Sunday, June 26, 2016

Assembly Wrap-up: The World about to Turn

“My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.”[1]

The chorus of Rory Cooney’s theme hymn “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout” echoed through the Convention Center halls many times during the week. The hymn, based on the Song of Mary in Luke 1, is a song of hope in God’s justice and redemption. And as it punctuated the closing worship of the 222nd General Assembly Saturday morning, it seemed perfectly suited to this General Assembly.

The PC(U.S.A.) had been through a horrible string of setbacks in recent years: six-figure annual membership losses; scores of churches leaving or closing each year; multiple lawsuits over who owns church property; personnel and finance scandals in our mission agency leading to the resignation or firing of key personnel (and subsequent defamation lawsuits); multiple layoffs in our national offices from a “financial meltdown” in mission giving; attacks on the church from conservatives who claim we’re too liberal, liberals who claim we’re too conservative, Jews who claim we’re anti-Semitic for supporting justice for Palestinians, member employees of corporations we are boycotting or divesting out of justice concerns, environmentalists who claim we are unjust for not boycotting or divesting… the list could go on and on.

But coming out of the 222nd General Assembly, one can’t help but get the sense that the world is about to turn, and Presbyterians with it.
L to R: Tony De La Rosa (PMA); Denise Anderson, Jan Edmiston (Moderators);
J. Herbert Nelson (Stated Clerk)
Just look at the leaders of our denomination. One couldn’t have imagined such a diverse group of younger leaders even a decade ago: an openly gay married Latino heading our Mission Agency; an African-American from South Carolina as our Stated Clerk; an all-female team of Co-moderators of our General Assembly. They literally come from north, south, east, and west. They reflect a diversity in age, race, gender, and sexual orientation that is more like the world we serve than was the white male hegemony of years past. But these leaders are more than symbols; they are gifted and visionary and hopeful Presbyterians. This is the public face of the Presbyterian Church and I couldn’t be prouder.

Despite the many challenges facing the church, the 222nd General Assembly lacked the tension and anxiety of previous assemblies. There was only one “sexuality overture” – an attempt to restore the language of “one man – one woman” to the definition of marriage in our Book of Order that only garnered 21% support among commissioners. And yet, despite the virtual absence of an organized conservative wing, the Assembly showed tremendous restraint and wisdom when offered opportunities to adopt radical proposals. The assembly refused to “apologize” to the LGBT community for harm and exclusion done to them by the church, instead offering “regret” that respected the conscience of those whose interpretation of scripture leads to a different conclusion about ordination or marriage. It refused to go beyond the limited divestment of US companies in Israel to an outright boycott; it refused to join the boycott of fossil-fuel producers as have the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Canada, the Unitarians, and more.

There was a palpable unity present in the Assembly, with only a rare flash of ranting or snark, and the fewest number of close votes I can recall in an Assembly. The moderators and stated clerk kept the spirit light with self-deprecating humor, and led with confidence and ease.

There were more moments of genuine emotional uplift, including the final ratification of the Confession of Belhar, witnessed by one of the authors (Allan Boesak); an unprecedented complete and unqualified apology offered to a victim of sexual abuse at a youth event; heartfelt gratitude and a classy exit by our outgoing Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons; and of course, the significance of the election of J. Herbert Nelson barely a year after the Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre in his birth state.

Even so, there are those who are still trying to divide the church. The right-wing echo chamber seems to have been trying to trump up a minor episode into a major issue regarding interfaith greetings extended by a local Muslim cleric who went off script and offered prayer to Allah. But those are the death-rattles of the old PCUSA. The world is turning, and the PCUSA is not looking back.




[1][1] Words by Rory Cooney, 1990. GIA Publications, Inc.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Reflections on Day 7: The Homestretch

The 222nd General Assembly raced to the finish line on Friday with a historic election and much important and sometimes controversial business. Amazingly, they managed to recess earlier than expected – only 10:57 p.m. – thanks to some judicious restrictions on debate during the evening session.

