It has been a time of decompression and of catching up following the intense week at the General Assembly, and I am still not caught up.
Today I visited Peter’s Retreat, Center City Churches’ AIDS residence. I have been visiting W. each Wednesday for about a year and a half through his ups and downs. As I have visited him I have also become acquainted with many of the other residents, all of whom have enriched my life. I missed two visits while at the Assembly and it was good to be back and to find W. doing well. He had another visitor today whom he met about 6 years ago at the Hartford Dispensary where they are both clients. They have become fast friends over this time.
I also found the house full of teenagers who are involved with two different programs that bring them into the inner city on work projects. It was sort of a buzzing confusion at lunch, but much cleaning and repair seems to be taking place. It was also good to see that long awaited work on the electrical system is taking place and that a large through the wall Air conditioner has been installed in the library. All new windows are to be installed during this summer and as the windows and electrical work are completed each room will have an air conditioner. Except for the window units a city grant is paying for most of this work. The window AC units need to be bought with contributions from supporters and Center City Churches is still working on raising this money. You could help, go to http://www.ccchartford.org/ and click on Donate.
After having lunch and visiting with W. I went to Chelsea Place nursing home and visited M. one of the residents who has been quite ill recently. She was in bed and definitely not her usual cheerful self. We visited briefly and I prayed with her and laid hands on her.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
After doing an analytical piece yesterday I wanted to share with you a little about the mechanics of the Assembly. The 217th Assembly was touted a month ago as a paperless Assembly with all the reports available ahead of time on the web and the results of the committee work posted on the web before they came to the Assembly for action. We were all asked to bring lap top computers with wireless cards, and the Assembly contracted to provide the laptops for any commissioner who could not bring one (observers could rent computers for the week). All of the hotels had free internet access (those who didn’t normally provide this for guests had to make it available free to commissioners to be on the Assembly hotel list.) In committee meetings and in the Assembly Hall a wireless Intranet was installed to provide the information without allowing access to the Internet.
It became evident before the Assembly started that there were too many people who were unable or uncomfortable with the technology and the emphasis shifted to being a Less Paper Assembly.
The system to access all information was called Les. No one explained what it stood for, some people thought that the es in Les was electronic system, while others assumed it was for paperless or Less Paper. The system continues to be up and running and anyone in the world can read the complete actions of committees and the Assembly at les-pcusa.org, check it out.
Prior to the Assembly all was well, a ton of paper and postage was saved by transmitting papers electronically. Once we got there however and 1000 computers all tried to log onto the system at the same time the Les slowed to a crawl. They increased the number of wireless routers. In the Committee I was advocating before the chair asked observers to shut off their computers so committee members could log onto the system. It got better, they added more wireless routers and everyone was able to log onto the system by the time voting began, but the system ran very slowly. There were many times that we had voted before many of us were able to get the resolution we were voting loaded and on up on the screen before us. There was supposed to be an AUTO-LES system that would bring up the current business on the computer screens without our navigating to it. That never worked for me, or anyone else I talked to. They ended up printing up the controversial business of the Assembly and the committee’s recommendations for every commissioner plus more for observers.
They did have a cadre of Computer Savvy Seminary students who helped those who were having troubles making their computers work. When necessary they would disable firewalls and security settings, replace non functioning wireless cards and help people understand how to log onto a wireless network. In committee or on the floor of the Assembly you would hold up a purple card and soon a Seminarian with a Purple Les Apron was at your side.
I think it was a great effort, and am sure with advances in technology, and more servers for the system that it will work flawlessly at the next General Assembly in 2008.
Other technology worked well, the speakers faces were on the big screens when ever they were speaking, either from the podium or at one of the 8 floor microphones. An electronic system keyed to numbers on our nametags verified that the person was a commissioner before they were recognized to speak. Video clips played flawlessly, and motions from the floor were projected on the screen in a timely fashion.
