They all were fine candidates but I had made my choice after hearing them. That night the vote would come during our first Plenary gathering.

Transcription

1 Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard? The Lord Is the Everlasting God The Creator of The Ends of The Earth Those Who Hope In The Lord will Renew Their Strength They Will Soar on Wings Like Eagles They Run and Not Grow Weary They Will Walk and Not Be Faint After the opening of the 220th General Assembly, this proclamation started each day s prayer and business sessions. My preparation and study for the last month and one half was over. Now I am to vote my conscience on some 800 items of business. I had been assigned to the Mission Coordination Committee, one of twenty Committees where Commissioners had been randomly assigned and will conduct the hard work of addressing Overtures from Presbyteries across the US. Advocates and Advisors are to speak on many issues as the Commissioners decide what and how overtures are to proceed to the Plenary session of the Body where all 688 Commissioners will vote yea or nay. Friday, June 29th my wife and I drove to the David L Lawrence Convention Center. I registered and received my Blue Badge. This badge gave access to everywhere. My first official act was to submit a Commissioner's Resolution on behalf of the Hampton Presbyterian Church, Rev Ted Martin, Pastor. This was a proposed amendment to the Board of Pensions Benefits Plan. Dr. Dirk Lesnett, pastor of the Elfinwild Presbyterian Church and I sponsored this Resolution and submitted it to the Stated Clerk for decision. We then visited the Exhibition Hall where we met Carol and Charlie Haeussner manning a booth on the Middle East. Advocates for the many issues could be seen at the various booths as they emphasized their positions on the topics ahead of us. On Saturday June30th, choir members Zelene, Doris Calian and Jack and Lee Oehrle drove to the assembly; me to the Omni hotel where I was to stay for the week and all others to the Convention center where they would practice for the opening Worship along with so many other choir members. David Billings was the organist accompanist and Michael Frank from the Oakmont church conducted the 250+ choir. Dr. Sheldon Sorge, Pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery, composed the theme music for GA220. He also joined a combo which played during the plenary sessions. I checked into my room which I was sharing with Allen Hansen from Preston, Minnesota. Allen is a bi-vocational lay Pastor serving two small churches and farming to support his family. This relationship and view point were most beneficial as we went through this experience together. Allen and I attended the one on one interviews with the four candidates for Moderator and Vice Moderator of the GA.

2 They all were fine candidates but I had made my choice after hearing them. That night the vote would come during our first Plenary gathering. The General Assembly Convened with an opening worship service. This was one of the most beautiful and meaningful services I have ever attended. Witnessing the broad diversification in styles of music, ethnic participation as well as cultural differences surely could be seen by any observer that our church is welcoming and inclusive. Our Fox Chapel Church can be proud of how we were represented in this service. I was proud. Diane Tung came up and said hello prior to the service which again brought Fox Chapel into this awesome experience of mine. We were all served communion. At the conclusion Commissioners recessed to the plenary to start the GA220 business. That evening we selected Neal Presa, a Filipino-American, as our Moderator and Rev. Tara Spuhler McCabe as Vice Moderator. Sunday, July 1st. Allen and I worshiped at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, founded some 240 years ago in the oldest Presbytery in the US. Some history. Other Commissioners came to Fox Chapel for worship. Thanks Chip Crawford for your work. We convened and reelected Gradye Parsons as Stated Clerk to serve his second four year term and installed The Moderator and Vice Moderator. The following session the Vice Moderator tendered her resignation after hearing dissatisfaction with her choice and facing the possibility of ecclesiastical discipline concerning her signing a same -gender marriage license. I feared this would result in further splitting of factions on the definition of marriage. The Moderator would make another selection and present the name for approval. He chose Tom Trinidad serving in Colorado. Other administrative business was conducted. The Committee on Mission Coordination goes to work. I was blessed to have Chris Taylor come to our committee meeting and share a prayer with me. This was most meaningful to me. Through out the week I saw Julie O Shanasee, Penny Young, and Nancy Jane Eddleman assisting and greeting. I'm sure there were others and all did a great job. Pittsburgh came off great. Mission Coordination - Under the new name the Presbyterian Mission Agency, the committee proposed extensive changes to the four major special offerings, One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, and Christmas Joy offerings. These would be put into one general mission revenue for "ministries" with the agency determining the definition and allocation of each. The Peacemaking offering on World Communion Sunday would be replaced by a Global Mission Offering and Peacemaking would be added to the ministries funded by the One Great Hour of Sharing. Using the Overtures from Pittsburgh and Western North Carolina Presbyteries a substitute motion was approved. This maintained all special offerings as now defined. The

