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The unfolding of an assembly:  An examination of privilege, power and procedure

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The last two hours of the 2020 General Assembly tell a story of their own – a story about the nature of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), beyond the budgets and resolutions approved. A series of events during that time, starting just before 6:30 p.m. EDT on June 27, have shaped the analysis of this assembly’s legacy, igniting reflection and lamentation about the future and ethos and challenges of the 90%-white PC(USA) — particularly about white privilege. On June 30, three days after the assembly adjourned, a group of 16 former assembly moderators and co-moderators released a statement saying that “what occurred at the 224th General Assembly was nothing short of white supremacy, white privilege, misogyny, and hypocrisy expressed as indifference, apathy, and outright inaction.” An open letter released by a group of Presbyterian leaders of color July 2 said, in part, “People are lamenting, living with fear, and you galloped past into hope and celebration with condescension — and … [Read more...]

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Making bricks with no straw

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The Special Commission on Racism, Truth & Reconciliation was birthed at the 222nd General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, in 2016. It was established to conduct a listening session of people “long silenced” by systemic racism in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Their work would have culminated with a report at the 224th General Assembly this summer. The commission was to consist of 20 members, two-thirds of whom were to be people of color, and it was the job of Jan Edmiston and me, as GA co-moderators, to appoint members to it. Except we couldn’t fill it because a commission has very narrow requirements for membership and finding enough people of color who were both willing and qualified was nearly impossible. A commission can only consist of ruling and teaching elders in a specific ratio. There are also requirements for age, gender and geographic diversity. These tight parameters meant that many people of color who wanted to serve could not — usually for reasons as simple as … [Read more...]

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The inherent problem of whiteness in our polity

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I left the 224th General Assembly questioning if our polity works in our fast-paced world. I wondered if assuming commissioners’ knowledge about the terms of a stated clerk’s service or the role of the various Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s agencies and their work was fair even for the most dedicated and diligent among them. I know the young adults in my household would not sign up for hours and hours of meetings consumed with strategic parliamentary procedures, amendments and substitute motions that feel like an affront to the urgency and immediacy of their friends’ suffering. They and their peers are marching in the streets, updated in real time as to who is gathering and to what end. I struggled with fatigue at caring about reports faithful people have invested much time and effort in creating while knowing too many of them end up unimplemented even if well intended, packed with nuance and detail. A few days and a little sleep later I concluded that the problem undergirding … [Read more...]

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The 224th GA — August 3, 2020

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What happened at the historic virtual 224th General Assembly? While votes were taken and business was completed, what did not happen and how the meeting was conducted may prove to be more noteworthy. This issue details some key moments and important take-aways from the assembly.  Find all of our GA coverage at pres-outlook.org/GA224. Click here to read the issue in the Uberflip reader The inherent problem of whiteness in our polity Jill Duffield considers: Does PC(USA) polity work well in the current faced-paced world? New GA co-moderators Elona Street-Stewart and Gregory Bentley were elected on the first ballot. Per capita  GA approved a small increase to per capita for the next two years. GA affirms Black lives matter The assembly approved a resolution pledging to confront and dismantle systemic racism. The unfolding of an assembly This GA invited an examination of privilege, power and procedure. What are the lessons from the 224th GA? The Committee on the Office … [Read more...]

Tagged With: GA224

What is essential? A commissioner’s thoughts on the 224th General Assembly

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Guest commentary by Brad Clayton I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to serve as a commissioner to the 224th General Assembly this summer.  In the years to come, I think some Presbyterians will see this GA as one that made history, while others will see this meeting as a missed opportunity to be a prophetic voice in the war against racism and bigotry.  I observed participants with two different attitudes:  One group looked at these online meetings and thought there was only so much we are able to do.  Others looked at this time in history and thought there is so much that we must do, no matter what obstacles we face. I began the meeting with the first attitude, thinking that there was only so much that we could do given this assembly’s limitations.  Our assembly was abbreviated considerably.  The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) determined that the assembly would consider only critical business, and many worked hard to put together a docket of … [Read more...]

Tagged With: GA224

Transformative and redemptive ministry? A YAAD’s perspective on the 224th General Assembly

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Guest commentary by Christopher Morgan On the early evening of June 27, co-moderator Gregory Bentley gave the closing benediction and walked off, screen left. A calling to “transformative and redemptive ministry” ended the 224th General Assembly. As I closed my laptop and stretched my back, however, my temples pounded, my muscles ached and my eyes pulsated. I wasn’t feeling particularly transformative or redemptive. I served as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) to this summer’s General Assembly, so while I do not speak for all YAADs, I thought it would be important to document one young person’s experience at our denomination’s most important business gathering. I want to begin by expressing my abundant gratitude for our four YAAD advisors whose work wrangling over 100 YAADs for two weeks must have left them even more exhausted than I was. They were unequivocally marvelous. After co-moderator Elona Street-Stewart skillfully finished moderating the business on the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: GA224

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