J. Herbert Nelson is installed as Stated Clerk
During the morning session, the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson was elected stated clerk by an overwhelming margin over David Baker. Nelson, who currently heads the PC(U.S.A.) Washington Office, is the first African-American and person of color to hold the office – the chief ecumenical officer and head of communion for the denomination. Born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Nelson grew up in the predominantly African-American southern presbyteries of the former UPCUSA, and is the first stated clerk from reunion to represent the “northern” stream of the church. Nelson will serve a four-year term with no limit on the number of terms possible. He is known as a man of humble faith, with evangelical conviction and a profound social conscience, a powerful preacher and ecumenical leader. "I believe we are not dying," he told the Assembly, "we are reforming." We will be well-served.

Friday afternoon and evening were filled with important decisions about polity, and the two most anticipated issues before the Assembly, our social witness policy on the Middle East and climate change.

The decision in 2014 to divest selectively from three US corporations supporting the military occupation of and illegal settlements in Palestine sparked a howl of outrage among pro-Israel groups. As we approached this Assembly, it remained to be seen whether there would be a reconsideration of the denomination’s approach or an intensification of our efforts. In the most significant item from the committee on Middle East Issues, the Assembly approved with amendment the report, “Israel-Palestine: For Human Values in the Absence of a Just Peace.” The document calls for a continued support for a two-state solution, while “seeking fresh approaches” to the conflict, and noting an imbalance of suffering between the Israelis and Palestinians. In related actions, the Assembly adopted a resolution calling for safety and civil and human rights for Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system. It also rejected a call to move beyond divestment to a boycott of Hewlett-Packard products and services because of their support of the occupation.

The vote on the minority report on fossil fuels divestment
In perhaps the most intensely debated item of the day, the Assembly rejected the call for fast-track divestment from 200 corporations engaged in the production and sale of fossil fuels. Instead, the Assembly adopted a minority report calling for a reaffirmation of the corporate engagement strategy through the denomination’s Mission Responsibility through Investment process adopted in 2014. This was a major blow for Fossil-Free PCUSA, an organization that generated overtures and concurrences from 30 presbyteries in the hope that the Assembly would join the witness of the Episcopal Church and other denominations that already adopted divestment resolutions. It was a victory for Faithful Alternatives to Divestment, a group based in Texas with the support of presbyteries in areas with fossil-fuel dependent economies, where divestment likely would have led to outrage and significant loss of members and churches. It was also the issue on which the Assembly acted least decorously, with one pro-engagement advocate yelling at the commissioners and a pro-divestment advocate rudely questioning the moderator. The minority report was an example of how Parliamentary Procedure is intended to work, amending the report to make it as broadly acceptable as possible without sacrificing its intent. It replaced the main motion by a margin of 71%-29%, and ultimately obtained the support of 84% of the commissioners, a clear consensus.

The report of the Assembly Committee on Church Polity had a number of lesser important but notable outcomes. The Assembly voted to recommend to the presbyteries for vote a number of constitutional amendments, including:
- Restoration of the title “minister of Word and Sacrament” and alteration of “Ruling elder commissioned to limited pastoral service” (commonly called “Commissioned Ruling Elder”) to “commissioned pastor.”
- Amendment of the 2014 action barring those who have renounced jurisdiction during a disciplinary proceeding from serving as employee or volunteer in any church to grant permission only following restoration to membership, self-accusation, and submittal to judicial process where applicable.
- Referred to the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly a request from the Synod of the Northeast to provide for individually commissioned ruling elders so that underrepresented groups such as youth and immigrants might be commissioned to higher councils more easily.

Despite the occasional lapse of decorum, the Assembly headed toward the finish line Saturday with a spirit of joy, unity, and accomplishment. I will have one more wrap-up post you can look for soon.



Friday, June 24, 2016

Reflections on Day 6

Thursday at General Assembly is the backstretch of the Kentucky Derby. All the pomp leading up to the event is over; the horses are out of the gate and are galloping at racing speed. It’s too soon to look to the finish line, for there is a lot of race ahead. But a failure to keep pace on the backstretch will make finishing well impossible.