3 agency was directed to employ all new fund raising programs now envisioned. Much was done to reduce spending proposals. A report on a study costing $137,000 on the Status of Women in the PC (USA) was turned down. Twenty one proposals came were considered by the committee where we heard very articulate and intelligent discussions on both sides from advocates and advisors. The Mission council proposed a 2013 budget of $81,576,103 and a 2014 budget of $78,196,031. The committees continued their work through Wednesday with the Plenary Session convening 7:00 PM that night. Most of you have heard the results on the Definition of Marriage, the development of Non-Geographic Presbyteries and the issue of divestiture related to Hewlett Packard, Motorola and Caterpillar. I do not feel the news media told the whole story. There were strong feelings on both sides of these issues. However, what I saw was open and positive discussion with emphasis on the biblical unity of the church. "Peace doesn't mean agreement but to listen and discern, be balanced not fractured." On these issues we disagreed on the tactics but not on the strategy. On the definition of marriage, it was agreed that the Bible and the Confessions support the current definition. We support our past and current policy on inclusiveness. Civil Unions have rules on marriage and for our church to endorse a marriage we too have church rules. On Divestiture, our church has supported a two state solution on the Palestine- Israeli Territories. We do not condone the violence seen on both sides. It was determined that divestiture was a negative response which although a symbolic voice would not change the current situation. Investment was supported as well as boycotting all products made in occupied Palestine and sold by Israeli companies. Non Geographic Presbyteries were felt to undermine unity and reconciliation. The council's proposals for non-geographic boundaries were for particular missional purposes. This was never defined but it was felt congregations should continue to study how to make our denomination relevant to the changing nature of the world. The work continues. Future Goals 1. Create 1001 new worshipping communities over the next 10years 2. Incease giving by 10.1% 3. Increase our dialogue on issues, share in discernment, move to unity in our worship and our church. I believe Fox Chapel can benefit from this. This was a wonderful experience. I made many church friends. I participated in the representative government yielding an opportunity for us all to come together. The key phrase is together. Ralph Hutchison

4 General Assembly 2012 Wow! I have learned so much about the church during the PC (USA) General Assembly. I have grown up in the church all my life. I did not know this side of the church. I have learned a lot about where the church stands on certain issues. I am glad that I got to sit on the committee I did. I was on the committee of Marriage issues and civil unions. I learned a lot about marriage in general. In the committee we were tackling the issues of whether to change the definition of a Christian marriage. In the end the church decided not to change it, by 30 votes. In committee it only passed by a mere 2 votes. I was really surprised, but that goes to show where we stand on the issue - we were divided among the church. Another factor was that our vice moderator had signed a same-gender marriage in April. The church did not agree with it at all. She ended up stepping down as our vice moderator the day we started business all together as a church. Everything that happened with the vice moderator was going to be affected by my committee on marriage issues. She is now being further investigated by the church. I have learned so much by being in General Assembly. I was the Young Adult Advisory Delegate; it was a real privilege to be representing the youth voice from Pittsburgh. I got to see and be a part of so many important decisions in the church. I may not have had a vote on the plenary floor, but in committee we had a voice and vote. Some of the amendments brought to the plenary floor were from youth, and they passed. I also was part of a team that led energizers for the whole General Assembly. It was so much fun to be a part of this team. We led revolution, cupid shuffle, and more. It was also great to have it in our own city. I had the opportunity to show off our city to youth from across the country. We did some things that can only be done in our city, like the incline and Primanti brothers. I had so much fun getting to know a lot of youth that were just as much part of the church as I am. It was great getting to know all the different youth and how we share the same things in life, in different areas. Even though my committee could not go on the river boat cruise we sat along the river and it was very relaxing. We just talked about life and nothing having to do with the intensity of the committee. Thanks for letting be become a YAAD. It was a great experience and a way for me to grow a huge part in my faith. All in all, I think that being a young adult advisory delegate at the general assembly in the PC (USA) was an amazing experience. I was able to find a lot of fun in the mix of all the important decisions that were made. I learned a lot about Robert s Rules of Order and how they work. Thanks again for sending me to the General Assembly as the YAAD from Pittsburgh. It was such a great responsibility and awesome experience to represent Pittsburgh in our own city. Thanks for helping me grown and learn so much in the PC (USA). Amanda Wade, Pittsburgh Presbytery YAAD

