The General Assembly voted to call on the US government to end direct combat operations in Afghanistan. This is the first time the denomination has taken such a stand during this war, which has continued since 2001.
The Assembly voted by 80% to approve a call to end US Aid to Israel unless that country stops settlement expansions in disputed Palestinian territories.
The GA voted to urge the Boad of Pensions (which provides both pensions and medical benefits to church employees) to extend spousal benefits to those in same-sex and domestic relationships. Some felt this would validate same sex relationships, others felt it was a matter of providing equal benefits without discrimination. There will be a cost to this, requiring churches to increase the Board of Pensions dues by an additional 1%. Congregations will be able to opt out due to conscience, in the same way that congregations can currently opt out of abortion related benefits.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
General Assembly Update - Marrriage, ordination, and more
It has been a busy day at General Assembly. Commissioners are very, very tired and have a lot of work tomorrow.
The General Assembly voted not to redefine marriage. The Book of Order currently defines marriage as "between a man and woman." The proposed change would have defined marriage as "between two people." The vote probably doesn't surprise many, but the closeness of the vote was unexpected: 348 to 324.
However, the General Assembly did vote to approve an overture that would amend a clause in the Book of Order requiring ordained pastors, elders and deacons to practice "fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness." (G-6.0106b). This wording was added in the 1990s and has been a frequent point of debate and discussion. It opens the door for the ordination of gays and lesbians, who are already fully welcomed into membership of our church. The amendment will now go back to presbyteries, where a majority of the 173 presbyteries must approve it for the change to make it into the Book of Order.
In other business...
The Assembly voted NOT dissolve synods.
Addressing Arizona's immigration laws, the Assembly voted not to have national meetings in a state where immigrants may be harrassed. As the next General Assembly will be in Pennsylvania, which has laws similar to Arizona, the issue for the next meeting will need to be reviewed.
Assembly approved efforts to shorten the length of time required in calling a pastor, and adopted a paper "Neither Poverty or Riches," which deals with compensation issues for church workers.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The New Form of Government Approved
The General Assembly approved the new Form of Government tonight with 69% in favor, The actual vote was 468 to 204, with 6 abstaining. This gives the church a streamlined document that is about 1/3 the size of the current book.
The discussion on the proposed Form of Government began at 9:17 pm. The moderator asked the vice moderator conduct this meeting because the moderator had been involved in the formation and the advocating of this proposed document.
The committee reviewing this document this week made over 30 changes and these were explained. The changes were very thoughtful and carefully made.
Commissioners immediately began offering amendments to insert a few words or change the wording. The first such motion was quickly defeated with 74% voting against an amendment. Then there was a substitute motion, a few amendments, people spoke for and against, but after an hour, the new Form of Goverment was approved.
The discussion on the proposed Form of Government began at 9:17 pm. The moderator asked the vice moderator conduct this meeting because the moderator had been involved in the formation and the advocating of this proposed document.
The committee reviewing this document this week made over 30 changes and these were explained. The changes were very thoughtful and carefully made.
Commissioners immediately began offering amendments to insert a few words or change the wording. The first such motion was quickly defeated with 74% voting against an amendment. Then there was a substitute motion, a few amendments, people spoke for and against, but after an hour, the new Form of Goverment was approved.
Mid-Week Moods And Reflections
As the General Assembly reconvenes, and all of the commissioners leave behind their individual committees to work as one, the mood of the gathering will change considerably.
Here are a few thoughts on the 219th General Assembly so far...
1. There is less of an adversarial atmosphere from either the extreme left or the extreme right. That may change as some issues come to the floor for voting.
2. Many people were surprised that a single candidate for the moderator stood out as a leader on the first ballot.
3. There is general agreement that the new moderator is well qualified by lacks charisma or the leadership personality.
4. Many have commented that the leadership is ill prepared. Moderators of various committees seem poorly trained. In some committees there was occasional confusion as to what to do or how to handle certain procedures. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly asked that committee to reconvene this morning.