Thursday is the first full day of plenary business. The exhibit hall is closed. Major business is addressed. And the Assembly’s unique personality begins to reveal itself.

By its actions on Thursday, the 222nd General Assembly is progressive, but not radically so. It is distrustful of institutional authority. After spending an hour and a half following parliamentary rabbit-holes on an item that had a unanimous recommendation from its Assembly committee, the commissioners almost as a whole recognized the ease by which they can expend precious time on minor technical details, and, therefore, the value in trusting the committee work of their fellow commissioners.

That led to overwhelming majorities rejecting later amendments to committee actions. Ultimately, all committee recommendations presented Thursday were approved, a few with minor amendments. Among the actions:

- By a 73%-27% vote, the Assembly rescinded the mandate requiring the consolidation of synods issued by the 2014 General Assembly. A minority report remanding the work of consolidation to a task force of eight persons failed.
- The Assembly answered an overture seeking an apology on behalf of the church to members of the LGBTQ/Q community who have been excluded from office and prosecuted for their sexual orientation with a statement of regret. The overture had split the progressive wing of the church, with the moderate left (Covenant Network) advocating for the softer response in recognition of the unity of the church and the rights of conscience and judgment preserved in Amendment 10-A.
- The Assembly approved a “2020 Vision Team” to develop a new guiding statement for the denomination, and make plans for its implementation. The task force is to be composed of persons who are out-of-the-box visionaries – which runs the risk of losing perspective of what is politically possible, an affliction that stymied the work of the first Mid Councils Commission in 2012.
- In a related action, the Assembly approved an Administrative Commission to address the organizational issues in the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and explore possibilities of organizational restructuring with the Office of the General Assembly. The commission will have limited powers to change staffing patterns, but can’t order merger or realignment without Assembly approval.
- The complete set of items known as the “Foothills Overtures” arising from Foothills presbytery, were disapproved.  The overtures sought to change the threshold for constitutional amendment, and the way the General Assembly conducts business and approves social witness policy

In other Assembly events, my good friend and colleague in Lake Huron Presbytery, the Rev. George Baird, was honored with the C. Fred Jenkins Award, an award given to one who has given “wise, prudent, and vigilant support to the Constitution and polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).” Also, eleven new mission co-workers were commissioned including Lake Huron Presbytery's own Juan Lopez and the Rev. Cathy Chang, now serving in the Philippines.


The Assembly adjourned for the evening at 11:15 pm, having to provide time for commissioners to return to their hotels before the light rail system closed for the night.

There is plenty of race yet to be run. On Friday, the Assembly makes the back turn and heads toward the finish line. More to come.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Reflections on Day 5 - Part 2: Turning the Page

In the first part of my daily reflections, I wrote about the historic vote Wednesday night to adopt the Confession of Belhar. In that post I said the PCUSA entered the 21st century on Wednesday. That claim is borne out by other actions and observations. Day 5 of the Assembly gave witness that the PCUSA has turned the page on the past 30 years (or perhaps 100 years) of civil wars and is moving fully into a new future it is ready to write.

Here is some evidence:

