We are adjourned

The General Assembly has adjourned. It's been a couple days since I posted in this Blog. The reason, in short, is exhaustion. The last two days have been very busy with plensry meetings. Thursday evening we didn't recess until about 11:30 p.m. Friday evening we got done earlier. It was 10:45 p.m. Whike exhausting it was a wonderful time to see people speaking on different sides of issues. To see the work as we finalized decisions on various overtures and committee reports. I very seldom get up and speak at a Presbytery meeting. And yet I found myself going to the microphone to speak at the General Assembly. The first time I went to the microphone I was probably the next person to speak when someone called the question. There are nine different microphones around the Assembly Hall. But as I looked around I'm pretty sure I was the next one up. I then was going to ask a question during the interview of the two candidates for stated Clerk of our denomination. Again I think I was within one or two of speaking when time ran out on the discussion time. Finally on Friday evening I spoke concerning one of the overtures coming out of the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee,  of which I wad a part.  Each person making comments is allowed 60 Seconds, and I used every one of them. I also ended up going to the microphone to call the question on one of our committees overtures.
This morning we had a last few items of business, a thank you to the host committee, and a video about the General Assembly to be held in 2018 in St Louis Missouri. After that video we had worship one last time. Communion was served at each of our worship services. Special music, the singing of hymns, and the sermons were all very inspiring. What a remarkable experience it has been to be a part of the working of the Presbyterian Church USA at this the 222nd General Assembly. After I return home I will work on a final blog with additional thoughts and a summary of some of the highlights of this General Assembly.

The Belhar Confession

By far the highlight of the assembly thus far, for me, was the passing of the Belhar Confession last evening. This confession, which came out of South Africa 30 years ago, had been studied for the past few years. It had  been approved by the general assembly and sent to the Presbytery for approval. Two-thirds of the Presbyteries approved it. The final step of the Belhard Confession  becoming a part of our Book of Confessions was for this General Assembly to approve it. We saw a video about the Belhar Confession. As we were about to vote I turned to the commissioner next to me and said, "We are about to make history."  After the vote the band lead us in song as everyone was clapping and on their feet. We then heard from two individuals from South Africa of their words of great appreciation for this event. The gathering then broke out into song singing "We will overcome".

Day 5: Decisions begin

This morning began with a wonderful worship service. There was a remarkable ensemble of young men and women from an area high school that sang magnificently. We heard a wonderful message and celebrated the sacrament of communion.
This afternoon we began our plenary sessions where we began voting on overtures coming out of the committee's. A couple significant things occurred. One of the decisions was in the adoption of a new directory of worship. Directory of worship is part of our constitution or book of order. One of the significant changes that is coming out of this General Assembly is to remove the mandate that when a young child is being presented for baptism that one of the parents must be a member of a Christian Church. This recognizes that there are times when it is appropriate to baptize someone who does not have a parent who is an active member.
There was also an overture that had been presented to one of our committees in an attempt to reverse the 221st general assembly's decision that redefined marriage. This Overture was attempting to return to stating that marriage was between one man and one woman. This Overture was defeated by a vote of approximately 79 to 21%.
We also had a banquet honoring Grady Parsons who is retiring after eight years as stated Clerk of our denomination. At this someone gave a talk on the future of the church which was a very strong talk about the future of the church is love. I'll be looking for a transcript of that talk to share with people in the future.
Leaving we will be acting upon more overtures. For more information you can go to the website of Presbyterian Outlook Magazine as they are giving regular updates on the happenings of the general assembly.
I continue to be thrilled to be a part of this assembly and a part of our remarkable church.

Mid day 4

I did not post last evening as I thought I would.   Committee meetings full of parliamentary procedure were the rule of the day and this morning.
This morning was spent entirely on one overture and it is still not resolved.
While it is tiring,  and sometimes frustrating it is still a wonderful experience to be a part of the working of our church.
Even in disagreements I have sensed no hostility or tension between individuals.

Day 3a

I couldn't wait until the end of the day, thus I am posting for day 3a.