5. Poor preparation seems to be prevalent in many aspects of the GA this year. There were several small glitches in worship. It did not impair our worship, but I noticed it. In the Call to Worship, we were told to turn North, then East, South, and finally West as we moved through the readings -- but no one knew which direction was which, including the worship leaders who turned in various directions. There were mispellings in the lyrics of hymns being projected.
6. Use of the electronic voting machines is a major concern. We've used these at General Assemblies for several years, but they did not work well this year when the moderator was elected. I'm told it is because this is the first time the machines have used wireless technology. Many of the commissioners express confusion about how to use them. My wife says they are the same things used in her first grade class. Well, we'll see what happens tonight when the assembly begins using the machines once more.
7. I do not have press credentials this year - I've had them in the past. But I did go to the Press Room one night, and found that the members of the media were not happy with the preparations. There were only two outlets in the room and one single extension cord - so who gets to plug in their laptop? Another sign of lack of preparation.
8. The volunteers are doing a great job. I asked three where the Prayer Chapel was located (there is one at every GA). They did not know, but a fourth one found it listed in a room guide - room 212. It is actually in room 209.
None of these indications of preparation being imperfect have the power to spoil the meeting, but as they add up, commissioner frustrations may begin to rise - especially if there continue to be glitches with the voting machines.
Here are a few thoughts on the 219th General Assembly so far...
1. There is less of an adversarial atmosphere from either the extreme left or the extreme right. That may change as some issues come to the floor for voting.
2. Many people were surprised that a single candidate for the moderator stood out as a leader on the first ballot.
3. There is general agreement that the new moderator is well qualified by lacks charisma or the leadership personality.
4. Many have commented that the leadership is ill prepared. Moderators of various committees seem poorly trained. In some committees there was occasional confusion as to what to do or how to handle certain procedures. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly asked that committee to reconvene this morning.
5. Poor preparation seems to be prevalent in many aspects of the GA this year. There were several small glitches in worship. It did not impair our worship, but I noticed it. In the Call to Worship, we were told to turn North, then East, South, and finally West as we moved through the readings -- but no one knew which direction was which, including the worship leaders who turned in various directions. There were mispellings in the lyrics of hymns being projected.
6. Use of the electronic voting machines is a major concern. We've used these at General Assemblies for several years, but they did not work well this year when the moderator was elected. I'm told it is because this is the first time the machines have used wireless technology. Many of the commissioners express confusion about how to use them. My wife says they are the same things used in her first grade class. Well, we'll see what happens tonight when the assembly begins using the machines once more.
7. I do not have press credentials this year - I've had them in the past. But I did go to the Press Room one night, and found that the members of the media were not happy with the preparations. There were only two outlets in the room and one single extension cord - so who gets to plug in their laptop? Another sign of lack of preparation.
8. The volunteers are doing a great job. I asked three where the Prayer Chapel was located (there is one at every GA). They did not know, but a fourth one found it listed in a room guide - room 212. It is actually in room 209.
None of these indications of preparation being imperfect have the power to spoil the meeting, but as they add up, commissioner frustrations may begin to rise - especially if there continue to be glitches with the voting machines.
More on Haiti
General Assembly has so much going on in such a short time, that each person would go away with a different "top ten" list of important stories. Haiti is not a priority for many people, but because I've worked there and because I know so many who have worked there, the attention GA gives to Haiti is on my personal radar.
I found out more about the Haiti project -- the new facility will include wind mills and solar panels for power. I have also seen several renderings of the new work. In this image, you can see the original hospital in the lower part of the plans.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Good News for Haiti
There are several people here from Peace River Presbytery. We were able to get together and enjoy a meal together on Tuesday evening. Being with friends and colleagues is always a welcomed part of being at General Assembly.
Of course, the main reason we are here is to do the work of the church. As committees continued to work on Tuesday in preparation for the General Assembly gathering as a whole on Wednesday, there is good news for Haiti.
The hospital in Leogane, HaitiThe Presbyterian-related Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) is partnering with a Pittsburgh group on a $10.5 million project in Haiti. The project will work on the expansion and reconstruction of the Hôpital Sainte Croix and other ministries in Léogâne. Having personally worked at the Hôpital, or the Hospital of Holy Cross, I'm excited to see that this work will continue.