5 A Dysfunctional Family? Jeff Tindall Ephesians 2: So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called the uncircumcision by those who are called the circumcision a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. There are many here who remember the glory days of Mario Lemieux and the Stanley cups of 1991 and These two cups were followed by the great season where the Penguins were the most dominating team anyone could remember. They finished the season with 17 straight wins! 119 points! They buried the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. Then they lost to the Islanders who finished 32 points behind them in the regular season. One of the reasons? Darius Kasparitis. His irritating, physical style disrupted the Penguins' offense that had dominated the regular season. 1

6 Kasparaitis became one of the most hated players in Pittsburgh. Kasparatis was the devil. But in 1996, he became a Penguin. And then we loved him. He became an instant Pittsburgh fan favorite. How can we make such a neck cracking turnaround? We wanted another Stanley Cup. Such experiences are common in the world of sports and politics where competitors become team mates or political allies. But such strange bedfellows are rare when it comes to theological identity. That is what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Ephesians. At the time Paul was writing his letter to the Ephesians, there was a significant division between the gentile and Jewish Christians. Jewish Christians still followed the Torah in their daily living. Gentiles, typically Greeks, followed their own culture. Both were offended by the other. The Ephesians were offended that the Jewish Christians looked at them as sort of second class Christians because they did not convert to Judaism first. The Jews were offended because the gentiles looked at them as sort of second class Christians because they thought it necessary to continue to follow Torah law. So Paul counsels both factions on how to maintain peace between the two theologically opposed groups. Paul directs their attention to Jesus Christ. Their goal is unity in Christ. Not theological agreement. 2

7 Love each other. You are on the same team. And to make this point, Paul reminds both sides about their historical separation from God. To the gentile readers, Paul reminds them that they were at one point far off and foreign to the covenant God had with Israel. They knew nothing about any Christ who was promised and so had no reason for hope before Jesus saved them. More subtly, Paul reminds the Jews that while Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, they needed a Messiah, a Christ, to reconcile them to the God they had disobeyed over and over and over since the covenant. In other words, both needed a savior and Jesus was it for both of them. There was no other way to be saved. It was not their theology or dogma that reconciled them to God. It was Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul tells them to focus on Jesus Christ, and not the theological differences. Which would likely never be resolved. The goal is not agreement but peace. And the peace is found in Jesus Christ, who is the peace. We are all reconciled to God and so reconciled to each other. That does not mean we are suddenly BFFs. The peace of Christ is not just a good feeling toward others. It is a divine force that unites us as disciples and makes us part of the one body of Christ. That is the reason we pass the peace of Christ during worship. We are not just glad handing each other. We are not just exchanging pleasantries. 3

