Posted by Marvin on July 9, 2010 under Uncategorized
Worship at General Assembly today was led by the Reverend Ruth-Aimee Belonni-Rusario, who preached on Living Waters and our part in them. We were called to reach across lines of race, not because of diversity, but because we are a people of God.
Other worships leaders included the Kenyan Fellowship Choir, which was wonderful in leading the congregation in their native music. overall it was a wonderful worship service.
In significant action the GA has approved a committee recommendation denouncing Catapillar for non-peaceful uses of its products.
I’m unaware of what happened to the Middle East Study Report. It was a hot-button issue, but was unresolved when I left for a few minutes and I was unable to determine the outcome. We’ll have to wait for the minutes to be posted before we know for certain.
In major debate and action this afternoon the Board of Pensions was ured to provide health and pension benefits to same-sex spouses and domestic partners where one of the partners is a member of the Board of Pensions Plan. There is a provision for “relief of conscience” in this provision. The BOP suggested that this would result in an increase of BOP dues of between .6% and 1% at the effective date of 2012.
As was expected, this afternoon the assembly disapproved the PSL overture on CLPs. We were advised that no change has been made to current standards.
And just before Jean Marie and I left the assembly passed one final piece of legislation that will affect PSL. This was in relation to the YAV program. The assembly approved $50,000 per year for the next two years to support scholarships for YAVs. In addition YAV site coordinators “should be treated as ‘mission co-workers’”.
We don’t know just what this final statement means, but it should become clear in the near future.
I will not be posting anything to this blog tomorrow. The assembly has only budget information to work on and the closing worship. We will all be traveling back to Louisiana and not have access to internet services. If you all have any questions any one of us who was present will be more than willing to try to answer for you.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on July 8, 2010 under Uncategorized
As you read this post you will quickly learn that I have written this over the course of the day and posted it when I have internet access back in my room…
The Daily Worship today heard a sermon based on hope for the future. The sermon was delivered by Mr. Hakeem Jerome Jefferson from Maysville, South Carolina. Mr. Jefferson was a Youth Advisory Delegate to the 218th General Assembly.
Also included in the service was the recognition of retiring Mission Co-Workers who had offered to the church at least 20 years of service. And new Mission Co-Workers were also commissioned. Among those being commissioned was Ms. Caitlin Hodge from thenPresbytery of South Louisiana, who was commissioned as a Young Adult Volunteer to serve in Maimi, Florida.
Om the agenda today is a discussion on marriage. The committee is recommending to the General Asembly that the current definition of marriage which states that “marriage is between a man and a woman” be changed to “marriage is between two people”. This is one change among others but will certainly receive a great deal of debate.
In the morning session the primary piece of business was the establishment of an Administrative Commission for Middle Governing Bodies. The main issue for this administrative commission will be to deal with the ongoing discussion on the future of synods. My understanding is that this body will have the authority to dissolve synods at their request and with the concurrence of the presbyteries involved.
This afternoon the Wetlands Overture from the Presbytery of South Louisiana passed on a voice vote. It had previously passed unanimously though the committee. The effects of this overture will be the establishment of a Wetlands Institute to help educate interested people about the ways human actions have had on the deterioration of the wetlands.
This afternoon the General Assembly voted to send to the presbyteries for their positive or negative votes a change in the language to G-6.0106b. The change would allow ordaining bodies to decide whom they would ordain. This is the “local option” that has been discussed over the past few months.
The debate was long and difficult and sometimes hinky. It showed just how divided the Presbyterian Chuech is over ordination standards. Friends, the approval or disapproval process will be difficult with severe battles in many presbyteries. The entire church is in need of prayer over the next year.
A later action affecting the Presbytery of South Louisiana was the passage of a resolution outlining the Presbyterian Church response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The response was crafted cooperatively by your representatives from PSL and the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Action Policy of the General Assembly. This resolution gives PDA the necessary information and authority to begin fundraising for a response that can include counseling, advocacy, direct aid and many other concepts. Thanks be to God for this wise action of the General Assembly.
And one more – The General Assembly approved a study paper on the definition of marriage. With this action the GA decided to take no further action on the definition of marriage until a period of study is complete. Interestingly, there was no time frame attached to the period of study.
I will admit that I left the assembly before recess for the night, but I believe there will be no further actions of consequence tonight. Tomorrow the big item will be the Middle East Study Report. Although I believe there will not be huge implications for PSL from this report it will be huge throughout the denomination.
See you all tomorrow.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on July 7, 2010 under Uncategorized
This evening the General Assembly boted to send to the presbyteries the new Form of Government. The presbyteries will be asked to vote in the positive or negative for the new Form of Government. It will take a simple majority among the presbyteries for this legislation to take effect.
As an editorial note – I am in favor of the new Form of Government simply because it gives presbyteries a great deal more flexibility in the way things are done. That being said, there are also difficulties with the nFOG and these areas will need to be fixed in future versions of the constitution should it pass the presbyteries.