The guest house at the hospital - it looks like a one story building, but before the earthquake it was two stories!
The town of Léogâne is near the epicenter of the earthquake that hit Haiti in January.
The initial phase of the project will involve the rebuilding of the severely damaged hospital, adding a new hospital wing, and the reconstruction of the totally destroyed guest house where visiting doctors and workers stay.
The second phase will provide a new elementary school, a church and a maternity/child center.
Monday, July 5, 2010
COMMITTEES AT WORK
At this point during General Assembly, various newspapers will occasionally have a banner headline declaring – “Presbyterians Vote To Do Something Outlandish.” Today, however, is a day for committees, and any vote at this point is only a vote of a committee, not the General Assembly.
General Assembly will not reconvene today. Instead all of the commissioners have separated into their assigned committees. Whatever votes they are taking now will eventually be presented to the whole General Assembly later this week.
In a nutshell, a lot of work has been done by committees and presbyteries in preparation for the General Assembly. Each item being brought to the General Assembly is referred to a committee. The committees look at the items they've been assigned and vote positively or negatively for assembly approval - and they can revise these items, working out the details of precise wording. Sometimes the committees will produce minority reports.
If a committee votes positively, that simply means that they recommend that the General Assembly approve the item. Likewise, if the committee votes negatively, that means they are recommending the Assembly reject that item.
However, the General Assembly can still debate the item and vote as it desires on each item.
That will come later.
For now, it is time for the committees to work.
There are lots of committees at General Assembly, and each is busy. Here is a review of some of the highlights:
THE COMMITTEE ON CHURCH ORDERS AND MINISTRY discussed the role of Certified Christian Educators and Certified Associate Christian Educators in presbytery meetings. The approved an overture calling for evaluating our church’s call system so that the process of calling pastors would be shortened. Most of the committee’s time and energy was focused on the Book of Order G-6.0106b, which has been brought up at every General Assembly since it was approved in the 1990s. It requires ordained officers to practice faithfulness in marriage and chastity in singleness. This committee is continuing its discussion about the future of this requirement.
THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT REVISION COMMITTEE is supporting the adoption of the revised Form of Government. This is an important step in a dramatic revision of our current Book of Order. Many summarize this process as moving from a Book of Order that has become “an operations manual” to a more flexible constitution for the church.
THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL UNION AND MARRIAGE ISSUES voted 47 to 8, with 2 abstentions, to recommend assembly approval of a report to urge Presbyterians to further study the issues and to stay in covenant with each other during this study. Some see this as progress toward a broader definition to marriage that will permit same-sex marriages.
PEACEMAKING AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES voted 49-2 to recommend that the Assembly call on the U.S. Government to end combat operations in Afghanistan.
THE HEALTH ISSUES COMMITTEE addressed a number of issues, but spent most of their time debating an overture named, “Making a Statement Regarding Violence Against Pregnant Women.” The members of this committee struggled long and hard over how to re-word an overture from a presbytery before it goes before the General Assembly for a vote – “women” versus “female,” “pregnant women” versus “all women” and “responsible choices” versus “reproductive life.” What may seem like minor differences and knit-picking to many, this committee felt this overture deserved the most carefully constructed language and they took great pains to refine the document.
THEOLOGICAL ISSUES AND INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE approved of recommending including the Confession of Belhar in the Book of Confessions and providing a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism, which is currently in the Book of Confessions.
The Book of Confessions is part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church USA (the Book of Order is the other part). It contains documents that state what we as Presbyterians believe and teach. The Belhar Confession was written in the 1980s in South Africa and offers statements about unity, reconciliation and justice. It presents unity as both a gift and duty for the church.
There are several translations of the Heidelberg Catechism, and many feel that others are more accurate than the one that presently appears in our Book of Confession.
THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES COMMITTEE agreed after three hours of debate to “protest the blatant disregard for the sanctity of the Lord’s name in motion pictures and public broadcast by the entertainment industry.
