ST. LOUIS – Water remained a central theme of worship General Assembly worship on Thursday, June 21. The opening hymn, “Take Me to the Water” set the tone for a worship service that incorporated water, children and reflections on table fellowship. The prayer of confession used the theme of bread and the mustard seed, which would be echoed in the assurance of forgiveness, Scripture and sermon. The Scripture for the service, the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven from Luke 13, were presented by video in the form of a children’s message from the book “Young Children and Worship.” Floretta Barbee-Watkins, pastor of The Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, preached a sermon that challenged the assembly. She noted that the purpose of preaching is to “distress the comfortable and to comfort the distressed.” Barbee-Watkins opened her sermon with an illustration about homemade biscuits and family dynamics, connecting immediately with those gathered. She … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS — Bart Smith, a teaching elder from De Cristo Presbytery, argued that “God’s people” should mince no words in calling out the federal government for separating children from their parents and detaining families in prison-like conditions. The 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) endorsed that line of thinking June 21 with a 484-34 vote for a resolution that calls for an immediate end to the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward families illegally entering the United States. The resolution also calls for federal authorities to promptly reunite parents and children who have been separated and to place families “under the care of the community,” rather than in detention. The assembly approved an amendment Smith offered that puts a sharper edge on the resolution as passed by its Committee on Peacemaking, Immigration, and International Issues. The amendment condemns an executive order, newly issued by President Trump, that would end the separation of … [Read more...]

Doors are designed to divide spaces, and people; locked doors keep people apart from each other. Tables are designed to bring people together; big tables are symbols of hospitality and grace. The hymn that was commissioned for the 223rd General Assembly, “Draw the Welcome Circle Wider” includes this line: “Doors upended serve as tables where the guests prepare to dine. Justice is their righteous fare, while mercy is their richest wine.” Those words inspired the team that designed and assembled the prayer room for the 223rdGeneral Assembly. Anne Peacock, ministry assistant at Ladue Chapel, started looking for a door that could be used as a table to provide a focal point for prayer and meditation in the prayer room. She contacted a contractor in the congregation who tracked down an unused door. The door was set up in their fellowship hall on saw horses. A local St. Louis artist, Marilyn Smith, was invited to paint the door. Peacock and Smith prayed in the lectio divinastyle … [Read more...]

Two years ago, Tony Aja and the leadership of the Hispanic/Latinx National Presbyterian Caucus had a vision. Aja is the moderator of the Hispanic/Latinx National Presbyterian Caucus and pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their vision was to get out of the convention hall and into the streets at the 222ndGeneral Assembly in Portland, Oregon. Rather than having a traditional caucus dinner in the convention center or hotel ballroom, Aja found a local organization to volunteer with. The members of the caucus decided to sponsor a mission service project at a Portland homeless shelter. This was such a successful and meaningful event that they took the same spirit to the 223rdGeneral Assembly in St. Louis and planned another evening of service in lieu of a hotel or conference room dinner. This idea fit perfectly into the larger theme of the General Assembly and the “Hands and Feet” initiative. Members of the caucus reached out to a St. Louis … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS –A new executive director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  Support for mental health education. Theologically-driven acts of justice. As plenary drew to a close on Wednesday June 20 at the 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Mission Coordination committee presented their business. Committee moderator Walter Rockenstein acknowledged that the Cuba Mutual Mission Agreement (item 10-16), was passed on the consent agenda. Rockenstein invited Ary Fernandez, the General Secretary of the Presbyterian and Reformed Church of Cuba, to address the assembly as part of the committee report. Fernandez offered an overview of the scope and work of the church in Cuba, and the importance of the mutual mission agreement that was approved. He thanked the church for passing the agreement and asked for continued work by the church to end the embargo, travel ban and travel restrictions. Next Rockenstein presented Presbyterian Mission Agency 2019–20 Mission … [Read more...]