The calendar of presbytery events is at the foot of the page

Contact stated clerk Pete Wells to add events to the calendar

Friday, June 29, 2012

General Assembly Business Overview

The PC(USA) General Assembly follows a pre-set sequence of  doing business.  On Saturday, following opening worship, the assembly will meet in the evening the GA elects a Moderator to be the leader of the assembly and of the church for the next two years, until the General Assembly meets in Detroit, MI in mid-June, 2014.  

On Sunday, following worship, there will be a short business meeting in the afternoon to elect a Stated Clerk (chief administrative officer) for a four year term.  This year there is no drama in this election as the incumbent, Gradye Parsons, is the only candidate.  In the evening the 20 committees each meet to get acquainted with each other and may start to consider some of the business assigned to the committee.

On Monday and Tuesday the committees will continue to meet and consider the business.  The committee work will result in recommendations to the full General Assembly plenary sessions.  None of the committee recommendations will be final until acted on by the plenary sessions.

The work of the full assembly starts on Wednesday.   Each day, Wednesday through Friday, includes three business sessions and worship.   Some of the work of the full assembly will be the subject of local, national, and religious press reports.  

The final plenary session, mostly to consider the budget implications of the prior actions, and closing worship will be on Saturday.   Most of us return to our homes on Saturday and Sunday.

For those who wish to follow the business of the General Assembly either to see what's going on or to check the accuracy of press reports, go to the same site the commissioners and delegates use, http://pc-biz.org

If you have questions or comments please make them here and I will try to respond.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The many blessings of service

I volunteered to serve as a parliamentarian for a committee at General Assembly,  starting June 30, a week from today.

I was appointed to the committee that reviews, among others, Presbyterian Publishing. I am reviewing Louis Weeks, A Sustainable Presbyterian Future. This is an excellent resource for congregations on ways be relevant by returning to our Presbyterian roots of ministry shared by teaching and ruling elders.

I look forward to more discussions in committee,  small groups, and plenary.

If we can be free to explore our roots and be open to change, there can be hope for the New Church.

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Saturday, June 9, 2012

Week of Commitment and Joy

The first week of June, following Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, for me was a week of a variety of commitment, learning, and joy.   Spiritually uplifting and physically demanding.  Spiritually uplifting frequently comes with physically demanding.

The week started with an overnight trip to Louisville, for three days filled (7:30 AM to 9:00 PM Monday and Tuesday) with background, training, worship, and fellowship for committee and other leaders at General Assembly.   I am impressed with the varieties of gifts of those who will be helping the commissioners to discern the will of Christ for the church.

Louisville to Pendleton is not the most direct flights, similar to those from other parts of the country.  The commitment shown by those attending the sessions represent the dedication to Christ and the church of those for whom General Assembly is part of their mission to reinforce the church.  I look forward to playing a small part in helping the commissioners in their work.

After my return on Thursday morning and a few hours at my "day job," others and I traveled to Dayville for discussions with members of the Dayville Community Church session about that congregation's unique mission in the close-knit community in which they serve.  I was impressed with commitment to Christ, community, and mission.   I value the advantages of community shown by the Presbyterian system.  Unfortunately, with the distances between congregations in the presbytery and the schedule of meetings, some congregations have difficulty being as connected as other.   We need to work harder at keeping the connections.

I pray that the work of the General Assembly and the Dayville congregation continue to serve Christ in their particular ways.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Remember that the cost is sometimes worth the result

Sometimes travel is difficult.  However, it is easier to take if the result is worth the effort.  The visit to Louisville has had a cost in travel aggravation, but it is worth it.

The trip from Pendleton included an uneventful auto journey, three flights, all delayed by times ranging from 90 minutes to over three hours, one re-routing that should have caused a piece of baggage to not make the flight, much anxiety, and arrival at the meetings 30 minutes late instead of 2 hours early.

In the end, it is great to meet so many servants of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who are willing to serve in committee leadership positions.  Each of 20 committees has a moderator and vice moderator and a backup staff of a committee assistant, parliamentarian, and resource coordinator who come to Louisville for three days so that the committee can be effective and get its work done in three days of General Assembly.  

Doug, Emily, Amy, Frank, and I are working well together and I look forward to helping in a small way to move the work of the Presbyterian Board of Pensions, Foundation, and Publishing Company forward.

Tuesday we will learn more about the "nuts and bolts" of functioning during General Assembly, and on Wednesday we will work to developing a work plan for the committee.

I pray that we will help the commissioners to discern the will of God in the work of the denomination.

Friday, June 1, 2012

General Assembly Leadership Training

I leave on Sunday evening, June 3, for three whirlwind days in Louisville.  After an overnight set of flights from Pasco, trough San Francisco and Washington, DC, I'll get to Louisville at 10:00 in time for training session that start at 1:30 PM.   On Wednesday I'll return, arriving at Pasco at midnight.

The training is for committee leadership and staff for General Assembly that begins June 30.  I will be parliamentarian to committee 20 - Pensions, Foundation, and Presbyterian Publishing.   There had been one controversial matter on the agenda, having to do with medical benefits of Pension Board for same-sex partners.   That item has been withdrawn.   As this is the first time I've had a helping role in committee, I look forward to little to tax my skills.

At the training I will get to meet the committee moderator, vice moderator, and the other support folks.  I We will also have training not only in our own roles, but in what each other team member does. 

As a presbytery clerk, I've been an observer to the action of three past General Assemblies.  I'm looking forward be being able to help in some small way.

I hope to have additional postings during or after the training and during General Assembly.

The next two General Assemblies are in Detroit, MI, in 2014 and Portland, OR, in 2016.  I hope I can attend one or both.

Please pray for the commissioners, delegates, and staff of the General Assembly as they prepare for and attend this bi-annual assembly.