THE COMMITTEE ON MIDDLE GOVERNING BODIES voted to recommend passage of the creation of a commission to act on requests of presbyteries and synods to divide, unite or combine during the time between General Assemblies.
THE ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH RELATIONS COMMITTEE voted after a 2-hour debate not to recommend General Assembly approval of the paper, “Christians and Jews: People of God.” Some see this report as helpful, but others believe it is not thorough enough and fails to include the voices of Christians in the Middle East.
THE MIDDLE EAST PEACEMAKING ISSUES COMMITTEE voted to recommend to the Assembly the denouncement of actions by Caterpillar Inc. The report says, “On the basis of Christian principles and as a matter of social witness, the 219th General Assembly strongly denounces Caterpillar’s continued profit-making from non-peaceful uses of a number of its products. Some see this report as anti-Israel, and others see Caterpillar failing to take responsibility for its role in violence in the Mid-East and dismissive of the ecumenical community’s concerns in recent years.
THE MISSION COORDINATION COMMITTEE is working on several funding items.
THE CHURCH GROWTH, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND PILP is discussing how union churches can be helpful to smaller communities - not every Presbyterian congregation has to be solely Presbyterian. (PILP refers to Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program).
General Assembly will not reconvene today. Instead all of the commissioners have separated into their assigned committees. Whatever votes they are taking now will eventually be presented to the whole General Assembly later this week.
In a nutshell, a lot of work has been done by committees and presbyteries in preparation for the General Assembly. Each item being brought to the General Assembly is referred to a committee. The committees look at the items they've been assigned and vote positively or negatively for assembly approval - and they can revise these items, working out the details of precise wording. Sometimes the committees will produce minority reports.
If a committee votes positively, that simply means that they recommend that the General Assembly approve the item. Likewise, if the committee votes negatively, that means they are recommending the Assembly reject that item.
However, the General Assembly can still debate the item and vote as it desires on each item.
That will come later.
For now, it is time for the committees to work.
There are lots of committees at General Assembly, and each is busy. Here is a review of some of the highlights:
THE COMMITTEE ON CHURCH ORDERS AND MINISTRY discussed the role of Certified Christian Educators and Certified Associate Christian Educators in presbytery meetings. The approved an overture calling for evaluating our church’s call system so that the process of calling pastors would be shortened. Most of the committee’s time and energy was focused on the Book of Order G-6.0106b, which has been brought up at every General Assembly since it was approved in the 1990s. It requires ordained officers to practice faithfulness in marriage and chastity in singleness. This committee is continuing its discussion about the future of this requirement.
THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT REVISION COMMITTEE is supporting the adoption of the revised Form of Government. This is an important step in a dramatic revision of our current Book of Order. Many summarize this process as moving from a Book of Order that has become “an operations manual” to a more flexible constitution for the church.
THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL UNION AND MARRIAGE ISSUES voted 47 to 8, with 2 abstentions, to recommend assembly approval of a report to urge Presbyterians to further study the issues and to stay in covenant with each other during this study. Some see this as progress toward a broader definition to marriage that will permit same-sex marriages.
PEACEMAKING AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES voted 49-2 to recommend that the Assembly call on the U.S. Government to end combat operations in Afghanistan.
THE HEALTH ISSUES COMMITTEE addressed a number of issues, but spent most of their time debating an overture named, “Making a Statement Regarding Violence Against Pregnant Women.” The members of this committee struggled long and hard over how to re-word an overture from a presbytery before it goes before the General Assembly for a vote – “women” versus “female,” “pregnant women” versus “all women” and “responsible choices” versus “reproductive life.” What may seem like minor differences and knit-picking to many, this committee felt this overture deserved the most carefully constructed language and they took great pains to refine the document.
THEOLOGICAL ISSUES AND INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE approved of recommending including the Confession of Belhar in the Book of Confessions and providing a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism, which is currently in the Book of Confessions.
