I am preparing to put my thoughts and feelings together for a general presentation to the congregation in a couple of weeks. It is amazing how mixed up things get in your head. It is hard to remember what happened each day, so I am happy I have this journal for reference.
I am still very happy with what I saw and did. Reading peoples ideas about what happened makes me realize why we have the form of government we have. When that many people gather to discuss, argue, debate, pray and discern a subject...you get the entire range of thinking and you can appreciate every angle of the subject. It is hard to translate those hours into a few paragraphs of print. Or even talk. I am convinced that what has happened will be to the greater good of the larger church. Some, perhaps a lot of local churches will be unhappy and perhaps it will be enough to make them want to depart from our denomination. I would never want to hold on to someone who felt I had in some way betrayed their trust. If people feel that this body of believers have sold them down the garden path, then they have every right to move on to a group who are more aligned with their convictions. I can only say, that it weakens the entire church when we fight over things that may not be of great importance in the large scheme of things instead of focusing our energy on the big and only important issue. It is about Jesus...it is about spreading the word and bringing the gift of grace to the entire world.
I am not 100% pleased with everything we did. But I know that it was done with the best of intentions and the Holy Spirit was moving through that room. Perhaps we did not always understand, but I feel like we heard the message.
I hope I can present an emotional and spiritual understanding of GA. If people need to talk about particular issues, we will form small groups so those concerns may be heard. There is still much work to do and I hope I can make people eager to go outside our church and be a presence for God.
I know I cannot do justice to the meetings and the whole experience, but I will try.
Shalom
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The End
Well, almost. Traveled all day yesterday until 2:30 this morning. Tired and cannot think well. Will finish this tomorrow. It was a wonderful week.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Very, very tired.
It has been a good week. I am exhausted, but at peace. I know many will not be happy with the outcome of the GA. Both sides will be unhappy, but we tried...best we could ..to understand what God wanted us to accomplish this week.
Many good things happened. Many of us were blessed with new insight into scripture, new friends, new ideas and new old arguments to be explained. The commissioners were graceful, civil and forgiving. I think that is a plus. Acrimony was put aside and decisions were made and accepted...maybe not liked, but accepted as a decision that was honest and not just ages old rhetoric that is quoted over and over again. But as I've said before, the winds of change are blowing across the denomination. And I am not just talking about social justice or ordination issues. Change in how we view the way we must begin to do church and be church in the future. I can see it happening in front of my face. Do I like it? Not all of it, but it isn't important if I like it. If it brings another generation closer to Jesus and the gospel, I can put up with it and maybe even have some fun with it. But I am part of what will keep their theological integrity in place and keep them grounded. I can dance and sing with them, if I know they understand what they are singing.
Of all the good things that happened, there is bound to be a not so happy moment. We had one about noon today. Yesterday we did not redefine the understanding of marriage, so today we had a motion to revisit the motion. It was voted down and we were moving on to another issue when suddenly we heard singing. "Hear our prayer, O God" and there were about 20 people marching down the center aisle singing, carrying signs that said pray and they were on their way to the podium. It was peaceful, yet disruptive. Cindy looked startled and called for a recess with the singing of Love Divine. We sang loudly and the pianist played very loud. As we finished, they lined up in front of the platform holding their signs. Cindy and Gradye went down to speak to them and asked them to leave. They refused, so security came in and asked them to either leave or be arrested for trespassing. Some left, some had to be escorted out and were given citations and released in front of the convention center. They were not Presbyterians protesting the action of their denomination, but activists that travel around doing this.
We completed our agenda and only have worship service left for tomorrow. Oh, yes, final report of the Committee on motions and overtures. And financial report for the assembly action.
My feet are swollen, my neck has a permanent crick in it, I ate too much stuff today and slept too little. I walked too much and thought too hard. But it was a great experience and I will treasure it and think back on it and remember many people with great fondness.
Shalom
Many good things happened. Many of us were blessed with new insight into scripture, new friends, new ideas and new old arguments to be explained. The commissioners were graceful, civil and forgiving. I think that is a plus. Acrimony was put aside and decisions were made and accepted...maybe not liked, but accepted as a decision that was honest and not just ages old rhetoric that is quoted over and over again. But as I've said before, the winds of change are blowing across the denomination. And I am not just talking about social justice or ordination issues. Change in how we view the way we must begin to do church and be church in the future. I can see it happening in front of my face. Do I like it? Not all of it, but it isn't important if I like it. If it brings another generation closer to Jesus and the gospel, I can put up with it and maybe even have some fun with it. But I am part of what will keep their theological integrity in place and keep them grounded. I can dance and sing with them, if I know they understand what they are singing.
