Reflections on GA

Blogging took a backseat to the long days associated with the work of GA – reading and re-reading; praying and contemplating; communicating and sleeping. Despite the hours and the work required to be an effective “witness for the Kingdom” being at GA was an awesome experience. It provided an opportunity to gain in-depth familiarity with issues too often ignored in hopes that whatever is decided will neither directly impact the every day work of offering hope through Jesus Christ, nor alter Biblical truths. Admittedly, there were occasions when I wondered if only to myself -- What would Jesus do? Would Jesus show up? No, not a look-alike (and there was a person who resembled the well-recognized interpretations), but Jesus himself (or at least the Holy Spirit). While some may interpret the end result of this GA as the democratic process of Presbyterian polity, I do believe first-hand I caught a glimpse of the power of the Holy Spirit to emerge and resolve some diverse opinions (if only for a time – the next GA – or possibly the one scheduled for Pittsburgh in 2012). Nevertheless, let me share my thoughts by reflecting on a few questions -- (1) What Jesus might say about GA in San Jose? I think He might re-tell the story of the woman at the well and how (John 4:23-24)…the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (2) What might we do to further the cause of peace (and reconciliation – humanity to humanity, humanity to God) in our world today? Even in the midst of GA, I was aware of the need to filter decisions made by the words of Christ reflected in Matthew 22:37-39…“ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself… The work of GA brought clarity to the fact that honoring God needed to be from the heart and not just the lips; not based on effective lobbying or consultations, but by conviction of the Spirit. Reliance on human wisdom, understanding, and plans could lead to destruction; it may even be hypocritical to faith. (3) What is our calling to “do justice” in this time -- in our denomination, nation, and in the world? It is evident that the diversity of the denomination, the nation, and the world requires finding a way to live in harmony, sharing and caring, for one another, the land; and all that is created by God. GA Advisory Delegates (YADs, TSADs, MADs, EADs) sometimes reminded Commissioners of the calling to “do justice”… living like the people of God, with good sense, making every minute count being of utmost importance. The result of many GA actions reflects the Holy Spirit’s ability to confirm a desire for justice, now and in time (when all are on one accord). (4) What about controversial issues? I am mindful that Jesus Christ the Son of the living God… in Matthew 16:18-19 declared that the (true) Church will live… “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” …we have been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven… I will probably continue to ponder that passage in light of GA. However in reality, I cannot begin to speculate on the future resolution of the controversial issues that face the denomination, many apparently circulating around whom God might call (translated at the GA level into issues around confession, ordination, sexuality, and marriage). IN CONCLUSION -- GA is over. It is now time for this Presbytery and congregations to review the results and actions; to act on the resolutions (just passed and those from the past that are still applicable). I only pray that God’s Will shall be done. For, I am reminded that God will one day hold us accountable, each according to our call to serve. Jermaine McKinley, Minister Commissioner GA 2008.

Saturday Wrapup

The worship service was led by the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Rev. Chun was a dynamic preacher - his message focused on humility. I am always amazed how the Spirit speaks; as I was reviewing the rolled up budget numbers earlier to be presented at the final business session, I had jotted down thoughts to express as we are challenged to fund the new mission initiatives approved during the week. Those thoughts were of our need for humbleness if we, the PCUSA, are to be seen as Christ's church attracting people to worship and serve Christ with and through the PCUSA.

Following worship we moved into our final business session. On behalf of the Mission Coordination and Budgets Committee, I presented the new budget with significant new funding planned for mission work. It was approved on voice vote. The "script" provide to me recognized that the General AssemblyMission Council may make "necessary adjustments" to the approved mission budget if giving is insufficient to cover planned mission activities. Concern for a shortfall is apparent and, as we say many times within our own congregations at budget time, we need faith to succeed.

I was invited to share my personal view of our challenge with the assembly. It goes as this:

We have too much fear and too little faith. We fear that if we seek justice it will be more difficult to attract others to our church and to give. We fear that if we show kindness to all it will be more difficult to attract others to our church and to give. We must consider Micah 6:8 as one unified requirement - we must do and seek justice with humility and not with pride, self righteousness and arrogance; we must love and show kindness with humbleness yet with boldness not withdrawing timidly; and our humility will be known. Consider the Good Samaritan - he gave of himself and just did justice rather that telling those with power who passed by of their failures and demanding their action and the Good Samaritan was not timid, showing kindness, not only by helping directly, but also by being willing to be associated with the one in need as he maintained a relationship beyond immediate care. If we can overcome pride and arrogance in seeking justice and overcome timidity in loving and offering kindness, I believe that the PCUSA can see a new era with individuals drawn to this denomination as true to Jesus Christ and with old and new members committed to giving and tithing to advance the great ends of the church.