  • The end of the sex wars. There was only a single item this year reflective of the wars over homosexuality, gay ordination, and same-sex marriage. It was an overture seeking to restore the "one man - one woman" language to our Book of Order definition of marriage. It failed by a 79%-21% margin.
  • Darwin wins. One hundred years ago, Presbyterians battled over the challenges to faith presented by Darwin's theory of evolution. From 1910 to 1925 the General Assembly adopted "five fundamentals" of the faith that were incumbent on all persons in ordered ministries of the church. They constituted a rejection of modernist, scientific claims about God and miracles. In two separate actions Wednesday, the church stated forcefully that science is not the enemy of faith; that human beings evolved over millions of years from other species; that the universe is at least 13.8 billion years old, and that God's plan of salvation involves the full use of human faculties of (scientific) reasoning.
  • A more pragmatic approach to worship. Presbyterian worship in the last three decades has been schizophrenic. On the one hand the liturgical renewal movement of the late 20th century generated a revised Directory for Worship in 1987, and a Book of Common Worship in 1993 that were the apex of high-church, theologically correct worship. The revised Form of Government adopted in 2011 boasted a return to theologically distinctive titles for "teaching elders" and "commissioned ruling elders." On the other hand, congregations have moved to less formal, more accessible worship models. In the new revision of the Directory for Worship overwhelmingly approved on Wednesday to be sent to the presbyteries for approval, a more pastoral and pragmatic approach is being recommended, permitting greater pastoral discretion regarding baptism and admission to the Lord's Supper. and on Friday, the Assembly will consider changes to titles for church service that reflect a more common vocabulary, changing "teaching elder" back to "minister" and "minister of the Word and sacrament," and "commissioned ruling elder" to "commissioned pastor."
  • Co-momerators. Wednesday was the first time we got to see our new all-female moderatorial dyad in action. Dubbed "co-momerators" by the YAADs, Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston led debate with joy, humor, dancing, and a casual ease. It makes one wonder why we hadn't tried this before.
This has been a remarkable and historic day for Presbyterians. It began with powerful presentations for justice in morning breakfast meetings and the ecumenical worship service focusing on Belhar, Black Lives Matter, Palestine, and the anniversary of the Charleston Mother Emanuel shootings. It ended with the historic action on Belhar. Not only has the Assembly managed to move past the divisions that have afflicted it in the past, but the commissioners seem to have regained a shared sense of joy and achievement in the work they have been called to consider. 

A new day appears to have dawned.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Reflections on Day 5 - Part 1: History and Tears

As I was stepping off the light rail from the Convention Center where the General Assembly is being held to the Doubletree Hotel where I am staying, I heard someone humming "We Shall Overcome." As I looked around, I noticed the song was coming from a white, female YAAD (Young Adult Advisory Delegate) of about 19 or 20.

It was the perfect summary of this day in the Presbyterian Church.

It is hard to overstate either the significance or the emotional impact of today's Assembly actions. Tonight at about 8:45 p.m. Portland time - 5:45 a.m. tomorrow morning in Cape Town - the General Assembly ratified the Confession of Belhar as the 12th confessional document of the church, by a vote of 540-33. The Confession of Belhar, which emerged from the experience of South African apartheid, is a powerful statement of unity, reconciliation, and justice.


The culmination of a ten year review and ratification process in the PCUSA, the formal adoption of the confession was a foregone conclusion after its ratification by the presbyteries last year, but the action still carried the significance of a "kairos moment" - a spiritual watershed in the life of the church - that left many in tears of celebration, myself included. People sang and danced to the South African liberation anthem "Freedom Is Coming"; Godfrey Betha, the clerk ("Assessor") of the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa, addressed the Assembly: "I bow in humility before God


and thankfulness to you.... You have made history today.... It is a defining moment for the PCUSA - A historic moment of truth. You have allowed Belhar to enter the DNA of your denomination."

Later, Allan Boesak, a leading Reformed theologian, one of the authors of Belhar in the early 1980's, and a leader of the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa in that day, described the moment when the Confession was adopted in South Africa in 1986, At that time, Vernon Broyles, a leader of the Civil Rights movement in the former Southern church represented the PCUSA, and promised Boesak, who moderated the convention, "We shall overcome." Boesak continued tonight, "We may not know what tomorrow may bring, but I know this - tonight, we have overcome; I know this - because of Jesus, we shall overcome; I know this - whatever may come in our world... we shall overcome." And a spontaneous song of "We Shall Overcome" swept over the Assembly.


And now, 30 years later, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has acknowledged that the Confession proclaims a standard of belief and behavior by which we choose to define ourselves.