Of all the good things that happened, there is bound to be a not so happy moment. We had one about noon today. Yesterday we did not redefine the understanding of marriage, so today we had a motion to revisit the motion. It was voted down and we were moving on to another issue when suddenly we heard singing. "Hear our prayer, O God" and there were about 20 people marching down the center aisle singing, carrying signs that said pray and they were on their way to the podium. It was peaceful, yet disruptive. Cindy looked startled and called for a recess with the singing of Love Divine. We sang loudly and the pianist played very loud. As we finished, they lined up in front of the platform holding their signs. Cindy and Gradye went down to speak to them and asked them to leave. They refused, so security came in and asked them to either leave or be arrested for trespassing. Some left, some had to be escorted out and were given citations and released in front of the convention center. They were not Presbyterians protesting the action of their denomination, but activists that travel around doing this.
We completed our agenda and only have worship service left for tomorrow. Oh, yes, final report of the Committee on motions and overtures. And financial report for the assembly action.
My feet are swollen, my neck has a permanent crick in it, I ate too much stuff today and slept too little. I walked too much and thought too hard. But it was a great experience and I will treasure it and think back on it and remember many people with great fondness.
Shalom
Thursday, July 8, 2010
LATE
It is so late and I am so tired. We have been hard at it since early morning and I am exhausted. I don't even know if I know what we did today.
We started out with a lovely worship service that included commissioning our missionaries. We honored 8 who had over 20 years in the field.
Then it was time to discuss and think about all the work that committees have done this week and vote on those issues. I will collect my thoughts and write about them when sanity once again reigns in my brain. I am pretty sure we are sending the ordination standard to Presbyteries again. I know we did not decide to change the definition of marriage. I know we decided that if a state enacts a law like the Az immigration law, we will not have any meetings (like GA) there. We did some other things that were good and no one could complain about. Tomorrow we will do some more things that people will not like and some will like. Funny, you think you know what you think, then your thinking gets twisted and the issue gets restated and new issues come from that and you end up not being sure where you are. I don't think I made a stupid vote today, except for the time I voted against calling the question when I really wanted the question to be called. But it is hard keeping up with all that is going on.
Tomorrow is another day. Just pray. Shalom.
We started out with a lovely worship service that included commissioning our missionaries. We honored 8 who had over 20 years in the field.
Then it was time to discuss and think about all the work that committees have done this week and vote on those issues. I will collect my thoughts and write about them when sanity once again reigns in my brain. I am pretty sure we are sending the ordination standard to Presbyteries again. I know we did not decide to change the definition of marriage. I know we decided that if a state enacts a law like the Az immigration law, we will not have any meetings (like GA) there. We did some other things that were good and no one could complain about. Tomorrow we will do some more things that people will not like and some will like. Funny, you think you know what you think, then your thinking gets twisted and the issue gets restated and new issues come from that and you end up not being sure where you are. I don't think I made a stupid vote today, except for the time I voted against calling the question when I really wanted the question to be called. But it is hard keeping up with all that is going on.
Tomorrow is another day. Just pray. Shalom.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
First Votes
I think the winds of change are blowing across the Presbyterian Church. I have been surprised at the voting.
There appears to be little opposition to most questions. Thus far, there should not have been much opposition, but Presbyterians always seem to bring opposition to the meetings. If not for a valid reason, then for the exercise. This afternoon we passed the Belhar Confession to be voted on by Presbyteries. Very little debate. The Heidelberg Catechism was referred to the 2012 GA after it has been re-translated. Some discussion, but all are winning by large margins.
Tonight we had a reasonable debate on the nFOG. I was really surprised when it passed at more than 2-1. I now feel like a Congregationalist. nFOG will have to be approved by 2/3 of the Presbyteries and that may be hard. Perhaps the delegates just think the Presbyteries need to make that decision and maybe they thought that the committees that have studied and debated the issue have done all the work. I don't know, but I do know that it is going to take Sessions and Presbyteries many hours of work to frame the policies that must now be done by local option. States rights...that's what it is.
We will see.