The Book of Confessions is part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church USA (the Book of Order is the other part). It contains documents that state what we as Presbyterians believe and teach. The Belhar Confession was written in the 1980s in South Africa and offers statements about unity, reconciliation and justice. It presents unity as both a gift and duty for the church.
There are several translations of the Heidelberg Catechism, and many feel that others are more accurate than the one that presently appears in our Book of Confession.
THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES COMMITTEE agreed after three hours of debate to “protest the blatant disregard for the sanctity of the Lord’s name in motion pictures and public broadcast by the entertainment industry.
THE COMMITTEE ON MIDDLE GOVERNING BODIES voted to recommend passage of the creation of a commission to act on requests of presbyteries and synods to divide, unite or combine during the time between General Assemblies.
THE ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH RELATIONS COMMITTEE voted after a 2-hour debate not to recommend General Assembly approval of the paper, “Christians and Jews: People of God.” Some see this report as helpful, but others believe it is not thorough enough and fails to include the voices of Christians in the Middle East.
THE MIDDLE EAST PEACEMAKING ISSUES COMMITTEE voted to recommend to the Assembly the denouncement of actions by Caterpillar Inc. The report says, “On the basis of Christian principles and as a matter of social witness, the 219th General Assembly strongly denounces Caterpillar’s continued profit-making from non-peaceful uses of a number of its products. Some see this report as anti-Israel, and others see Caterpillar failing to take responsibility for its role in violence in the Mid-East and dismissive of the ecumenical community’s concerns in recent years.
THE MISSION COORDINATION COMMITTEE is working on several funding items.
THE CHURCH GROWTH, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND PILP is discussing how union churches can be helpful to smaller communities - not every Presbyterian congregation has to be solely Presbyterian. (PILP refers to Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program).
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday worship
The best part of every General Assembly is the Sunday morning worship.
My wife and I arrived at worship 30 minutes early, and by that time most of the seats were already filled. Thousands were arriving to join in the 2 hour-plus service.
We were greeted by bagpippers. The ten-minute processional included over 100 liturgical dancers, giant puppets, banners aand kites and children dressed as animals. "All creatures of our God and King," was sung with incredible enthusiasm.
The music reflected the great diversity of the church: Hispanic, African American spirituals, modern praise, and traditional hymns. Drums, violins, trumpets, flutes, guitars, and ukulele-line instruments added to the beauty of the worship. The choir of over 250 singers wore a variety of robes, as they came from various churches throughout the local area.
In keeping with tradition, the out-going moderator preached the sermon, and the newly-elected moderator pronounced the Benediction at the service's end.
Another tradition is the serving of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, using chalices and patens that have been made specifically for this service. This year, a craftsman from Wisconsin produced the pottery, making 450 chalices and 225 plates, or patens. These were placed on sale later in the day as a way of paying for the cost of the worship service.
For the first time in history, a baptism was celebrated as part of this General Assembly worship. Alexis Renee Sanders was presented by the Session of her home church for baptism. Only the members of her church, the Kwanzaa Church, here in Minneapolis, stood and answered the question, "Do you promise to do everything in your power to uphold this family in the Christian nurture of this child?"
Many in the congregation were moved to tears during the worship service.
Worship will continue to be a daily experience of General Assembly -- but when the work has been completed and everyone returns home, it will be this worship service that many will remember as a highlight of their experience in Minneapolis.
My wife and I arrived at worship 30 minutes early, and by that time most of the seats were already filled. Thousands were arriving to join in the 2 hour-plus service.
We were greeted by bagpippers. The ten-minute processional included over 100 liturgical dancers, giant puppets, banners aand kites and children dressed as animals. "All creatures of our God and King," was sung with incredible enthusiasm.
The music reflected the great diversity of the church: Hispanic, African American spirituals, modern praise, and traditional hymns. Drums, violins, trumpets, flutes, guitars, and ukulele-line instruments added to the beauty of the worship. The choir of over 250 singers wore a variety of robes, as they came from various churches throughout the local area.
In keeping with tradition, the out-going moderator preached the sermon, and the newly-elected moderator pronounced the Benediction at the service's end.
