Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Mike on the Middle East Committee
All day the committee has discussed, reflected, prayed and debates what
to do about Divestment. The good thing is that they are VERY serious in
wanting to consider all aspects of the issues. The troubling thing is
that the professional staff attending the committee meeting and acting
as Resource people are uniformly pro-divestment (from my perspective).
The open hearings went well. Probably 60 people testified, all
respectfully and with a sense of gravity and passion.
Tonight the committee is trying to digest all they have heard and
learned. They are honestly wrestling with the issues of how to honor our
partnership with both Palestinian and Israeli partners. They are
debating the recommendation by MRTI to divest. My assumption is that the
recommendation on that MRTI recommendation will be the response to the
New Covenant overture not to divest.
Mike's fourth post - Monday
It has been an interesting and settling experience to sit and pray for
the Theological Issues and Institutions Committee 17 even while I'm
attending the meeting of the Middle East Committee 15. These
commissioners. All need our prayers as they seek God's will.
Mike's third post after the election
On the fourth ballot Neal Presa was elected as the Moderator of the
220th GA. Neal is a pastor from New Jersey with a pastoral heart and
youthful energy May the Lord be with him during his time as moderator.
Mike's second post - Saturday night
Listening to 5 minute speeches by the candidates for Moderator. All are
good candidates with strengths and blind spots. It should be interesting
to see how the commissioners respond.
Mike's first post on his blog
GA began with very traditional worship. Moderator Cindy Bolbach preaches
an excellent sermon based the story in Mark about the paralytic man
being brought to Jesus and lowered through a roof. Cindy pointed out
seething I hadn't noticed - those who brought the man to Jesus are not
identified as friends. We assume they are. If not, then it suggests that
a responsibility of being a disciple is to bring people, maybe even
those we don't know and with whom we disagree, to meet Jesus.
Part of my reflection is that we are on a time when we need to be
bringing each other to meet Jesus. We don't do that effectively by
taking hard stances on complex issues we've got to stay in conversation
with one another especially being sensitive to those who are struggling
with the rapid pace of change.
Bogged down ...
Apparently our other folks here are having difficulty posting to this blog. Mike Cole is posting under another blog and I will try to copy his posts here. Here is the link in the meantime: http://pncnotesonga.blogspot.com/?m=1
Yesterday was a LONG day for many of our commissioners - marriage and civil unions, health issues, Middle East - lots of work being done. Some of what is being proposed is controversial and political, and many people on both sides are passionate, and also concerned about what their votes would mean for the future of the church.
This afternoon, I am sitting in with the committee that is looking at the confessions. Motions, substitute motions, perfecting motions ... it seems that we get bogged down in the process. There is concern for sending out something that has previously been defeated ... and so it goes ... on and on and on.
I am monitoring other committees on Twitter. Use #ga220 to follow the action. Many committees are being covered by people in the room, so it is being updated as actions are being taken. People are tired ... people are anxious ... but people care deeply about the church.
More later ...
Lynn
Yesterday was a LONG day for many of our commissioners - marriage and civil unions, health issues, Middle East - lots of work being done. Some of what is being proposed is controversial and political, and many people on both sides are passionate, and also concerned about what their votes would mean for the future of the church.
This afternoon, I am sitting in with the committee that is looking at the confessions. Motions, substitute motions, perfecting motions ... it seems that we get bogged down in the process. There is concern for sending out something that has previously been defeated ... and so it goes ... on and on and on.
I am monitoring other committees on Twitter. Use #ga220 to follow the action. Many committees are being covered by people in the room, so it is being updated as actions are being taken. People are tired ... people are anxious ... but people care deeply about the church.
More later ...
Lynn
Monday, July 2, 2012
My Sunday at the Assembly
I missed a lot on Sunday ... including being with the congregation that I serve. As good as it was to have a slow morning, and to take the time to watch CBS Sunday morning, it was strange to not go to church. The commissioners were encouraged to attend worship in churches all around town. Several attended First Pres of Pittsburgh, which sounded lovely, except that there was no air conditioning. Even though it was near the hotel, I wasn't sure that I wanted to sweat for Jesus.
