An Update from Mauri

(Written by Mauri) 

Well, we completed our committee work yesterday. 

And I must admit, it was a tiring and grueling process. I am surprised at how well I am holding up. This afternoon we head back to plenary to start discussing the committee reports.

To be quite honest, I have been quite discouraged about what I have heard coming out of the other committees. I really needed to see Jesus in a fresh way today. And He answered my prayer. 

I went to the PFR/Fellowship of Presbyterians breakfast this morning and was refreshed as we had a time of awesome worship and heard an encouraging message from Dr. Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary. He used the book of Daniel as his reference point, reminding us that we are living today in an "exilic" setting and that we are constantly fighting against idolatrous temptations in our culture. Our focus needs to be on the reality that we worship the true God alone and are a part of His Kingdom, wherever He has us serving.

I needed this to prepare myself for the final days of GA. Christ alone is my strength and in Him I will rest. Continue to pray for us and the PCUSA.

When Polity Becomes a Weapon

I have a confession to make.

I have a love/hate relationship with Robert and his Rules of Order.

(I suppose this is a particularly scandalous confession seeing as how I am the Moderator of Beaver-Butler Presbytery. Perhaps impeachment proceedings will have begun before I begin the drive home on Saturday. ;-)

I LOVE that we have a tool that ensures those in the minority have a voice in any and every discussion.

I HATE that, like any good gift of God, it can be used improperly.

In my committee meeting yesterday, I believe I saw polity used intentionally as a weapon by a very knowledgeable person to prevent the possibility of passing a specific overture.

This was INCREDIBLY frustrating. I admit the overture as written would NEVER have passed (I don't know that I would have voted for it then) but the committee was denied the chance to reshape it through amendments. It is my belief that, had we been given the chance, there was a real possibility that we could have crafted something that people could have gathered around. (Instead, the original overture did its best to shove people into the farthest corners of the room; not a smart way to get something passed, if you ask me.)

This was also incredibly frustrating because, from the moment I stepped foot into the COBO Center, I have heard the refrain that all voices are welcome at the table. (You can read about my hopes because of this kind of welcome HERE.)

"Highlights" from The Plumb Line

Written by Mark Plumb

(originally published HERE)

“Highlights”

Good news:

    An overture to celebrate “Evolution Sunday” was defeated

        47-2 in committee.

    The mid-east committee recommended rejection of making a
        distinction between modern and ancient Israel.

    Committee votes to disassociate from the inflammatory 

        publication “Zionism Unsettled”, which has been         

        criticized as being racist and anti-Israel.

Bad news:

    A committee has opened the door for PCUSA pastors to 

        perform same-sex marriages.

    The same committee also approved an overture that would change the

        description of a Christian marriage in the Constitution from being 

        “between “one man and one woman” to between “two persons”. 

    (The good news for us is that language was included in the overture that 

        states that “nothing herein shall compel a teaching elder to perform nor 

        compel  a session to authorize the use of church property for a 

        marriage service that the teaching elder or session believes is 

        contrary to the teaching elder’s or the session’s discernment of the 

        Holy Spirit and their understanding of the Word of God.”)

    The middle east committee voted to divest of investments in Hewlit-

        Packard, Motorola and Caterpillar.

    The Church Polity and Ordered Ministry committee is also recommending 

        that the assembly reject efforts to clarify what is meant in the 

        denomination’s Book of Order by “Essential tenets of the Reformed 

        faith.”

These issues will now go before the entire General Assembly for a confirmation vote. Please continue to pray that the bad news will turn into good news during the plenary sessions.

I saw Jesus

She sits huddled between two other people, gently whispering.

Frequently she points to her laptop screen, highlighting a few lines of text as she whispers.

She gestures with her hands and pauses frequently to ponder the best way to phrase things.

She is the interpreter for some of the Spanish-speaking commissioners in my committee. I can't tell you her name, though I have thanked her for her ministry to my brother and sister in Christ. She laughed gently and accepted my compliment with a smile.

In her gentle whispers and patient face, I see Jesus, just by looking at my neighbors. What a gift she is to us, the church, providing access to and participation in our discussions for those who do not speak English as a first language.

from The Plumb Line

Written by Mark, posted 06/15/14 at The Plumb Line--read more thoughts there.  

Last night’s meeting went very late. We listened as the three candidates for Moderator shared their vision for the PCUSA.