8 We are sharing Christ s peace in a way that unifies us in worship of him. We are proclaiming that each of us is part of a singularity that cannot be divided. That singularity is Jesus Christ himself. Our singularity in Jesus Christ is the result of a metamorphosis. It is like our DNA has been irrevocably altered. We are no longer far off from each other and isolated orphans. We become children of God and thus are a family. And though we might feud and fight, we remain family and no amount of disagreement or conflict can change that new genetic relationship. We are no different today than the Ephesians were when Paul wrote to them. The Church of Jesus Christ has an abundance of theological differences. Some are huge. Some are petty. And they all cause friction, irritation and even open conflict. Just like the Jews and gentiles, we fight. We Christians are a dysfunctional family. One of the blockbuster movies of the summer was The Avengers. Whether you remember them from the comic books or the movie, you know who they were. Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye. All brought together to save the world from the forces of evil. But when they first meet, sibling rivalry. They argue and fight about who has the best plan and who should be in charge. But when they focus on the goal, they work as a team. That is so human. 4

9 I can say anything I want about my brother, but none of you better say anything. He s my brother. We as Christians need not agree on everything. But we need to recognize our unity in Christ and our consequent familial relationship, regardless of its frequent dysfunction about theological disagreements. Which brings me to the PCUSA GA. Our bi-annual dysfunctional family reunion. A time when we can get together and talk about how our denomination can seek to do God s will in the world. 688 commissioners and advisers. 21 committees. Over 100 overtures for committee and plenary action. Some things were very exciting: A movement to create 1001 new worshiping communities in 10 years. The introduction of Unkirk Ministries, a new collegiate ministry movement. A long discussion about how to get higher representation of younger people in the PCUSA leadership. Discipleship! An effort to encourage a 50% increase in giving to special offerings by These special offerings are for the most part directed toward PCUSA missions. Mission! A decision to follow a creative engagement approach to promoting Middle East peace. Peacemaking. And while each of these was vigorously debated, the ultimate decision on each did not threaten the unity of the denomination. 5

10 But then there was the issue that threatens to divide us. Same sex relationships. This issue came to the plenary in three forms. First, there was a committee recommendation that we change the constitutional definition of marriage from a man and a woman to two people. That failed 52-48%. The next issue was a re-visitation of the ordination standards that currently permit the ordination of people in same sex relationships. The current ordination standards were upheld. Finally, we debated the creation of non-geographic presbyteries that would allow like minded churches to band together. That proposal failed. Each of these vigorous debates primarily concerned the issue of how the PCUSA will address the matter of same sex relationships. One side argues that scripture prohibits such relationships. The other side argues that scripture permits such relationships. Both have arguments backed up by logic, reason and study. Our denomination is ready to split over this one issue One theological disagreement. Despite the fact we agree on most of our denominational goals. I read a blog this week by a Presbyterian Pastor in Chicago; Jan Edmiston: She summarized the stated values of the Fellowship of Presbyterians. A Jesus-Shaped Identify Biblical Integrity Thoughtful Theology Accountable Community Egalitarian Ministry 6

11 Missional Centrality Center-focused Spirituality Leadership Velocity Kingdom Vitality Edmiston embraced them all. As would I! She was told that she could not join this group because she believes that gays should be included in the church. Look at all the agreement! But like the gentiles and the Jews the theological differences between us takes our focus off what unifies and brings peace. Jesus Christ. In my view, Paul might write a letter to the PCUSA that would look much like his letter to the Ephesians. We do not find peace in theological agreement. We find it in knowing that even though we disagree we are still redeemed at the cross. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. Does this really work? The history of Carnegie Presbyterian Church seems to demonstrate that it can. Since the consolidation of 2000, the two congregations have had many disagreements. Some have been passionate. Yet this church has never taken its eyes off Jesus Christ. That is why the banner in the back says Jesus is the light on the hill. Not us. 7

12 We might be a rather dim light. And because we focus on Jesus, something is happening here. The Spirit is moving. We are seeing the results of following Paul s advice. Focus on Jesus. We are members of the household of God, built with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom we also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. That is happening here. We are growing. We just completed what might have been our most spirit filled VBS ever! There is an increased enthusiasm for the future of this community and its continued mission to provide a place for people to come and see what Jesus Christ has to offer them. Not that we agree on everything, because we don t. Not that we don t argue because we do. But because our disagreements pale before the light of Christ that fills this place. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to be with us all. 8