The YAAD humming "We Shall Overcome" on the light rail platform is the perfect symbol of the church's action today. Today, the PCUSA moved into the 21st century. It defined itself as a global church in solidarity with the poor, marginalized, and oppressed of the world, not as benefactor or colonist, but as a partner and learner. The YAAD was born more than 30 years after the Freedom Riders, the March on Washington, and the violence of Selma. She was born 20 years after Soweto. At her birth, Nelson Mandela was five years out of prison and the sitting President of South Africa. But she has a different set of experiences: Ferguson, Charleston, and Orlando among them. And she can tell others who ask what her church has to say about racism, violence, and discrimination that her church believes
that the church must ... stand by people in any form of suffering and need, which implies, among other things, that the church must witness against and strive against any form of injustice, so that justice may roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream; that the church as the possession of God must stand where the Lord stands, namely against injustice and with the wronged; that in following Christ the church must witness against all the powerful and privileged who selfishly seek their own interests and thus control and harm others.
And, God willing, she will see that church grow into the faith it confesses.



Reflections on Day 4

Tuesdays at General Assembly are a rush of activity as committees consider and make recommendations regarding the most important issues before the Assembly. They are only recommendations for the full body to consider but they frame the debate and provide guidance for commissioners who have not had the opportunity to hear and consider the issues as closely. When the Assembly acts counter to the recommendation of a committee, it is newsworthy in its own right.

But committees are not the Assembly. One important difference is that in committees, advisory delegates (Young adult, Theological student, Missionary, and Ecumenical) have full voice and vote.  In the committee I resourced, for example, of the 78 voting members, 18 were advisory delegates, including 15 Young adult advisory delegates.  This is a significant percentage, so that their votes can sway a committee recommendation in a different direction from the commissioners alone. 

This almost certainly happened in Committee 9, on Immigration and Environmental Issues. Arguably the most important issue before the Assembly is Item 09-01, an overture asking the Church to divest immediately from companies involved in the production and sale of fossil fuels. Groups organized on both sides of the issue have been engaged for months preparing for this Assembly. Of the 64 members of this committee, 56 voted on this item, recommending divestment by a vote of 31-25. But there are 13 Young Adult and Theological Student advisory delegates in this committee, who are among the most vocal proponents of divestment.  It will be interesting to see how the plenary body - in which advisory delegates do not have a vote - will act on this recommendation.

Another notable committee recommendation happened in Committee 5, on Mid Councils. The committee voted 28-15 to recommend approval of an overture to rescind the actions of the 221st General Assembly to reduce the number of synods from the present 16 to no more than 12.  This is the culmination of a six year process of consideration on the future of synods, which included four assemblies and two administrative commissions, had led to previous recommendations to eliminate or consolidate synods. A minority report, signed by two commissioners in the Synod of the Covenant, calls for the formation of a task force of eight persons from the two previous commissions to recommend boundary changes to the next Assembly if they cannot convince the 16 synods to agree to a plan within 8 months.

My friend and colleague Sallie Sampsell Watson, General Presbyter in Mission Presbytery, has written an excellent piece on the committee process on this item on her blog: www.gpponderings.blogspot.com

The actions of committees (and later, of the whole Assembly) can be found on www.pc-biz.org under "Action Summary" for the appropriate item. Items are listed by committee, but you can use the search function to find a specific item.

Today (Wednesday) is expected to be a historic day, as the Assembly considers final ratification of the Confession of Belhar to be our 12th confessional document.




Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Reflections on Day 3

During this Assembly, I am assisting Committee Four - "The Way Forward" - a committee charged with making recommendations on matters concerning the future of our denomination - from decision making to hierarchical structures to our identity and mission. In an afternoon briefing on the evolution of our denominational structures, theologian Amy Plantinga Pauw of Louisville Seminary quoted one of my favorite sections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together:

“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. ... It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. ... We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”

Those are important words to remember at General Assembly. The church is an imperfect institution. Sometimes actions which we think are "honest, earnest and sacrificial" are in fact self-deceptive, insincere, and self-serving. But we don't have the option of an ideal church, just the real one with imperfect people like ourselves.