Blessings and Peace, Kears

Reflections

As I sit in San Jose airport anxiously awaiting my flight home, I reflect on the past 8 days.  I must confess that I am weary.  It is physically and emotionally challenging to spend between 12 and 14 hours a day debating weighty issues in the life of our church.  It has been challenging to me personally as I have explored my own position on these issues.  I have been blessed to spend the past 8 days with a group of wonderful commissioners from Pittsburgh Presbytery.  I think it is safe to say that between us, we most likely voted differently on many issues, yet we shared the bond of Christian love, broke bread as a group several times and nurtured each other throughout the week with coffee and candy!  Doug Portz was kind enough to break through the blockade of volunteers protecting the commissioners from others present in the auditorium to bring the Pittsburgh contingent of commissioners chocolate!  Thank you Doug!

I have received a number of inquiries as to whether I was having fun on my "vacation".  Fun is not the right word for my experience this week.  We have worked very hard as your commissioners trying to make sure we understood not only the actions that were brought before us this week, but also the implications.  The sheer volume of business that we acted upon this week is huge.  I am certain that there will be those at home (as I am sure there are those of us who participated) that will be unsettled by some of the decisions that were made this week.  I pray that we can all continue to keep the theme of this GA in mind as we work through our mutual understanding of how to apply or further study the actions taken this week.  That is, I hope we can all Do Justice, Love Kindness and Walk Humbly with our God as we continue to do God's work in Pittsburgh Presbytery.

I look forward to participating in future discussions with fellow Presbyters and congregations about this GA experience and what follow up is necessary.  I ask for your prayers for safe travel for all of my fellow commissioners as we make our way home to our families.  

Blessings

Carol

Testing Micah

It was an arduous day:Friday morning, afternoon and late into the night plenary debate on issues such as ordination examination, marriage, disunity, lobbying positions on war, boycotts, insurance, food, natural resource and environmental policy. My personally pained sense was that we severely tested the limits of our love for kindness and our willingness to walk humbly. Though floor amendments to apply goals to ourselves that support the objectives we urge upon others sometimes survived, I was particularly saddened to hear arguments that we shouldn't urge our own members to give up one meal per week and give the extra money to fight hunger or that it would be difficult to impose our will upon Presbyterian related colleges and universities to pay equitable wages because the PCUSA does not control them.

Close to midnight we finished the last overture consideration and closed with a beautiful prayer from one of our young delegates. One more meeting for my committee - we met to review and approve for recommendation to the full Assembly on Saturday morning (today) a new budget with increased financial commitment to the mission of spreading the Good News by word and action. We will urge upon all throughout the length and breadth of the land a message of hope to be backed by faithful stewardship to achieve this budget.

Peace - Kears

Plenary Meetings

Yesterday morning was spent with the others of our committee leadership writing our committee report and working with the support team to insure that PC Biz contained all the correct information for access by the full General Assembly. The hidden staff of volunteers supporting the GA is impressive. Report finished , we met with the GA Moderator and platform manager - we are to report late today or tomorrow to the full assembly. I thought I might get a nap before the first full General Assembly meeting but my cell phone rang as I walked back toward my hotel. "Come back early in suit and tie in time to meet with the financial staff tracking the financial impact of matters that are to be considered - be prepared for a report at the beginning of the plenary session."

With the GA in plenary sessions in the afternoon and evening our committee report was called, rescheduled by motion and rescheduled again and again continuing into this morning when we actually started to present and were again escorted from the stage to present after lunch and then rescheduled by motion to allow presentation of the FOG recommendation first. Well, this is my very personal view of the mechanics of process, but the work of the full GA was progressing throughout. We engaged in thoughtful debate on the overture respecting interfaith relations and the GA adopted a statement that is true to our belief in one triune God, respects that those who have differing understandings are alone those who can express their understandings (and we must be sensitive not to assert what "they believe") and yet find common ground for true interfaith dialog. We also dealt with the question of translation of the Heidelberg Confession, an overture of concurrance for Pittsburgh Presbytery.