13 Proud to be a Presbyterian Or How I survived the 220 th General Assembly How bad can this be? After all, my wife and I are staying at the Renaissance Hotel for a week, with my stay courtesy of PCUSA. I have a pre-loaded debit card for meals and other expenses. My credentials are in order and everyone is treating me as someone special, a commissioner to the GA. Shuttle bus service every 15 minutes makes the commute to the convention center a breeze, and the center is as cool as a meat locker, a real blessing in the 95 plus degree heat. The 220 th General Assembly should be fun! Saturday, June 30 Opening worship on Saturday, June 30 was wonderful. Sitting in almost the first row with my wife, who ushered, and a friend from Oakmont, I drank in the choir, the bells, and jazz group called Presby Bop, led by a friend of ours who I first met at the Presbyterian House in Chautauqua, New York. It was a moving experience to be a part of over 3,000 Presbyterians worshiping and to see so many members of the Oakmont congregation serving communion. I skipped the group dinner so my wife and I could eat together. She will be volunteering about 6 days during the GA and commuting back to Oakmont to check on the cats. The first business meeting was impressive. Pittsburgh Presbytery is seated pretty much in the first two rows front center. No sleeping here! The meeting area is huge, large enough to accommodate over fifteen hundred people. Everyone has lap tops or tablets, and wireless key pads are provided to expedite voting. The votes are tabulated quickly on giant screens hung on either side of the podium. Advisers are shown first, followed by the commissioners. Access to the biz web site will be valuable as the assembly proceeds. The election of moderator was our first item of business. I felt

14 comfortable with all four candidates and Neil Presa was finally elected on the fourth ballot. We adjourned before 9 PM. This won t be so bad! Sunday, July 1 We spent Sunday worship at First Presbyterian Church downtown. My wife and I selected this place for its location and architecture. Unfortunately, it also was not air-conditioned and the heat was stifling. Give the pastor credit, he preached with a tie and robe. First provided a nice box lunch that we ate in one of the many small plazas downtown, and then I was off to the convention center for more business. We elected the stated clerk, heard some reports, shared another group dinner, and then split into our various committees. Mine is immigration and numbers an unwieldy 56 commissioners and YAADs. The evening was spent building some community and learning the business of the committee. The next few days will be spent in committee. Monday, July 2 Since our committees don t start until 9:30AM, I m free until then. Morning worship is held every day at 8:30 AM, but I missed today and opted for a roll and Starbucks coffee. My committee started with open hearings at 9:45AM. I m seated at a table with two yaads, pastors from Georgia, Arkansas, and North Carolina, and elders from Pa. and Wisconsin. Much of our business concerns items from Presbyteries in the Southwest. The committee is sympathetic to all the overtures, but, in a preview of the general assembly, we get bogged down in amendments and word smithing. We end our first full day in committee having dealt with only two of nine overtures. Tuesday, July 3. It is always nice to start the day with worship and the Ecumenical Service at the convention center does just that. There is a sense of urgency in our committee to complete our work by the allotted time of 3PM. With far fewer amendments and critics, our work proceeds rapidly. Indeed, there is little of the