We voted on electronic Key pads at our places, first the Advisory Delegates and then the commissioners. It took at little as 10 seconds before results were displayed on the screen. Before commissioners voted we knew the vote by the Youth Advisory Delegates, Theological School Advisory delegates, Missionary Advisory delegates, and Ecumenical Advisory delegates. Then the vote was called “You have been advised, Commissioners vote now!” and an 8 second clock appeared on the big screen.
At the beginning of business every speaker had 3 minutes to speak (with the time projected on the screen below their face). As we got behind the docked Bills and Overture committee recommended reducing the time to 90 seconds, and the next day as we got still further behind a motion from the floor prevailed to limit each speaker to 60 seconds.
It became evident before the Assembly started that there were too many people who were unable or uncomfortable with the technology and the emphasis shifted to being a Less Paper Assembly.
The system to access all information was called Les. No one explained what it stood for, some people thought that the es in Les was electronic system, while others assumed it was for paperless or Less Paper. The system continues to be up and running and anyone in the world can read the complete actions of committees and the Assembly at les-pcusa.org, check it out.
Prior to the Assembly all was well, a ton of paper and postage was saved by transmitting papers electronically. Once we got there however and 1000 computers all tried to log onto the system at the same time the Les slowed to a crawl. They increased the number of wireless routers. In the Committee I was advocating before the chair asked observers to shut off their computers so committee members could log onto the system. It got better, they added more wireless routers and everyone was able to log onto the system by the time voting began, but the system ran very slowly. There were many times that we had voted before many of us were able to get the resolution we were voting loaded and on up on the screen before us. There was supposed to be an AUTO-LES system that would bring up the current business on the computer screens without our navigating to it. That never worked for me, or anyone else I talked to. They ended up printing up the controversial business of the Assembly and the committee’s recommendations for every commissioner plus more for observers.
They did have a cadre of Computer Savvy Seminary students who helped those who were having troubles making their computers work. When necessary they would disable firewalls and security settings, replace non functioning wireless cards and help people understand how to log onto a wireless network. In committee or on the floor of the Assembly you would hold up a purple card and soon a Seminarian with a Purple Les Apron was at your side.
I think it was a great effort, and am sure with advances in technology, and more servers for the system that it will work flawlessly at the next General Assembly in 2008.
Other technology worked well, the speakers faces were on the big screens when ever they were speaking, either from the podium or at one of the 8 floor microphones. An electronic system keyed to numbers on our nametags verified that the person was a commissioner before they were recognized to speak. Video clips played flawlessly, and motions from the floor were projected on the screen in a timely fashion.
We voted on electronic Key pads at our places, first the Advisory Delegates and then the commissioners. It took at little as 10 seconds before results were displayed on the screen. Before commissioners voted we knew the vote by the Youth Advisory Delegates, Theological School Advisory delegates, Missionary Advisory delegates, and Ecumenical Advisory delegates. Then the vote was called “You have been advised, Commissioners vote now!” and an 8 second clock appeared on the big screen.
At the beginning of business every speaker had 3 minutes to speak (with the time projected on the screen below their face). As we got behind the docked Bills and Overture committee recommended reducing the time to 90 seconds, and the next day as we got still further behind a motion from the floor prevailed to limit each speaker to 60 seconds.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Reflections on Assembly action on PUP report and on the Heartland Overture with which the Presbytery of Southern New England concurred.
There is obviously much confusion about the meaning and impact of Assembly action in regard to ordination. I have seen a half a dozen different news reports, some of which see the Assembly as a great victory for Gays and Lesbians, while others understand it as a defeat.
The goal of the Heartland Overture was to remove from the Constitution one offensive paragraph which states that the qualifications for Ministers, Elders and Deacons include Chastity in Singleness or Fidelity within a marriage relationship between a man and a woman. It also called for rescinding an Authoritative Interpretation dating back to 1978 which states that homosexuals should not be ordained. This was defeated, so there was no clear victory for GLBT people, and will not be full justice and equality in our church until these two provisions are defeated.