Another tradition is the serving of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, using chalices and patens that have been made specifically for this service. This year, a craftsman from Wisconsin produced the pottery, making 450 chalices and 225 plates, or patens. These were placed on sale later in the day as a way of paying for the cost of the worship service.
For the first time in history, a baptism was celebrated as part of this General Assembly worship. Alexis Renee Sanders was presented by the Session of her home church for baptism. Only the members of her church, the Kwanzaa Church, here in Minneapolis, stood and answered the question, "Do you promise to do everything in your power to uphold this family in the Christian nurture of this child?"
Many in the congregation were moved to tears during the worship service.
Worship will continue to be a daily experience of General Assembly -- but when the work has been completed and everyone returns home, it will be this worship service that many will remember as a highlight of their experience in Minneapolis.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Day One - Electing a New Moderator
For some volunteers and workers, this General Assembly began days, weeks, and in some cases years ago - but today was the official start of the meeting.
From the point of view of most of the church, the most important business done in the Assembly today was the election of the Moderator.
The Moderator is the presiding officer of the gathering, much like Don Cady from Chapel by the Sea is the Moderator-Elect of the Peace River Presbytery, or like I am the Session's moderator.
But the Moderator is more than the person who will preside over a meeting that lasts a few days. The Moderator becomes the most visible face of our Church, representing the church at a variety of gatherings and events during the next two years (General Assembly currently meets every other year).
The election of the Moderator is unlike anything else in our church. As you walk into the Minnesapolis Convention Center there are six kiosks where the candidates "press the flesh" like a local polician might, shaking hands and introducing themselves to the voters. You can pick up a campaign button. Groups and Presbyteries may endorse a particular candidate.
On the first evening of the General Assembly, each of the six candidates will be formerly nominated. The person making the nomination has up to five minutes to address the assembly. Then the candidates get to give a speech - again up to five minutes in length.
For the next hour, the commissioners have a chance to stand in line, waiting to be recognized by the outgoing Moderator so they can ask the candidates specific questions.
Then the voting begins - and the voting can take a while because the Moderator has to have a majority. In the past it has been rare that a person has been elected on the first ballot.
The process of voting is to allow the "advisory deligates" to vote first. Commissioners are then able to see how different groups advised the Assembly. Seminarians, Youth Advisory Delegates, and others are able to have their voices heard through offering these non-binding votes.
After seeing the results of the voting by advisory deligates, the commissioners vote. All voting is done by an electronic keypad and the results are projected on the screens throughout the assembly hall for all to see.
Tonight's first ballot resulted in a clear lead - Cynthia Bolbach had 149 votes, followed by Maggie Lauterer (76), Julia Leeth (73), James Belle (71 votes), Eric Nielson (71) and Jin Kim (57).
This first ballot gave Bolbach 30% of the vote.
The second ballot gave her 40% of the vote.
Voting on the third ballot was delayed because of glitches in the voting machines. The delay was so long that for a while it seemed that the assembly might go back to the old days of hand counting the hundreds of votes, but eventually the problem was resolved. Bolbach had 43% of the vote at the conclusion of the third ballot.
Bolbach was elected moderator on the 4th ballot, having achieved at least 50% of the votes.
All of the candidates are devoted Christians and faithful Presbyterians. They all had great gifts to offer the church. In my opinion, none of them came across as charismatic, dynamic leaders. But they were all level-headed and well informed, and each would have been able to offer sound leadership.
The new moderator, Cynthia Bolbach, was the only candidate in the field of six who was an elder rather than an ordained minister. She comes from a corporate background, having served as the executive vice president and corporate secretary of BNA, Inc (publisher of legal records). She is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Virginia. She is a former moderator of the National Capital Presbytery, which will give her a great background of valuable experiences as she moderates the General Assembly meetings.
Her Vice Moderator is the Reverend Landon Whitsitt, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Liberty, Missouri.
.JPG)
Graham Hart and Randy Moody, both from Peace River Presbytery, are among the many, many familiar faces I've seen at this year's General Assembly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)