of the leadership of Cynthia Bolbach opened. That is not to say that the other candidate weren't gifted but for me the decision became clear.

Alice

We Have Begun!

Beginning with worship the elders, ministers, young adults, seminary students, mission coworkers and ecumenical representatives were commissioned to service as Commissioners and Advisory Delegates to the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). So, it has begun . . . we are now officially commissioners and officially doing “business”.

After commissioning came orientation when we heard a series of presentations about the range of programs of the denomination and other items we should be aware of (including the always fun “Financial Implications Report of Proposed Actions” and how to use the wireless voting system).

We heard from the Stated Clerk (Gradye Parsons), Committee on Local Arrangements, Moderator of the 218^th GA (Bruce Reyes-Chow), Vice-Moderator of the 218^th GA (Byron Wade), General Assembly Mission Council (GMAC) (Linda Valentine – Executive Director), General Assembly Nominating Committee (GANC), and the Committee on Business Referrals. And, we had our first official actions of the GA when we approved assignment of overtures to committees.

The orientation continued with an open time in the exhibit hall for commissioners and advisory delegates only. When we had an opportunity to visit with the various agencies of the PC(USA) and have a light buffet dinner.

Then we reconvened in the plenary hall for the major item of business for today . . . election of the Moderator of the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Each of the six candidates for moderator had someone give them a five-minute nominating speech. Then the candidates got to give their own five-minute speeches before there was a 90-minute period for Q & A of the candidates.

After some glitches with the electronic voting system and several ballots (special thanks to Linda Long for the bubbles which helped to fill the time), Elder Cindy Bolbach from the National Capital Presbytery was elected Moderator of the 219^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Rev. Landon Whitsitt from the Heartland Presbytery was elected the Vice-Moderator. Congratulations to Cindy and Landon as well as all the other candidates!

As their parting gifts, Bruce and Byron were not only given the traditional official gifts for their service they were also both given neckties since they both avoid them as much as possible.

We have begun our journey together. Tomorrow (or is later today . . . either way on Sunday) we will start with an opening worship service which will include communion and a BAPTISM! So until the morning may God be with you all!

PS – There is no internet access in the plenary hall or the committee rooms (only intranet access), so postings will probably be limited to a single post at the end of the day.

The Calm Before the Storm

After an early morning (Friday, 7/2), I have arrived in Minneapolis and am enjoying the calm before the storm.

It has been a full day, but since the General Assembly (GA) does not convene until tomorrow there were no committee meetings, plenary sessions or votes today. Just an opportunity to get settled in and take a deep breath.

So, I have checked into my hotel, officially registered for the GA, wandered the exhibit hall, found where my committee will be meeting, participated in a discussion on “Raising Leaders for the Mission of God”, attended overture advocate training, and even had time to eat two meals & pick-up snacks at Target.

Tomorrow the pace will pick-up as we begin the day with Riverside Conversations in the morning, convening of the GA in the afternoon, and then election of the Moderator in the evening.

There are six candidates for the moderator so the election may take a while. I visited with the candidates this afternoon and am looking forward to hearing more from them tomorrow at the Presbyterian Outlook Luncheon and then during their nomination speeches.

Would love to say more, but it is time to call it a day because tomorrow is going to be full . . .

Friday, July 2- Settling In

Miles are behind us on this beautiful day, suitcases are in the room, tickets for events are in hand, and internet access is in place. In the afternoon at GA 219, I have run into Bill McLean, Rebecca Kirkpatrick, Ray Fancher, and several Stated Clerk colleagues, and we saw Alice Yacullo walking down the street. My daughters and I explored the Exhibit Hall to gather a few items from the Global Market.

This afternoon, I attended training for floor assistants who serve during plenary sessions--at microphones, handling paperwork for motions and resolutions, and the like. Bill McL said he will attend the conversation sponsored by Lee Hinson-Hasty, Coordinator for Theological Education and Seminary Relations, about identifying needs and nurturing leadership skills in clergy. This evening: off to a concert hosted by the Westminister Presbyterian Church in its sanctuary.

Tomorrow: 219th GA convenes for two working sessions, including election of our GA Moderator.