Day 3 is the day Assembly committees are in full swing as they work through hundreds of items of business, deliberating what to recommend to the full Assembly. The recommendations are not the final disposition, but they carry a lot of sway with less informed commissioners in plenary session. And inevitably there are actions which persons will either praise as inspired choices or shake their heads in disbelief and dismay. And inevitably there are commissioners and resource people who amaze you with their insight, eloquence, and conviction, and others who shock you with their ignorance, stupidity, and short-sightedness. All you can do is pray that somehow God is in the midst of all this, building the church and its witness, and then live in the forgiveness of our sins, forgiving others theirs.

As I have pledged not to comment on pending business, I can't tell you my own thoughts on some of the committee actions thus far. I can say, however, that the Committee on Immigration and Environmental Issues voted narrowly to recommend approval of an overture calling for the church to divest from corporations engaged in the production and sale of fossil fuels. A minority report, affirming the ongoing work of the denomination's Mission Responsibility through Investment Committee is expected as well.

It was also reported to me that the Middle East Issues committee has recommended endorsement of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine (vote tally unknown). Both of these actions deal with deeply held convictions that leave many feeling jubilant and others kicked in the gut.

And there are unbelievable stories of genuine inspiration like the community ministry to children at risk personally developed by 86-year old Ruben Armendariz of San Antonio. And stories that are unbelievable in a different way, like the Teaching elder (minister) who reportedly asked what the distinction is between believer's baptism and infant baptism.

But the judgment of what is good and bad ultimately does not belong to us. And even if it did, there is a lot more business yet to come out of committees, not to mention the actions of the Assembly as a whole.

Altogether, not a bad way to spend my 59th birthday. Especially when the 70 commissioners in Committee Four all sing "happy birthday" to you.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Reflections on Day 2

Editor's note: I am cautiously resuming my General Assembly blog for my reflections on events of the Assembly. I will not be commenting on upcoming business. Should I be asked to remove my posts as I was before, there will not be another letter of apology to my viewers - the posts will just disappear.

Two decades ago, the General Assembly ran ten days, not the present eight. The pace was more leisurely, with evening entertainment and Sundays free. The Robert Shaw Chorale performed in 1983, the Utah Symphony in 1990; the Dave Brubeck Quintet in 1997. Now, with financial pressures to pack more business into less time, Sundays have become increasingly business days -- but they are relatively light business days.

Day two of the 222nd General Assembly started with the annual breakfast hosted by the Presbyterian Foundation. The featured speaker was Philip Jenkins, professor of church history and sociology of religion. Jenkins spoke about changes in the global religious context, and their implications for mission. (For example, the relative numbers of Africans to Europeans has changed from 1:3 a century ago to 3:1 today.) 

Worshipers at First Presbyterian, Portland
After breakfast, commissioners and participants were whisked off to local churches, either by bus or light rail. Often, the preacher of the day in these churches is a denominational or ecumenical dignitary. (It was how I first met Heath Rada and his family 26 years ago.) This Sunday feature had been dispensed with for many Assemblies, but has returned in the past six years. I worshiped at Portland First Presbyterian Church where Princeton Seminary President was the preacher of the day.

But by mid-afternoon, we were back in the Assembly hall for business. The most significant business was the report of the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee. The Stated Clerk is the highest elected office in the church. The Stated Clerk is not only the chief ecclesiastical officer, but also is the public face of the church, especially in interfaith and ecumenical contexts. For the past 8 years, the position has been held by the Rev. Gradye Parsons, who announced 20 months ago that he would not seek a third four-year term.
J. Herbert Nelson

The Stated Clerk Nominating Committee is a diverse group of persons elected by an Assembly to make a stated clerk nomination to the Assembly. The process takes a full year. It begins with conversations with the church about the role and function of the stated clerk, develops a position and person description, solicits applicants, reviews and interviews candidates, and makes a single recommendation to the Assembly.