Plenary on Sunday afternoon seemed slow. The Vice Moderator was elected, and it looked as though it was going to be controversial. A motion was made to set aside the standing roles so that she might be questioned about having signed a marriage license for a same sex couple. The marriage is legal in the place where she serves, but as you can imagine, there were people that were upset by this, especially since it is not in accordance with the current Book of Order. It will be interesting to watch what happens. Her name is Tara Spuhler McCabe. She showed a lot of grace as she stood on the platform as these process questions were being asked. The vote was 388-240 in favor, which was the most controversial vote of the assembly so far.
It took an hour to elect both the vice moderator and the Stated Clerk. Gradye Parsons has served for the last four years, and ran unopposed. He as reelected unanimously. The hour seemed really long ...
The section where I am sitting is made up of presbytery executives and stated clerks, and it was pretty empty. There wasn't a lot more on the docket, so I went to the exhibit area to "troll for food", and do some networking. I was able to connect with some old friends and colleagues, and I found some dark chocolate on the way.
A meeting of the Association of Stated Clerks honored a long time clerk who is a friend of Diane Prevary, my predecessor. I had a good table discussion with some folks about some issues that we are facing in our presbytery, and it was helpful to hear how others are handling congregational difficulties.
Then on to dinner, and then to visit Wendy Bailey, our former associate general presbyter, who had invited us for hospitality. We laughed and pondered, and enjoyed being together with other folks from the presbytery. It was generous of Wendy and Dwayne to host us.
When we got back to the hotel, a "tweet up" group was in the hotel bar. I stopped by to greet Landon Whitsitt, the outgoing vice moderator. I was able to apologize to Bruce Reyes-Chow for something that happened two years ago, and to meet Tara. I hope to be able to sit with many of these folks sometime during the week to talk about where they see the PC(USA) headed ... they care and are involved. Thanks be to God!
It is now Monday morning, and Brian McLaren is telling us that perhaps we are on the rise again ... like an area after a forest fire .... and challenging us to be willing to let go ... our faith does not depend on the economic structures with which it is currently associated. What are we trying to produce? Disciples and apostles ... enacting the gospel in our neighborhoods. Thank you for your words that challenge our current structures, and to help us to get out of the "box" ...
Lynn
Plenary on Sunday afternoon seemed slow. The Vice Moderator was elected, and it looked as though it was going to be controversial. A motion was made to set aside the standing roles so that she might be questioned about having signed a marriage license for a same sex couple. The marriage is legal in the place where she serves, but as you can imagine, there were people that were upset by this, especially since it is not in accordance with the current Book of Order. It will be interesting to watch what happens. Her name is Tara Spuhler McCabe. She showed a lot of grace as she stood on the platform as these process questions were being asked. The vote was 388-240 in favor, which was the most controversial vote of the assembly so far.
It took an hour to elect both the vice moderator and the Stated Clerk. Gradye Parsons has served for the last four years, and ran unopposed. He as reelected unanimously. The hour seemed really long ...
The section where I am sitting is made up of presbytery executives and stated clerks, and it was pretty empty. There wasn't a lot more on the docket, so I went to the exhibit area to "troll for food", and do some networking. I was able to connect with some old friends and colleagues, and I found some dark chocolate on the way.
A meeting of the Association of Stated Clerks honored a long time clerk who is a friend of Diane Prevary, my predecessor. I had a good table discussion with some folks about some issues that we are facing in our presbytery, and it was helpful to hear how others are handling congregational difficulties.
Then on to dinner, and then to visit Wendy Bailey, our former associate general presbyter, who had invited us for hospitality. We laughed and pondered, and enjoyed being together with other folks from the presbytery. It was generous of Wendy and Dwayne to host us.
When we got back to the hotel, a "tweet up" group was in the hotel bar. I stopped by to greet Landon Whitsitt, the outgoing vice moderator. I was able to apologize to Bruce Reyes-Chow for something that happened two years ago, and to meet Tara. I hope to be able to sit with many of these folks sometime during the week to talk about where they see the PC(USA) headed ... they care and are involved. Thanks be to God!
It is now Monday morning, and Brian McLaren is telling us that perhaps we are on the rise again ... like an area after a forest fire .... and challenging us to be willing to let go ... our faith does not depend on the economic structures with which it is currently associated. What are we trying to produce? Disciples and apostles ... enacting the gospel in our neighborhoods. Thank you for your words that challenge our current structures, and to help us to get out of the "box" ...
Lynn
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