However, the passage of recommendation 5 of the Peace, Unity and Purity (PUP) report earlier in the Assembly does give sessions greater flexibility in examining newly elected elders and deacons, and Presbyteries in examining candidates for the ministry. The text of the recommendation is below. The key paragraph is c. (2) where it says that it is up to the ordaining body to determine whether a person’s departure from the standards for ordination constitutes failure to adhere to the essentials of reformed faith and polity. The mischief is in the following paragraph which originally said that the process of examining was subject to review, after the committee made some changes and then this paragraph was amended on the floor it now states that both the process and results of the examination may be reviewed by higher Church courts. I was the only person who spoke against this change on the floor of the Assembly (my one speech during the whole Assembly). No one else spoke up. The leadership of the progressive organizations were committed to getting this section passed as the best that could be achieved in this particular Assembly. While they do not think the change makes much difference, others agree with me that this may be an invitation to litigation in Church courts, which is exactly what the last paragraph of this recommendation asks governing bodies not to do, but instead to honor the decisions of the ordaining bodies.
Progressive forces will be back demanding justice when the next Assembly convenes in 2008 in San Jose, CA. I expect to be back as the Commissioner from the Presbytery of Southern New England.
Here is the text of the key recommendation as amended and approved:
5. The Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church recommends that the 217th General Assembly (2006) approve the following authoritative interpretation of section G-6.0108 of the Book of Order:
a. The Book of Confessions and the Form of Government of the Book of Order set forth the scriptural and constitutional standards for ordination and installation.
b. These standards are determined by the whole church, after the careful study of Scripture and theology, solely by the constitutional process of approval by the General Assembly with the approval of the presbyteries. These standards may be interpreted by the General Assembly and its Permanent Judicial Commission.
c. Ordaining and installing bodies, acting as corporate expressions of the church, have the responsibility to determine their membership by applying these standards to those elected to office. These determinations include:
(1) Whether a candidate being examined for ordination and/or installation as elder, deacon, or minister of Word and Sacrament has departed from scriptural and constitutional standards for fitness for office,
(2) Whether any departure constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity under G-6.0108 of the Book of Order, thus barring the candidate from ordination and/or installation.
d. Whether the examination [assembly amendment: and ordination and installation decision] comply with the constitution of the PCUSA, and whether the ordaining/installing body has conducted its examination reasonably, responsibly, prayerfully, and deliberately in deciding to ordain a candidate for church office is subject to review by higher governing bodies.
e. All parties should endeavor to outdo one another in honoring one another’s decisions, according the presumption of wisdom to ordaining/installing bodies in examining candidates and to the General Assembly, with presbyteries’ approval, in setting standards.
There is obviously much confusion about the meaning and impact of Assembly action in regard to ordination. I have seen a half a dozen different news reports, some of which see the Assembly as a great victory for Gays and Lesbians, while others understand it as a defeat.
The goal of the Heartland Overture was to remove from the Constitution one offensive paragraph which states that the qualifications for Ministers, Elders and Deacons include Chastity in Singleness or Fidelity within a marriage relationship between a man and a woman. It also called for rescinding an Authoritative Interpretation dating back to 1978 which states that homosexuals should not be ordained. This was defeated, so there was no clear victory for GLBT people, and will not be full justice and equality in our church until these two provisions are defeated.
However, the passage of recommendation 5 of the Peace, Unity and Purity (PUP) report earlier in the Assembly does give sessions greater flexibility in examining newly elected elders and deacons, and Presbyteries in examining candidates for the ministry. The text of the recommendation is below. The key paragraph is c. (2) where it says that it is up to the ordaining body to determine whether a person’s departure from the standards for ordination constitutes failure to adhere to the essentials of reformed faith and polity. The mischief is in the following paragraph which originally said that the process of examining was subject to review, after the committee made some changes and then this paragraph was amended on the floor it now states that both the process and results of the examination may be reviewed by higher Church courts. I was the only person who spoke against this change on the floor of the Assembly (my one speech during the whole Assembly). No one else spoke up. The leadership of the progressive organizations were committed to getting this section passed as the best that could be achieved in this particular Assembly. While they do not think the change makes much difference, others agree with me that this may be an invitation to litigation in Church courts, which is exactly what the last paragraph of this recommendation asks governing bodies not to do, but instead to honor the decisions of the ordaining bodies.
