ST. LOUIS – Ruth McCollum, moderator of the Church Polity and Ordered Ministries Committee, told the assembly that much of their time in committee was spent discussing family leave policies. Five overtures dealing with family leave came to the committee and after they spent two days in deliberation, the committee concluded that two days was not enough to create a substantive and workable policy. In recognition of that reality, the committee brought to the floor of the assembly item number 06-NB, new business to create a task force on family leave that would bring recommendations to the 224th General Assembly in 2020. After numerous amendments (and amendments to the amendments), the motion passed as amended thus implementing a six-person task force with the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, the Advocacy Committee on Women's Concerns and the Board of Pensions to advise the task force with voice, but not vote. Recognizing that several subsequent motions addressed family … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS – Following more than two hours of spirited debate over how the church should respond to climate change and fossil fuels, the General Assembly moved into a spirited worship service. The worship started with all gathered singing a hymn in unison that included the lyrics, “We are refugees together; all are wanderers welcomed home, greeted by God’s open arms with each unique but none alone.” The text for the hymn, “Draw the Welcome Circle Wider,” was commissioned for the 223rdGeneral Assembly and was also sung during opening worship. Following the call to worship, those gathered sang the classic hymn “Holy God We Praise Your Name.” Karl Hauser, pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Crestwood, Missouri, led the call to confession, the prayer of confession, and the assurance of forgiveness, drawn from the new Book of Common Worship. Hauser swirled his hands through the water in the baptismal font during the assurance of forgiveness, continuing the theme of water … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS – On Thursday, June 21, the General Assembly was treated to a live concert by Kirk Whalum. This was billed as a celebration of the Hands and Feet initiative in St. Louis and a launch of the initiative in Baltimore. Stated clerk J. Herbert Nelson took the stage in a snappy blue blazer and bow tie to share opening remarks for the concert. He thanked Northern Trust securities for sponsoring the concert; because of their sponsorship, all of the proceeds from the ticket sales are going directly to the work of the “Hands and Feet” initiative. Nelson talked about the development of the Hands and Feet initiative and how it came to be in St. Louis. He said, “We came to St. Louis knowing what we were going to do and that’s the worst thing you can do.” Nelson acknowledged that they had to check their preconceived ideas and instead listen to local churches and partners on the ground. He led the audience in the chant: “Whose streets? Our streets!” Nelson said that those words were … [Read more...]