This morning I went to the COM conversations and they were interesting and revealing. Our INP COM have great policy papers and good hard working liaisons that keep us out of so much trouble. Some of those folks ask questions that made me wonder what their COM did!! I was going to the CPM conversations, but ours lasted so long and was so interesting I didn't go. But I saw Greg after and he attended, so we will talk and see what overlaps we can find. I suspect INP is at the top on both committees. Yeaaa for our EP. He keeps us going and on a pretty straight line. We miss having him here with us, but he sent goodies so we are not going hungry and our energy levels and kept high. I did have to chastise him...the folks next to us were given toys to play with by their EP. Do you suppose Aaron thinks we are here to work???
Tomorrow is another day and will be a long day, so it's off to bed. Shalom
There appears to be little opposition to most questions. Thus far, there should not have been much opposition, but Presbyterians always seem to bring opposition to the meetings. If not for a valid reason, then for the exercise. This afternoon we passed the Belhar Confession to be voted on by Presbyteries. Very little debate. The Heidelberg Catechism was referred to the 2012 GA after it has been re-translated. Some discussion, but all are winning by large margins.
Tonight we had a reasonable debate on the nFOG. I was really surprised when it passed at more than 2-1. I now feel like a Congregationalist. nFOG will have to be approved by 2/3 of the Presbyteries and that may be hard. Perhaps the delegates just think the Presbyteries need to make that decision and maybe they thought that the committees that have studied and debated the issue have done all the work. I don't know, but I do know that it is going to take Sessions and Presbyteries many hours of work to frame the policies that must now be done by local option. States rights...that's what it is.
We will see.
This morning I went to the COM conversations and they were interesting and revealing. Our INP COM have great policy papers and good hard working liaisons that keep us out of so much trouble. Some of those folks ask questions that made me wonder what their COM did!! I was going to the CPM conversations, but ours lasted so long and was so interesting I didn't go. But I saw Greg after and he attended, so we will talk and see what overlaps we can find. I suspect INP is at the top on both committees. Yeaaa for our EP. He keeps us going and on a pretty straight line. We miss having him here with us, but he sent goodies so we are not going hungry and our energy levels and kept high. I did have to chastise him...the folks next to us were given toys to play with by their EP. Do you suppose Aaron thinks we are here to work???
Tomorrow is another day and will be a long day, so it's off to bed. Shalom
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Field Trip
Since our committee finished our work early, the leadership team decided to give us a treat. We had some evangelism videos today and some more lectio divino on Luke 20 and after lunch we boarded a bus and went to a large large Presby church in Edina Mn. Heard their 3 pastors discuss their missional work and how they go about it with 3000 members and 1000 youth. The youth don't all come to church there they have 'pods' out in homes. We asked lots of questions. They told us of a new group they are forming and took us to see their worship space. There was a huge "dias" as they term it and a really big communion table and pulpit. When I asked where the font was, they said it was behind the walls where they keep the band equip and when they need it they bring it out. I really think poor John Calvin would be throwing up about now.
Then we went to the little Kwanza Presby church in St Paul and visited with the delightful people there in a little run down pretty and homey church. They spoke of their missional work and we saw the garden they have for the neighborhood and heard about the new facility they are preparing for women who work in the sex trade just a block away. A beautiful African American woman (who is the one Amy and Laura would term the church mother) sang the Lords Prayer for us. Just lovely. We prayed for the ministers and the missions of both churches before we left them and they were touched that we would do that.
It was a good trip and I learned a lot from it.
Tomorrow we begin plenary session and the votes begin in earnest. I know there will be upset people, no matter how it goes, but people need to learn that God sends us out into the world to bring His kingdom near to people and we need to quit spending all our energy fighting.
I do like the quote from yesterdays sermon. Get in the boat. Go across the sea. There will be a storm. You will not die. The church will not die no matter what we do or don't do as long as we all get in the boat and go across the sea.
Shalom
Then we went to the little Kwanza Presby church in St Paul and visited with the delightful people there in a little run down pretty and homey church. They spoke of their missional work and we saw the garden they have for the neighborhood and heard about the new facility they are preparing for women who work in the sex trade just a block away. A beautiful African American woman (who is the one Amy and Laura would term the church mother) sang the Lords Prayer for us. Just lovely. We prayed for the ministers and the missions of both churches before we left them and they were touched that we would do that.
It was a good trip and I learned a lot from it.
