More About the 219th General Assembly
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Personal experiences of some of those from Lincoln Trails who were at this year's GA.
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Video Blog
from the Presbytery of Great Rivers
Flowing Through GA 219
from the Presbytery of Wabash Valley
General Assembly Reflections
from the Presbytery of Ohio Valley
Sabbatical Practicing
by Janice West, commissioner from Southeastern Illinois
Learning More About General Assembly
219th General Assembly Home Page
Archives of news stories, photos and many more resources
PC-Biz
Documents and records of the work of the committees and plenaries |
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The 219th General Assembly
Now the Journey Begins
by Carol McDonald, Co-Executive, Synod of Lincoln Trails
I returned late Saturday evening, July 10, from the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis. At this assembly, I served as the committee assistant (process watcher/paper pusher) for the Assembly Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues. For some reason the Office of the General Assembly always gives me the tough ones!
Carol McDonald, co-executive for the Synod of Lincoln Trails, cuts her birthday cake at a celebration held during this year's General Assembly.
Photo by Bill McLean  | I want all of you to know that the group of 58 persons randomly selected by the computer to deal with what could have been, I believe, the most divisive issue facing the 219th General Assembly, must have been named by the Holy Spirit. From the moment the committee was gaveled into session on Sunday afternoon, July 4, until it concluded its work at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, the "cloud of presence" (hymn by Ruth Duck) was palpable and almost visible in the room. The group built a covenant for working together and never violated it - not once.
The committee moderator, Rick Nutt, from Muskingum Valley Presbytery, moderated with fairness and humility. The vice moderator, Karla Conditt Daniels, from Northeast Georgia Presbytery, planned group building that led to an amazing collegiality and designed worship that nurtured and nourished. Our parliamentarian, Carson Rhyne from the Presbytery of the James, made parliamentary procedure understandable, helpful, useful, and fun! Our resource persons, Vernon Broyles from the Office of the General Assembly and David Gambrell from the Office of Theology and Worship, provided excellent insight and guidance when requested. Our media liaison, Don Lincoln, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westchester, Penn., was always one step ahead of what questions and concerns would be coming from the press to moderator Rick Nutt. Several people said to me throughout the Assembly, "you all had the dream team." God is good - all the time!
Our synod was also in the hospitality business at this year's assembly - thanks, especially, to my colleague Dave Crittenden whom I will now forever think of as the "king of hospitality." We co-hosted, with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, a hospitality suite each evening following the plenary sessions. At least 75 people helped me celebrate my birthday on July 6 (24 hours late because of committee work). And about 70 persons gathered for a buffet dinner on Wednesday evening - said to be delicious...again, I was doing committee work.
Commissioners from all our presbyteries served on significant assembly committees - three served on the committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues. Cliff Lyda, moderator of Chicago Presbytery, moderated the Assembly Committee on Middle Governing Body Issues which did hugely important - and helpful - work that will affect our discernment as a synod. I know others served on General Assembly Procedures, Polity, Church Orders and Ministry, Social Justice, Middle East Peacemaking, and Health Issues. I'm likely forgetting some places of service, but it was all important work! I'm proud to be associated with commissioners who take their responsibilities seriously - who do the reading ahead of time - and who then participate helpfully and joyfully in the work of the assembly!
I am especially proud of the Presbytery of Great Rivers for its witness around the whole issue of the denouncement of Caterpillar. Their general presbyter, Sue Krummel, spoke powerfully in the open hearings; their commissioners spoke on the floor of the assembly; and members of the presbytery were present to witness and speak in open hearings when possible. On Friday, July 9, when the issue came to the assembly floor, I exercised for the first time ever my Corresponding Member privilege - to speak against the resolution. There are 32 plants and offices of Caterpillar International within the bounds of our synod; they are located in each of our eight presbyteries. The word denounce sends a harsh message to those who do honorable work and who contribute money paid for that honorable work to the mission and ministry of the PC(USA) in this region.
My prayer is that we will have some strong and gentle conversations across this region before individuals and congregations take action to respond to this resolution. It is also interesting to note that not long ago, Caterpillar International was recognized and honored by Mission Responsibility Through Investment for being one of the best employers of all those in whom the PC(USA) had significant financial investments.
I left Minneapolis feeling that we had experienced a bit of a both/and kind of Assembly. As always, the Assembly was both energizing and exhausting. There was both the commitment to group conversation and the desire to express strong individual opinions. There was both the ability to have tough dialogue and make decisions on some difficult issues - and the lack of capacity and desire to talk about, and make decisions one way or the other, about other difficult issues.
I also left Minneapolis with a commitment stronger than ever to this expression of Christ's church known as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I return to the Synod of Lincoln Trails more dedicated than even to being the "bridge builder" I have worked to be for close to 40 years. It was the profound privilege of the Assembly Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues to hear from the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Unions and Marriage appointed by the moderator of the 218th General Assembly. Those who reported for that committee's majority were Jim Szeyeller, Emily Anderson and Clay Allard. Their loud and clear message was that, ultimately - after all their committee's work and deliberation, disagreement and compromise, it came down to this: we are called to stay at the table together...to find "a more excellent way," to remember that the Christ who unites and calls us together is greater and more powerful than any issue that threatens to divide us.
I invite us to stay at the table together, to find a more excellent way of being in relationship with Jesus Christ and with each other. Above all, I invite us to travel this journey together. Thanks be to God!
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A Pastoral Letter to Every Congregation
"We Are a Church That Is Not Afraid to Change," Say Denomination's Leaders
Click here to read this letter in its entirety
To Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations:
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38)....
Just one week ago, the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) convened with Scripture and music and prayer. Commissioners and advisory delegates from every presbytery across the church gathered around the baptismal font with hopeful expectation of what God's Spirit would do in and through them as they sought to discern together the mind of Christ for the PC(USA).
As the week progressed, prayer was a foundational part of each day's deliberations and decisions, and the presence of the Spirit was palpable!
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