Day 6

REFLECTION:
WOW! Motions are made (by referring to a number, i.e. “We move to approve item 15-01”) and passed so quickly that there is no time to even find and read the motion, much less the rationale for it, etc. If commissioners didn’t read and study all the overtures (motions to GA) before coming and check to see what action the different committees recommended last night/this morning, they don’t even know what they’re voting on! One more witness to the strong need for advanced preparation.

If we’re approaching evangelism based on our needing more people in church, in the choir, in our SS classes, etc., we’re approaching evangelism the wrong way. Evangelism is not for the sake of recruiting people to support our institutions or our ministries, but rather for the sake of obedience to Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations and out of a desire for others to discover the reality of the God of creation made flesh in Jesus—a reality that calls us into lives of joy, peace, courage, and hope as we learn to love the world as God loves it and as we discover God's saving power in Christ making us new.

We heard about the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of camps and conferences in the PCUSA. Commissioners were asked to stand who had been drawn closer to God through an experience at a Presbyterian camp or conference. Most stood, but I was surprised how many did not. Granted, many may have had camp experiences in other denominations. Still, I have heard some of our adult members mention never having had such an experience as a youth or young adult. It made me think how valuable it would be to have an all-church retreat. Having had so many deeply meaningful camp/conference center experiences in my life, I hate the thought that anyone has been left out of that!

“The world is too strong for a divided church.” A quote of the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. Great quote. I didn’t hear him really go anywhere with it, but it is oh-so-true. Divided, our witness is weakened and the voice of “the world” is louder and, for too many people, more compelling or enticing.

There were some gaps in my attention tonight. I have one foot in an effort to walk through this assembly as though I were a commissioner so that I can learn as much as possible about what it takes to be an effective commissioner. I’m giving myself some slack at times, though, as well. Tonight, I let my attention wander while in the meeting and had no idea what was going on when I clued back in. You know, “The mind can only absorb what the rear can endure.” The commissioners really have a challenging week. (I wonder how many times I’ll say this before the week’s out!)

Work done today included: sharing the estimated costs to accomplish everything that the committees are recommending at this point (approx. $825,000 over the next 2 years); a variety of actions to promote church growth and Christian education (including the addition of Goodland Academy in Hugo, OK to the list of secondary schools related to the PCUSA and the creation of a new curriculum on adolescent human development and human sexuality); statements on ecumenical and interfaith relations; and actions intended to support youth ministry (including the release of a DVD on faith that received rave reviews from the committee, esp. from the YADs, encouraging congregations to actively recruit and train mentors to work with youth, and the creation of a youth ministry task force).

Oh, I was informed that I was going to hell on the way into the convention center after dinner. A really belligerent handful of protesters held large signs and screamed (really!) things like “Where’s your Bible! You need to read your Bible!” (The guy yelling this at me didn’t have a Bible with him, either) and “You’re going to hell!! You’re all going to hell!!” at everyone walking past them to the convention center. (One of their signs declared, "We don't hate homos"--Hmmm, what would have made anyone think they did?!) Meanwhile, representatives from Presbyterian groups lobbying for allowing openly practicing gays and lesbians to be ordained as deacons, elders, and pastors quietly and warmly offered cookies and smiles to all who passed them on the way into the convention center. The contrast was unbelievably stark.