15 controversy that plagues some of the other committees, and we will see our report almost unanimously approved as a consent agenda item by the plenary session. The highlight of today is our dinner with Sheldon at Lidia s restaurant in the strip district. Although this prevented us from attending the Pirate baseball game at PNC Park, the meal and conversation more than compensated. I especially enjoyed meeting Tammy Sorge and discussing golf. Two of our commissioners were still meeting in committee and unable to attend. Is this a foreshadow of coming events? Wednesday, July 4 After morning worship, all committees concluded their work in anticipation of the afternoon plenary session. Word began to spread of a few committees meeting late into last night, and of an unusual start for the plenary. Of course it is now common knowledge that the Vice-Moderator resigned and was replaced by another. This set the plenary buzzing and delayed any business for several hours. I consider myself blessed that I was seated between two outstanding pastors to the Pittsburgh Presbytery who guided me through much of the GA tumult. Their calming influence and perspective allowed me to vote my conscience on all matters. Two items of business dealt with were reaffirming per capita payment by presbyteries and adding the Belhar Confessions to the Book of Order. Several parliamentary procedures attempting to speak-out or adjust the schedule were handled wisely by the moderator and clerk, and we adjourned at 9:50 PM to the roof of the convention center for the fireworks display. My wife said this was her favorite part of the GA! Thursday, July 5 The plenary is several hours behind schedule. The morning is spent debating non- geographic presbyteries and the elimination of synods. Many amendments with good intentions are offered by commissioners who I m sure mean well but in reality only bog down and sometimes paralyze the assembly. Our moderator does a good job calling for breaks and music to lighten the load

16 we are all carrying. Mid-morning worship also allows us to reflect on our true purpose. Our afternoon was spent dealing with church polity and ownership of church property. We approved an overture encouraging the end to corporal punishment presented by the Committee on Social Justice and defeated an attempt to not cover abortions in the church insurance plan. Ironically, at one point, an attempt to expedite the report of one committee actually resulted in debate that extended that committee s time to report. Evening began with the report of the Committee on Middle East Peacemaking. Although highly anticipated and publicized, a look around the meeting room did not reveal full bleachers of spectators. The room is huge with microphones placed strategically in the aisles for those commissioners wishing to speak. Each speaker is shown by camera on the large screens in front. Dress has been casual throughout with a smattering of shorts and sports coats. Divestment of stocks owned by PCUSA in three companies doing business in the West Bank of Israel was the main overture debated by this committee with a recommendation to divest. The stock owned amounts to less than.01% of the three companies stock. After much debate and maneuvering, divestment was defeated by a narrow margin of two votes. Recess was called at 10:35 only because the shuttle buses stopped at 11PM. Friday, July 6. Back to the convention center at 8:30AM and the rest of the Middle East Peacemaking report. During more parliamentary maneuverings, a new star was born in the assembly. Whenever debate appeared exhausted, the same face appeared at the microphone to call the question move ahead Ed he was called. The committees report was finally finished in time for morning worship at 11:15 AM. Hold on to your hats because the afternoon began with the report of the Committee on Civil Union and Marriage. Just the parliamentary moves to begin the debate lasted one hour. There were substitute motions, minority reports, and

17 amendments to the amendments. Debate did not start on the original motion to define marriage as between two people rather than man and women until 5PM. That motion failed by 4% of the commissioners. The wrangling continued after dinner until 9:15 PM when the committee s business concluded. However, it seemed that our work for the evening had just begun. The Committee on Church Orders and Ministry presented an attempt to change language that would bar the ordination of gays and lesbians. This too was defeated and we continued with more committee reports until a 1:30 AM adjournment, again, only because the buses stopped at 2AM. I m not sure when the Immigration Committee reported but it was accepted in less than thirty minutes. Saturday, July 7 We reconvened for the last time at 8:30 AM. Most of us were not well rested but satisfied we had done the best we could. When the last committee report was finished at 10:30AM, the convention center was filled with raucous and thankful applause. The only reprimand given by the moderator during all this time occurred Friday when a commissioner became too animated waving a paddle while waiting to speak. She apologized without hesitation. The debates were emotional but not personal. All were treated equally and with respect. Although many items were kicked down the road to Detroit in 14, I think most of us were fulfilled by the week s events. The people I met from all over the country have the same concerns and love for the church that I do. We all endeavor to do God s will with patience and tolerance for others opinion. The youth advisers were everywhere and their voices were heard in committee and plenary. I believe that we as Presbyterians have a dialogue that is unique among other denominations. We may not lead the discussion on social issues but we do not shirk from it. We do not change for change sakes, but we do not fear the unknown. Proud to be a Presbyterian? You bet! Fred Shields, Oakmont Presbyterian Church