All three of the candidates are very progressive and proudly expressed their support for same-sex marriage - much to the delight of many of the GA commissioners.

After the votes were tallied (on paper ballots!), the General Assembly overwhelmingly elected Heath Rada as the new Moderator and Larissa Kwong Abazia as the Vice-Moderator. May the Holy Spirit direct them in all they do. 

After spending two hours this morning reviewing 2012 and 2013 minutes for two Synods, I had an opportunity to worship at suburban Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian (pictured above). That church is pastored by a dear old friend, Paul Thwaite. It was wonderful to receive the hospitality of that congregation, to catch up with Paul’s wife, Jan, and to experience a wonderful worship service. In fact, the music reminded me of the incredible music that I experienced as a child at Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church. I really needed a positive worship experience, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

When I returned to downtown Detroit, I finally got to go into the display area and visit with another old friend, Steve Ebling. It was so good to get caught up with a “friend-of-the-heart” as another mutual good friend, Stan Ott, calls it.

This afternoon, we had the privilege of sending missionaries into the world. As you know, the missional church has a special place in my heart, and that moment was inspirational to me. We’ve also been listening to many well-rehearsed special committee proposals that will be further discussed in the committee work that will formally begin at 7:30 tonight. 

After dinner, I will be off to the Mid-Council Issues Committee. The main work of that committee will be to consider a proposal that would decrease the number of Synods from sixteen to eight or less. 

Please continue to pray for the work of GA. The really hard, contentious work is about to begin.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Eva Barr

I am a ruling elder at Mill Creek Presbyterian Church in Hookstown, PA. I am also a commissioned ruling elder but I am not currently serving a church. Instead, I work in the Central Valley High School in the Learning Support Program, mainly with seniors in the science program.

I am serving on one of the committees that's receiving A LOT of attention at #ga221--"Middle East Issues."

I am most looking forward to seeing how decisions are made at the national level, and how involved Scripture and prayer are in these decisions.

Where will I look for Jesus? I expect to find Jesus in the hearts, voices, and attitudes of many of the participants.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Mark Plumb

I am an EMT, a grandfather, and a commissioned ruling elder pastoring  the Fountain Park Church.

I will be spending a good deal of time and energy working with Committee #5: Mid-Council Issues.

Of all the things about #ga221, I am most looking forward to the times of worship and seeing many old friends.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? I know it sounds naive, but as a gathering of the Body of Christ, I expect to see Jesus reflected in every aspect of GA.

If you'd like to read more about my reflections on #ga221, feel free to check out my personal blog: The Plumb Line.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Allison Bauer

I am the Teaching Elder currently calling the Frankfort Presbyterian Church home. I am also the 2014 Moderator of Beaver-Butler Presbytery.

In preparation for #ga221, I have spent many hours sifting through (and having conversations with others about) the overtures for the committee to which I have been assigned: #9 "Social Justice Issues."

This will be my third official General Assembly--I was a YAAD in Fort Worth, TX and a Theological Student Assistant in Denver, CO--so I have a little bit of experience with this process. Of all the parts of GA, I have to say that I am most looking forward to the AMAZING singing and music that happens when thousands of people worship together in one big room.

Where will I be looking for Jesus at ga#221? Well, a wise guy once said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am with them." So I guess any time I'm gathered with others, I'll be looking for Jesus. (I should probably also spend a little bit of time making sure people see Jesus in me ... instead of always looking for Him in others.)

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Mauri Smith

I am a Teaching Elder currently serving the North Sewickley Presbyterian Church.

The good folks of Committee #11 (Peacemaking and International Relations) and I will be spending lots of time together at #ga221.

I am looking forward to meeting brothers and sisters in the PC(USA) from across the country and getting firsthand experience in being a part of the work of the national church.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? I expect to find Him in our times of worship and prayer, and in the relationships with fellow believers in our denomination.

I am Beaver-Butler Presbytery ... Josh McElhaney

I am a member of the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Aliquippa, PA.

I am a YAAD (Young Adult Advisory Delegate) currently enrolled at Slippery Rock University.

At #ga221, I'll be serving on the Committee #6: "Church Polity and Ordered Ministry."

This is my first General Assembly, and I am looking forward to hearing the different opinions on these issues and working through them.

Where will I be looking for Jesus? Everywhere--I expect to find him everywhere and in everything.