Progressive forces will be back demanding justice when the next Assembly convenes in 2008 in San Jose, CA. I expect to be back as the Commissioner from the Presbytery of Southern New England.
Here is the text of the key recommendation as amended and approved:
5. The Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church recommends that the 217th General Assembly (2006) approve the following authoritative interpretation of section G-6.0108 of the Book of Order:
a. The Book of Confessions and the Form of Government of the Book of Order set forth the scriptural and constitutional standards for ordination and installation.
b. These standards are determined by the whole church, after the careful study of Scripture and theology, solely by the constitutional process of approval by the General Assembly with the approval of the presbyteries. These standards may be interpreted by the General Assembly and its Permanent Judicial Commission.
c. Ordaining and installing bodies, acting as corporate expressions of the church, have the responsibility to determine their membership by applying these standards to those elected to office. These determinations include:
(1) Whether a candidate being examined for ordination and/or installation as elder, deacon, or minister of Word and Sacrament has departed from scriptural and constitutional standards for fitness for office,
(2) Whether any departure constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity under G-6.0108 of the Book of Order, thus barring the candidate from ordination and/or installation.
d. Whether the examination [assembly amendment: and ordination and installation decision] comply with the constitution of the PCUSA, and whether the ordaining/installing body has conducted its examination reasonably, responsibly, prayerfully, and deliberately in deciding to ordain a candidate for church office is subject to review by higher governing bodies.
e. All parties should endeavor to outdo one another in honoring one another’s decisions, according the presumption of wisdom to ordaining/installing bodies in examining candidates and to the General Assembly, with presbyteries’ approval, in setting standards.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Assembly finished the last of the committee reports last night (actually this morning) at 12:30 AM. I think what we need to do after worship this morning is to adopt a final budget and per capita based on the actins taken at this Assembly. Every item proposed for action had a report included as to how much the action would cost the Church and where the money would come from.
Check the official news reports for what all we did. By in large we adopted the Social Witness reports unchanged, being against torture and asking for review of Guantanamo Bay and Ali Graib, etc. Some good things also came out of Health Issues. Many thought that the committee's action changed the denominations long standing committment to reproductive freedom when it acted on an overture on late term abortions - late term meaning past the point of viability which with today's advances in the care of premature infants can be considered as early as 20 weeks. Some changes were made to preserve in part our emphasis on supporting women in making difficult choices and not standing in condemnation of the choices that women make in these these choices, I thought we should stand by well thought out and long standing polity rather that change our policy in haste at midnight.
I am nearly packed, they will store our luggage and after the meeting the shuttles will take us to the airport. With a long lay over in Atlanta and the time change I will not be home until 9:41 tonight.
Give me some feed back both to let me know how many of you have been following this blog and would you be interesting in reading a continuing blog (probably with entries once or twice a week.)
Check the official news reports for what all we did. By in large we adopted the Social Witness reports unchanged, being against torture and asking for review of Guantanamo Bay and Ali Graib, etc. Some good things also came out of Health Issues. Many thought that the committee's action changed the denominations long standing committment to reproductive freedom when it acted on an overture on late term abortions - late term meaning past the point of viability which with today's advances in the care of premature infants can be considered as early as 20 weeks. Some changes were made to preserve in part our emphasis on supporting women in making difficult choices and not standing in condemnation of the choices that women make in these these choices, I thought we should stand by well thought out and long standing polity rather that change our policy in haste at midnight.
I am nearly packed, they will store our luggage and after the meeting the shuttles will take us to the airport. With a long lay over in Atlanta and the time change I will not be home until 9:41 tonight.