This year, that candidate is the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, who for the past five years or so has directed the Washington Office of the General Assembly, where he works cooperatively with other faiths and denominations in lobbying Congress on behalf of positions endorsed by the Assembly. J. Herbert is a humble leader, a powerful preacher, and is the first African-American to receive the official nomination for the position. 

David Baker
A second candidate, the Rev. David Baker, the stated clerk of Tampa Bay Presbytery, was also nominated. Baker is a thirty-something clerk who launched two successful IT firms before following a call to ministry. His nominator identified his corporate leadership skills as his best asset for the position.

The election won't be held until Friday morning, but the conventional wisdom is that Nelson is likely to win in a landslide. First, the process is stacked against challengers. In order to be nominated, a challenger must have first applied for the position (and been rejected). And, no campaigning is permitted - so name recognition becomes a major influence. But perhaps more consequential is that it is 2016 and in the 228 years of the PCUSA and its major predecessor bodies, the position of stated clerk has only been held by white males. Given the church's strong desire to develop a more diverse identity, it has been widely assumed that the nominee would and should be someone who reflects that diversity. Add to that Nelson's visibility and popularity, and a challenge is daunting indeed. There must still be a question and answer period with the Assembly, and anything could happen (and has before). So whether Nelson or Baker wins, the outcome will be a major headline from this Assembly.

The Assembly also heard some agency reports (including the PMA video featuring yours truly), and received interfaith greetings from local representatives of the Mormon church, the Jewish community, and the Muslim community. The Assembly's reaction to the latter two suggests the items that concern Middle East issues will be passionately debated.

The Assembly recessed for the Moderators' reception, dinner, and initial committee meetings in the evening.

So far, the civil tone I noted yesterday has prevailed. I have been informed that the anticipated protests concerning divestment from fossil fuels will be smaller in scope and less disruptive than expected, or than the Episcopal Church encountered earlier this year during their national gathering.

Tomorrow, committees will hold open hearings on matters before them, then get down to deliberations and recommendations to the full Assembly.



Sunday, June 19, 2016

Reflections on Assembly Day One

Editor's note: I am cautiously resuming my General Assembly blog, mindful that I could be asked to cease commenting about the Assembly as I was before. I am somewhat encouraged by the publication of this piece by Steve Plank, another member of the ACC, in an official publication of the church. I intend to report on what happened, but will try to refrain from commenting on business still pending before the Assembly. However, should this new series of posts meet the same fate as the former series, don't look for another retraction letter - they will just disappear.

The 222nd General Assembly officially got underway Saturday in Portland, Oregon. Nowadays, Assemblies seem to get off to "rolling starts" before the first strike of the gavel, however. Committee Four ("The Way Forward") met on Friday to begin its business, and Saturday morning "Riverside Conversations" have become a staple at recent conventions, allowing commissioners and advisory delegates a chance to preview issues before the Assembly.

The Assembly opens with worship. Photo: Robert Lowry
So far, the Assembly appears to be muted and civil - much like GA221. Unlike assemblies of the 90's and 00's, when conflicts over sexuality and related topics created a palpable anxiety, GA222 is more laid-back, with more of the "family reunion" atmosphere that is always a part of the Assembly experience.

That conviviality was in full display during the highlight of the first day's events, the election of the moderator. For the first time in memory - perhaps in history - there were only two nominations from which to choose, meaning a single ballot election was a certainty. Also, for the first time, co-moderator nominations were permitted. The choice was between two sets of co-moderator nominees: Teaching Elders T. Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston (of National Capital and Chicago presbyteries, respectively) and the tandem of Ruling Elder David Parker of Salem Presbytery and Teaching Elder Adan Mairena of Philadelphia Presbytery. If the contest was driven by competing agendas, it was not evident. All candidates were pleasant - even joking - during the 30-minute Q&A period. Perhaps most enjoyable were responses to a question about resiliency following a ministry failure. All four candidates seemed to want to outdo each other with stories of who failed worst. The popular winner was Jan Edmiston's admission of the time she failed to show up at a wedding, assuming the date was a week later. Earlier, Adan Mairena had spoken of his failed attempt to fit in to Philadelphia street ministry wearing the semi-formal attire he had regularly sported at tony Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. "So, do you work for the D.A.'s office or something?" was the response he got from kids on the street.
Co-moderators Jan Edmiston (left) and
Denise Anderson (right) enter the hall
after their election. (Mike Cole photo)