The General Assembly is adjourned for the night.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on under Uncategorized
In business this afternoon the Assembly approved by a 77% margin approved sending the Belhar Confession to the presbyteries for their positive or negative votes. In order for this confession to be adopted it must have positive voteS from 2/3 of the presbyteries.
In an early action this evening Linda Valentine was confirmed for another 4-year term as Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council.
More actions will follow later this evening.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on under Uncategorized
Friends,
I have spent the morning catching up with the legislation that is being recommended by the various committees of the General Assembly. Most of what I’ve heard has been hearsay, but if what I’ve heard is true there will be some significant and good legislation moving forward.
At lunch today as I was asked to introduce myself I put in a pitch for Project Homecoming. The response was great and one pastor even indicated that he would consider moving their next mission project to New Orleans. We will see what happens.
I’ll return again later today.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on July 6, 2010 under Uncategorized
The committees continued to meet today, although I did little more than to monitor some of the more prominent actions.
First, the overture from the Presbytery of South Louisiana concerning Commissioned Lay Pastors came out of committee with a recommendation that it be defeated. Although this is not a surprise it is a disappointment for those who worked to have it passed.
A positive buzz continues around our Wetlands Preservation overture. I expect it to be approved by the full GA when it comes up later this week.
In other committee actions the controversial Middle East Study Report received a negative recommendation from committee and the “local option” overture concerning ordination standards received a positive recommendation from committee. I have yet to hear information concerning recommendations surrounding the New Form of Government Task Force Report.
By 2:00 tomorrow afternoon all committee action must be completed and the plenary sessions will resume.
I will rye to update you all along the way.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on July 5, 2010 under Uncategorized
Friends,
First, let me say that I discovered late last night that no one was able to read my posts to the GA219 Blog. I have transferred all that was on that site to this site and so you should read this and the several posts that follow down the bolg. And I will continue to post to this blog and to Facebook as well. The Facebook posts throughout the day are easier and the post at night to this sight will be a wrap-up of the significant issues of the day.
The Committees of the GA were all meeting today and in fact some of them continue to meet as I write this post. For the Presbytery of South Louisiana the most significant happening of the day was that our Wetlands overture was passed in committee by a unanimous vote. There was in addition a desire of the committee to work on a response by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We were involved in negotiations yesterday evening and much of the morning on the wording of the action to be taken. Although I don’t have the precise wording of the recommendation by the committee, I can say that it involves a response for counseling, for affirmative action, for communities that are affected by the spill, and much more. This recommendation was also passed by a unanimous vote. Believe me, we were celebrating the outcome of these two actions and we pray that the General Assembly will vote the same way as the committee.
Tomorrow I will be busy with meetings and Jean Marie will be able to return to the Project Homecoming booth in the display area. I also ask that you all continue to keep the General Assembly in your prayers for the many difficult actions that remain before the committees and for the General Assembly when it reconvenes on Wednesday. There are many actions that need to be handled in a very short period of time.
Blessings on all of you.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on under Uncategorized
This evening the only order of business at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was to elect the moderator of the 219th General Assembly. There were multiple problems with the voting process which effectively eliminated the votes on at least two ballots. By the time the election took place no one really knew which ballot it was. In the end Elder Cindy Bolbach from the National Capitol Presbytery was elected. She will be a fine interpreter of mission across the denomination and around the world. She showed an amazing sense of humor that carried her through some difficult questions. She will need to rely heavily on the Stated Clerk in the moderating of the meeting, but the mission interpretation is much more important in the larger scheme of things. I was impressed.
Marv
Posted by Marvin on under Uncategorized
Friends,
I arrived in Minneapolis today around 3:30 in the afternoon. After registration and looking around a bit I had dinner with Jean Marie and Kris. Jean Marie is here working in the Project Homecoming booth and Kris is here to be an Overture Advocate for the Presbytery of South Louisiana’s Wetlands Overture. The national news has generated great discussion about what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico with much sympathy begin expressed for the presbytery, its member congregations and for all who are directly affected by the oil spill.
Tomorrow the GA begins. And in the evening the new Moderator will be elected. There are six candidates, most of whom I have never heard. If you are interested, my Facebook page will have photos tomorrow. My identity is “Marvin Groote” and if you have not requested to be my friend, you will need to do so before you can view anything. I’ll try to be attentive to friend requests over the next few days so that everyone can view what they want.
As always, keep the GA in your prayers. There are many controversial issues before the assembly and God’s wisdom is deeply needed.
Shalom,
Marv
Posted by Marvin on under Uncategorized
Friends,
I am writing this the day before I depart for Minneapolis and the General Assembly of the Presbyteriam Church (U.S.A.). I will try to post information daily on the events of the G.A. I’ll also try to have our commissioners and other attendees post their thoughts as well.
Keep all of us and the entire GA in your prayers.
Marv