Give me some feed back both to let me know how many of you have been following this blog and would you be interesting in reading a continuing blog (probably with entries once or twice a week.)
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
One of the joys at this Assembly is the presence of a choir from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are here because the local Presbytery is the Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery honoring two pioneer missionaries to the Congo. (After leaving the Congo William Sheppard became the first installed pastor of the Church I served in Louisville). Because of this connection this Presbytery has developed a partnership relationship with the Presbyterian Church in the Congo. The choir has been part of several services of worship, and is pictured here performing in the convention center entry at the dinner recess.
I have discovered that the Assembly is a very political gathering, and that organizations on each side of various issues gather commissioners for “briefings” which are really strategy sessions on how to achieve desired goals. I attended the Covenant Network briefing at noon and the Witherspoon briefing at dinner. All of the organizations dedicated to justice and inclusiveness agreed that given conversations with commissioners and votes already taken that it would be impossible to get this assembly to change the constitution to eliminate the fidelity (between a married man and woman) or chastity language from the constitution. Instead we were advised to work hard to support the Peace Unity and Purity task force in its entirety, especially preserving a new authoritative interpretation that gives more latitude to sessions and Presbyteries in their decisions on Ordination and Installation. (Recommendation 5) This strategy was successful.
We have miles to go and many more committees to deal with tomorrow, and the Assembly could be in session until midnight or beyond. The adjournment deadline of noon on Thursday is absolute, so all business scheduled except what is docketed for Thursday must be completed before recess on Wednesday.
Issues still to be dealt with include efforts to allow Churches to leave the denomination and take their property with them; issues relating to Israel and Palestine and using our vast stock holdings as leverage to negotiate with transnational corporations that are contributing to the conflict (and making millions); and preserving our traditional Presbyterian position in favor of reproductive freedom.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Here are a few images of the Witness our Welcome Worship outside of the Arena on Sunday evening.It was interesting to note that the Monday night worship was led by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America are also meeting in Birmingham and we are worshipping together during the time the three Assemblies are together. In introducing their moderator who preached for the service they noted that they first ordained women to the ministry in 1888. That's right, they have been ordaining women ministers for 118 years. Following worship we Celebrated the fiftieth year of women's ordination to the ministry in our part of the Presbyterian Church.
I did note that their music seemed more upbeat and lively than ours, although with a certain Hillbilly flavor that comes from their stronghold being in Tennessee.
Today we are scheduled to vote on the Peace Unity and Purity report and on the Church orders Committee report, both of which deal with opening the doors to ordination to GLBT people.
Last night before the formal Ecumenical Worship a joyful group of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual, Transgender and straight folks gathered with signs and voices to celebrate the welcoming Church which we claim as God's will for the Church. For me, and I am sure the other participants it was more fun and God honoring than the wonderful service in the Sports Arena. Many of the people on their way into the service took a little time to join us.
Today our minister commissioner needed to leave the Assembly and I took his place. For the most part the business was routine, except for a commissioner's resolution on Columbia that called for study, prayer, and continuation of the accompaniment program, plus a fifth action item recommending that individual members and Churches advocate with congressional representatives and senators to take specific actions to cease US support for the oppressive Columbian Government. By a fairly small margin the Assembly referred the action item for study and report at the Assembly. This despite pleas by many familiar with the Columbian Situation that the action is needed NOW. The pleas for action included one by the ecumenical delegates representing the Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Disappointing!
Tonight was the celebration of the Ordination of Women, report on Katrina Recovery, Joining Hearts and Hands capital campaign, and a few other similar reports. Lucimarion Roberts was there for the Joining.... presentation and honored for her three years of service as co chair of the campaign.
I went to multicultural breakfast, That All may Freely Serve lunch, and Peacemaking dinner. 7 AM until 10:30 PM. It is now 11:30 PM, I would like to post some photos from the Witness our Welcome service, but it is too late tonight.