Finally, the Mission Coordination and Budgets Committee reported its recommendations. Rev. Sevier and I had the joy of sharing the presentations of the recommendations with the recommendations grouped into four overall themes: Commitment to Mission, Organization & Stewardship Obligation to Support Mission, Review of Mission Stewardship Effectiveness and Maintaining Our Historic Trust Relationships. With the exception of adding a special PCUSA-wide offering for mission, all recommendations were adopted. Most significant in my view are two: Expanding Partnership in God's Mission (an increase in mission workers in the field for the first time in fifty years) and the establishment of a means to review and resolve ambiguities respecting restricted funds and donor wishes that maintains appropriate checks and balances between the role of protecting assets and that of spending to carry out mission.

Peace, Kears

2 1/2 Days in Committee

The Form of Government (FOG) Committee met for two and a half days, and I am happy to report that we ended our deliberations last night (Tuesday) at 10:30!  These are long, hard days, but I have been blessed to have my eyes open as to the wide diversity of our church and its representatives here in San Jose.  We decided to refer the FOG report to yet another task force to chew on our thoughts, comments and recommendations so that they can in turn develop a new improved version to share with the Presbyteries and congregations, hopefully with sufficient time for them to study it prior to coming back to the next GA.  There is a lot of good work and new ideas in the FOG report, we just need to give people time to study and review it so that there is trust in the process.

Yesterday I met Rev. Joey Lee, who is Executive Presbyter of the San Jose Presbytery(SJP).  The SJP allocated all of the GA Commissioners as prayer partners.  I received a letter from Joey before leaving for San Jose that explained that he would be praying for ME, personally during GA.  I tracked Joey down to tell him how much this meant to me and we struck up an immediate friendship.  This is just one of the spiritual connections I have made while here.  Thanks be to God!

We have the morning to study the actions of other committees before we reconvene this afternoon in plenary session.  As a banker by day, I am not used to working this hard for our Lord on a daily basis and it makes me appreciate those who do, such as our pastors and those who work in our churches and Presbytery!

Have a blessed day

Carol Hunley, Elder from Southminster, Chair of Council 

Maintaining an Historic Trust

Expecting to have a busy day, I arrived early to the committee room. One other member was early as well. a quietly distinguished, white haired southern gentleman from Louisana, who had been one of the volunteers to do extra work for the committee. I thanked him again for his extra work and asked him what most affected him before coming. He told me of a teen who needs our prayers as he is now being mentored and surrounded by caring individuals after having experienced the effects of taunting, beating, being blamed as the sole perpetrator of violence and being convicted without due process of malicious crime. As my new friend acknowledged with humbleness, he was the intervening lawyer to appeal the adult conviction in the Jena Six case (and the modern equal of Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). His full focus now is to help one young man grow up strong in faith and capability.

When the subject of managing different views on how best to further mission while protecting the integrity of restricted and designated giving, both the Foundation and the General Assembly Council (GAC is the mission agency) presented proposals. After moving these mutually inconsistent proposals as well as one initiated within the committee to the floor of the committee, we had to consider if we would endorse the originally referred proposal or replace it with any one of three substitute motions. What an opportunity to test Roberts Rules - I handed the gavel to my Vice Moderator! We moved into quasi committee of the whole and with 60 members working cooperatively together (though necessarily disrupting planned dinners with an extra evening session) the committee fashioned a good substitute from the committee members' motion. We exited to normal debate, voted to perfect the original referral, perfected the good substitute, replaced the original, struck the remaining two sproposed substitutes and rose to sing the doxology with enthusiasm. That's exciting - then we passed the new recommendation without a single vote against it. Before passing the recommendation, both the Foundation and the GAC agreed that this approach will keep the faith with both mission and with donors and our own John Matta representing the Constitution Advisory Committee advised that this new approach satisfies constitutional requirements.

We celebrated a time of worship together and departed from our confining home of two full days at some late hour - too tired to check and perhaps suffering a bit of Stockholm Syndrome.- Blessings - Kears