While the quick read of regular attenders was that both teams were effective in their responses, the vote was nevertheless a landslide in favor of Anderson and Edmiston, who carried the YAAD vote by a whopping 126-22 margin and the commissioners with over 76%, 432-136. They are not only the first co-moderators in the history of the Assembly, but also the first all-female moderatorial slate to win (including moderators and vice-moderators in previous elections).

A lighthearted spirit also prevailed leading up to the election when outgoing moderator Heath Rada inadvertently referred to retiring Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons as "Grady Powell." Parsons, whose official duties end with this assembly, replied, "for the next six days, at least, I'm still Gradye Parsons." It became a running gag throughout the evening.

The Assembly began in the morning with worship, which is always a highlight. All went smoothly until the praise band hired (I understand) to lead singing during Communion seemed to lose all sense of time and place as they continued well past time in an already over-long service.

Tweet by Greg Bolt
https://twitter.com/ggbolt16/status/
744366451285340160
The morning's pre-Assembly Riverside Conversations focused on the COGA-sponsored survey of Presbyterians "When We Gather at the Table" which is before Committee Four ("The Way Forward.") It appears that high expectations are being placed upon Committee Four, which yesterday heard from three heavy hitters - Associate Stated Clerk Tom Hay, Moderator Rada, and COGA member Eileen Lindner - all saying that the future of the denomination is in the hands of that committee.

The afternoon business session is a lot of orientation, interspersed with ecumenical greetings and other presentations. An extended memorial liturgy remembering the victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre one week ago, and the anniversary of the Charleston church shootings was especially moving, and included prayers from a Portland-area AME pastor and a Muslim imam.

Sunday begins with worship in local churches, an afternoon of reports, and the moderator's reception before committees get underway in the evening. Of greatest interest will be the report of the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee, which will place in nomination J. Herbert Nelson, director of the PCUSA Washington Office, who if elected would be the first African-American stated clerk of the church. A second nomination, of David Baker, Stated Clerk of Tampa Bay Presbytery, will challenge the Committee's selection. The vote of the Assembly will not take place until Friday morning.

For those wanting to follow Assembly developments, a live stream of business sessions and worship is available through a link at www.pcusa.org and the most popular twitter hashtag is #ga222.

Friday, June 3, 2016

A Letter to My Readers

Friends,

It has been the purpose of this blog to present an "insider's guide" to the upcoming 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

I know that many have appreciated my posts and have expressed their gratitude for insights gained.

It has never been my intention to represent any opinions I might have expressed as representative of anyone other than myself, and certainly not that of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution. Nor has it been my intention to comment on the merits of any item of business before the Assembly, but simply to provide information that might not be available to the reader unfamiliar with the history and operation of the denomination.

Nevertheless, I am currently a member of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution (by moderatorial appointment, pending election), and did serve on the Advisory Committee on the Constitution from 2006 to 2012 - a period in which several of the issues before this Assembly originated.

I have been graciously reminded that as a member of the ACC I am to avoid any comment that might be interpreted as speaking for the ACC, or that might give the appearance of influencing the independent judgment of commissioners.

For that reason, the list of the "Top Ten Issues" before the Assembly has been removed, and no more will be forthcoming. I have not yet been informed whether it would be appropriate to continue the blog during the Assembly, as I have for each Assembly since 2008.

I apologize to any who might have found my posts inappropriate, and to my colleagues on the ACC for any reproach I might have brought to the Committee.

In Christ's Service,

Dan Saperstein
dmsaperstein@gmail.com