Tomorrow we begin plenary session and the votes begin in earnest. I know there will be upset people, no matter how it goes, but people need to learn that God sends us out into the world to bring His kingdom near to people and we need to quit spending all our energy fighting.
I do like the quote from yesterdays sermon. Get in the boat. Go across the sea. There will be a storm. You will not die. The church will not die no matter what we do or don't do as long as we all get in the boat and go across the sea.
Shalom
Monday, July 5, 2010
Great day
This was a very good day. Our committee finished all of our business tonight.
This morning I went to breakfast and heard Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence, speak and wow..she is dynamic and so inspiring. I can't wait to share it with you, so read the book. I learned a couple of important things. The main one is that even with the emergence churches, our denomination, a doctrinal, theological, creedal community of believers who love decency and in order stuff, will remain viable. We just need to work hard and change our model and keep on keeping on. As she explained, pods will happen and people will find their spirituality and then move on to other small new pods. But we will be the ones that can keep the theology intact and train and send out those to create pods of believers who have no interest in our way of doing church. But we will remain vital and useful and at the same time be disciples. It is the over 60's and under 25's that understand and can accept the new way. It is those in the middle that get frightened and resist the change. Interesting...that the two outside generations should be the ones to understand each other and work together. Something to think and talk about. We will have many conversations.
In our committee, since it was lightweight (important but lightweight and non-contentious) the leaders decided to provide us with something special. They did. The relationship building (don't read this, Tracy) was wonderful and they developed a thing called "Traveling Light". we have been doing Lectio Divino 0I know it probably isn't probably spelled that way) and moved into "Building the Church Deep and Wide" and it has been eye opening. I have been a member of Deep and Wide for over a year, but they are changing it and it will now have more implications for the church and we all should be looking at it. (On the web) Tonight they showed a video on evangelism. It was about a church that took on the skateboarders and made them a viable youth group. Guess what? I knew that building...it was the Guthrie church where I grew up. What a kick!!!
Tomorrow we get a field trip into the city to see I don't know what, but I am sure I will be amazed. This is a bonus I did not expect from GA. I hope everyone is having the joyful experience I am having. I am sure the folks on several committees are suffering great pain tonight as their discussions have not been pleasant and they are going to be tired. We are to be quiet about finishing tonight...most won't have that great experience. So, though I am tired, I have made some wonderful new friends and have made a covenant with my partner to pray for her congregation and her vision and she will pray for us. A couple of ladies I would like to wrap up and take home.
Until tomorrow, Shalom
This morning I went to breakfast and heard Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence, speak and wow..she is dynamic and so inspiring. I can't wait to share it with you, so read the book. I learned a couple of important things. The main one is that even with the emergence churches, our denomination, a doctrinal, theological, creedal community of believers who love decency and in order stuff, will remain viable. We just need to work hard and change our model and keep on keeping on. As she explained, pods will happen and people will find their spirituality and then move on to other small new pods. But we will be the ones that can keep the theology intact and train and send out those to create pods of believers who have no interest in our way of doing church. But we will remain vital and useful and at the same time be disciples. It is the over 60's and under 25's that understand and can accept the new way. It is those in the middle that get frightened and resist the change. Interesting...that the two outside generations should be the ones to understand each other and work together. Something to think and talk about. We will have many conversations.
In our committee, since it was lightweight (important but lightweight and non-contentious) the leaders decided to provide us with something special. They did. The relationship building (don't read this, Tracy) was wonderful and they developed a thing called "Traveling Light". we have been doing Lectio Divino 0I know it probably isn't probably spelled that way) and moved into "Building the Church Deep and Wide" and it has been eye opening. I have been a member of Deep and Wide for over a year, but they are changing it and it will now have more implications for the church and we all should be looking at it. (On the web) Tonight they showed a video on evangelism. It was about a church that took on the skateboarders and made them a viable youth group. Guess what? I knew that building...it was the Guthrie church where I grew up. What a kick!!!
Tomorrow we get a field trip into the city to see I don't know what, but I am sure I will be amazed. This is a bonus I did not expect from GA. I hope everyone is having the joyful experience I am having. I am sure the folks on several committees are suffering great pain tonight as their discussions have not been pleasant and they are going to be tired. We are to be quiet about finishing tonight...most won't have that great experience. So, though I am tired, I have made some wonderful new friends and have made a covenant with my partner to pray for her congregation and her vision and she will pray for us. A couple of ladies I would like to wrap up and take home.
Until tomorrow, Shalom
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