18 Reflections on My Experiences with GA220 June 29 July 7, 2012 Rev. Peter Grosso One of the most exciting experiences of my life was serving as one of the approximately 642 commissioners to the 220 th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pittsburgh. From June 29 through July 7, I stayed at the elegant Omni William Penn Hotel and hiked to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for worship, committee meetings, and plenary sessions, with laptop in hand. I felt like a small fish in a very large pond but as one still, by the grace of God, making a difference. Throughout the week, I felt God s Presence with me, and continued to sense lots of potential for the Presbyterian Church (USA). I particularly appreciated times for worship and prayer throughout General Assembly. The opening worship on Saturday was awesome--with 2,000 or so in attendance and a choir of about 250. And I was seated in the second row just 15 feet from the choir! When the time came to be dismissed to the plenary hall, I was shocked to discover that my assigned seat was in the front row, just 12 inches from center. This took me a full 24 hours to get over! It was during the plenary sessions that I encountered my greatest joy and my deepest burden. I delighted in the size of the gatherings and the diversity of gifts, interests and concerns. I was especially inspired by the vision to grow the Church and reach out to our world for Christ in a movement called 1001 Worshiping Communities. Without a doubt, my deepest burden for our beloved P.C. (USA), both emotionally and prayerfully, is that differences in viewpoints, which I and many of us usually see as theological, have the potential (and are now seen as likely) to split our church. I see this, as I believe God does, as a tragedy, and feel committed to work and pray for our unity despite what may often seem at times to be overwhelming odds. In the course of events, I was randomly chosen to serve on one of the two most controversial committees at GA220, Committee 15, on Middle East Peacemaking Issues (the other especially controversial committee being the Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues). As an alternate called to serve, my committee assignment was definitively confirmed just nine days before G.A. I had much last-minute preparation to do and, once at the Assembly, many long hours in committee. Our sessions continued until 11 P.M. Monday and 8 P.M. Tuesday! We listened with great interest and, often, with significant emotional investment, to an incredibly diverse array of differing views, and I found this to be educational, thought-provoking, and one of many avenues for spiritual growth. From the very outset, I experienced an exciting boldness which extended to my meeting new people and finding joy in my contacts with many fellow participants. I thrived on fellowship amid the diversity of people and views, including my very interesting almost-73- year-old roommate Tom, an elder from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a great prayer partner; old friends I hadn t seen in over 30 years, one of whom is very well-known today; and meetings and meals with old and new friends from around the country and the world.

19 My most special, memorable moment came while I stood in line awaiting an opportunity to address the moderator on a controversial issue. Looking around the hall at hundreds of our fellow-presbyterians, I found myself completely unable to focus on any of the divisions among us. I suddenly realized that, despite all our differences and the griefs we have brought and seem likely to bring upon one another, there I was, experiencing absolutely nothing of an us versus them kind of perspective. Instead, the Spirit of Christ seemed to be filling me with a deep LOVE for the hundreds of imperfect Presbyterians all around me! Here we were, ecclesiastically representing the entire Presbyterian Church (USA), and all I could see was God s beloved, imperfect Church! I felt like my heart wanted to reach out to all, in one huge, loving embrace. I felt that I could even dare to catch a glimpse of HOPE that we could continue to live, love, and serve the risen Christ together, affirming all that we hold so dearly in common, despite our seemingly mutually exclusive and heart-wrenching differences. Is this a hope to be realized for the Church Invisible alone? Perhaps. But I guess I must truly be a fool for Christ! Today, I don t know, of course, if I ll ever have an opportunity to serve again as a commissioner to G.A., but I came away with a desire to experience again the same sense of spiritual ONENESS with our larger Presbyterian family of faith. My feelings run deep with gratitude for the opportunity to have experienced GA220, and I believe I shall remember it, and be changed by it, always.