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Seventy-three General Assembly committee leaders are at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky through Wednesday for coaching, cooperating and camaraderie ahead of the online leadership they will provide during committee work of the 227th General Assembly June 22-24.
The Rev. Tony Larson, Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly, welcomed the leaders to the Presbyterian Center, saying he and fellow Co-Moderator the Rev. CeCe Armstrong “have been traveling amongst you. We’ve seen things we don’t think we should keep to ourselves.”
Those sightings include a four-year-old boy at a church in Puerto Rico “strumming a guitar like he owned the place, because he does,” Larson said. The Co-Moderators have seen congregations of 10 people or fewer “shift their ministry in bold and sacrificial and innovative ways.” They witnessed teens and young adults gathered for Presbyterian Youth Triennium last year, “reminding the rest of us the Holy Spirit does not retire.”
“We met with ecumenical partners in Peru and occupied Palestine who shared that our prayers are sustaining them,” Larson said. “They feel our hands underneath theirs.”
“Friends, I know something of the cost that it takes to do this work,” Larson told committee leaders. “I know some of you are feeling the magnitude of the weight of what you’ve agreed to do.”
What is General Assembly?
The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness, turned to the Book of Order, which describes the councils of the church, “a sign of the unity of the church in its mutual connection,” Oh said.
“Like all councils of the church, the General Assembly is an expression of that unity,” Oh said. “We gather in councils beyond the congregation and with those beyond the church to share in the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
A handful of the overtures that committees will consider “may be on the minutia of how we live together and sometimes don’t live together,” Oh said. “All those decisions help us think about the ways we nurture and guide and govern the whole church and equip the church to give glory to God in its witness. Sometimes minutia matters.”
“Some policies and statements — the way we think about how the church is being reformed at this time — is the way we act together in this time, and continue to listen to the Spirit in this time,” Oh said. “We gather in councils because we have this big thing about communal discernment.”
“We’re human,” she said, “and we are unable to discern God’s will for us individually.” She called communal discernment “how we see and hear and feel more clearly the leading of the Spirit.”
“It’s not just the end that matters. It’s the process that matters, especially for you on committee leadership teams,” Oh said. “Did we listen for all the ways the Spirit is guiding us? That’s why the process of the meeting matters. As leaders, you are being asked to attend to that process — to watch for people whose voice is being left out. All the ways we do that matters.”
Oh asked those present to share what they feel about General Assembly and the life of the church.
“It’s an aspirational gathering,” said one, “that encourages folks to keep on keeping on.”
“People see and hear things they’ve never seen or heard before,” said another, “and sometimes it changes their mind.”
A General Assembly home build
Given a paper bag full of building materials including modeling dough and chenille and craft sticks, committee leaders broke into small groups to design, from the foundation up, their General Assembly home. They were given some guidance, including ensuring that everyone can fully participate and be heard in the space and anticipating who might struggle to be heard. Small groups reported on their creations.
One group built a boathouse, accessible by dock, canoe or inflatable.
Another home had see-through walls, with a ramp up to ensure accessibility.
A third group thought to build a break room, for those who needed a break during proceedings.
A fourth said its creation “is a little messy but is still standing, like the church.” An open roof was included “to make sure everybody can get to Jesus.”
One group created a gender-neutral outhouse. “It’s where you get your business done,” a group member explained.
“Please don’t leave this room without seeing our structure,” one group member implored. “It will bless your life.”
General Assembly Jeopardy!
Martha Miller, Manager of Ministry Education and Support, did her best Alex Trebek impersonation leading an interactive and fun session of General Assembly Jeopardy! “It’s going to be kind of free-flowing,” Miller told the leaders in the room.
The five categories were “Arms of the Assembly,” “The Body’s Many Parts,” “Guiding ‘Principals,’” “Voices at the Table” and “Order in the Assembly.”
Among the 25 answers and their questions: “Expert, policy-focused counsel versus giving voice to underrepresented groups, monitoring church policy for justice, and mobilizing action.” What is the difference between advisory bodies and advocacy bodies?
“The PC(USA) body that reflects the conviction that authority flows from the whole church, not an entrenched leadership.” What is the General Assembly?
“Those who, by nature of their office, are identified and have the ability to speak to items of business on the floor of the Assembly and within committees.” Who are corresponding members?
“The elected body that advises the General Assembly on matters related to interpretation and amendment of the Constitution.” What is the Advisory Committee on the Constitution?
Committee leaders concluded their time together Monday with worship. They’ll regather at the Presbyterian Center Tuesday morning.