Our day began in committee with Bible study for approximately a half-hour. Following this we had open hearings where various people who wanted to speak for or against various overtures that would be coming beforeour committee had that opportunity. It was interesting listening to people's impassioned comments on the various overtures.
We then began  our deliberations as a committee on one of our overtures. This Overture was on affirming the historical use of and continued availability of divestment boycotts and sanctions as a non-violent means of opposing Injustices. This was not speaking to any specific divestment issues. The reason I'm sharing this and not waiting until the end of the day is because I saw, or I should say experienced, God working in discussions of disagreement in love. Near the end of our deliberations the moderator asked if anyone would like to speak for  the overture. I was resisting, but shot my hand up at the last moment. I simply stated that I thought it was an opportunity to reaffirm our use of these methods when we felt appropriate. She  then asked if there was anyone opposed. A lady from South Carolina who was sitting immediately to my right raised her hand. The two of us had been talking and joking and laughing together and enjoying one another's company. As I handed the microphone to her she said softly to me I still love you and then spoke in disagreement to me.
When we voted on the motion to affirm this Overture to the general assembly plenary sessions the vote was in the affirmative. Thus it will be taken up by the general assembly to vote either in agreement or disagreement with our committee. I would reiterate that this is affirming our use of some of those tools, it is not stating a specific case that we will use them. That may be taken up by another committee.
The excitement for me was not in the result of the motion but in the very specific instance of two people who disagreed and yet did so in love. Thanks be to God.

Day Two: worship, plenary, and committee work begins

The morning began with Commissioners heading out to various churches throughout the region. I attended Covenant Presbyterian Church in Gresham. This is a small Church. There were approximately 60 people in attendance, 30 of which were commissioners. Several of us were invited to sing in the choir which was a lot of fun. Following the worship service we shared in a potluck supper. Each commissioner was presented with a copy of their Church cookbook. In the afternoon we had a plenary session where we received several reports. The session began with several ecumenical individuals from the community sending greetings to the general assembly. One of these was a Jewish rabbi who got rather political. Another one was a leader in the Portland Muslim Community. It was interesting hearing different perspectives.
We then had several reports. This included one on the mission agency and also about youth Volunteers in Mission.
The nominating committee then placed in nomination a name for the next stated Clerk. And then a ruling Elder placed a second person's name in nomination. I will tell more about these as the week goes on. We will hear from both candidates and they will be elected on Friday.
We then had a very nice dinner sponsored by the board of Pensions which celebrates their 300 anniversary this year. Following the dinner committees began meeting. Tonight's meeting was mostly ice breaking and learning how the Committees would be run. I am on the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee.

The opening sessions

As we gathered for the beginning of the general assembly, a joint choir of about 150 voices from the Presbytery a handbell choir of about 30 ringers,   along with a pianist and organist played some wonderful music. They concluded with an amazing arrangement of Shout to the Lord. He also helped in leading music and worship. One of their songs was God of Grace and God of Glory. When the moderator Heath Slater stood up to call the General Assembly to order I had chills up and down my arms. It was an amazing thing to realize I was a part of this wonderful Church of ours as it meets here in Portland Oregon.
I also had a wonderful Liturgy of prayers in music for those impacted by the violence in Orlando Florida and other places. It was a very moving service with prayers offered by people of different faiths.
The worship service was a very moving and wonderful experience the message was delivered by the moderator. Both in his sermon and then in his report to the general assembly after the worship service he spoke of how hope does not disappoint us comma and that as we strive to live into hope we sometimes need to move beyond our doing things decently and in order and step out in faith and bolts.
This evening we will be electing co- moderators. There are two sets of candidates for co-moderator. The co- moderators will serve our denomination for the next two years.

I'm here

I have arrived safely in Portland Oregon. My flight arrived slightly early.Greeters from the assembly were at the airport to give me my pass for the lite rail and I was off to my hotel. I am now at the convention center, signed in and ready for meetings.

Getting ready for the Assembly

June 15
I am excited and almost ready to travel to Portland, Oregon to be a delegate to the 22nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  I fly there on Friday and the Assembly convenes on Saturday morning.  The meetings run through Saturday, the 25th.
I am excited about being apart of tthe workings of our denomination and to observe the movement of the Holy Spirit in our deliberations and actions.  I am especially excited to be a part of a large gathering of Presbyterian from across the nation to worship our God together.
During the 8 days of the Assembly I will be attempting to update you about my activities and the activities of the Assembly.