Today our minister commissioner needed to leave the Assembly and I took his place. For the most part the business was routine, except for a commissioner's resolution on Columbia that called for study, prayer, and continuation of the accompaniment program, plus a fifth action item recommending that individual members and Churches advocate with congressional representatives and senators to take specific actions to cease US support for the oppressive Columbian Government. By a fairly small margin the Assembly referred the action item for study and report at the Assembly. This despite pleas by many familiar with the Columbian Situation that the action is needed NOW. The pleas for action included one by the ecumenical delegates representing the Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Disappointing!
Tonight was the celebration of the Ordination of Women, report on Katrina Recovery, Joining Hearts and Hands capital campaign, and a few other similar reports. Lucimarion Roberts was there for the Joining.... presentation and honored for her three years of service as co chair of the campaign.
I went to multicultural breakfast, That All may Freely Serve lunch, and Peacemaking dinner. 7 AM until 10:30 PM. It is now 11:30 PM, I would like to post some photos from the Witness our Welcome service, but it is too late tonight.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Here is the web site for photos and news from the Assembly
http://www.pcusa.org/ga217/news.htm
One email asked how to post comments. To make a comment on the blog click on the place where it gives the number of comments (at the end of each entry) and up will come a screen on which you can type your comments. I have set it up so anyone can post comments
Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) opened their doors to host a Welcoming Churches Worship planned (and carried out) by leadership from TAMFS and MLP. It was a marvelous service, full of enthusiastic singing, wildly inclusive welcome and message, communion, and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing by the chaplains of the two organizations. One of these, Beth Wheeler was one of the overture advocates and a wonderful human being. Actually all of the group were quite extraordinary individuals.
Our presentation will be available in the future. Stephen is still working on a final text that reflects all the changes that individual speakers made between the final written draft and what was actually spoken before the committee. Several people ended up making substantial changes on their copies which they marked up. It may be impossible to capture all the spontaneous changes that were made as people spoke as they departed the text.
A few of the pieces by Beth and Jay were changed so substantially that we were worried about the time limit, but we finished long before our 57 minutes had expired, we were about 50 minutes.
http://www.pcusa.org/ga217/news.htm
One email asked how to post comments. To make a comment on the blog click on the place where it gives the number of comments (at the end of each entry) and up will come a screen on which you can type your comments. I have set it up so anyone can post comments
Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) opened their doors to host a Welcoming Churches Worship planned (and carried out) by leadership from TAMFS and MLP. It was a marvelous service, full of enthusiastic singing, wildly inclusive welcome and message, communion, and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing by the chaplains of the two organizations. One of these, Beth Wheeler was one of the overture advocates and a wonderful human being. Actually all of the group were quite extraordinary individuals.
Our presentation will be available in the future. Stephen is still working on a final text that reflects all the changes that individual speakers made between the final written draft and what was actually spoken before the committee. Several people ended up making substantial changes on their copies which they marked up. It may be impossible to capture all the spontaneous changes that were made as people spoke as they departed the text.
A few of the pieces by Beth and Jay were changed so substantially that we were worried about the time limit, but we finished long before our 57 minutes had expired, we were about 50 minutes.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
I was up at the crack of dawn this morning to get to the Peace Breakfast. It was a great event, and an opportunity to meet with people I know and have known of for years. The former moderator of the Genera Assembly announced that he had agreed to work with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship for the next year. He had been elected as Co-Moderator of Presbyterian Peace Fellowship just before being elected moderator of the Assembly and admitted to not being able to fulfill many of the duties of the Peace Fellowship in the past two years. Chris Caton from our Presbytery was commissioned to participate in the Colombian Accompaniment program, along with another woman from the PPF. It was very good to see a friend, Alexa Smith who lost her job with the Presbyterian News Service in the last round of staff cuts. When we had been in touch before she said she would not be going to the assembly, but she had a temporary assignment from Presbyterian Outlook to be a reporter at the Assembly.
Much of the rest of the day was spent as an observer at the Church Orders Committee.
After listening to the debate in the Church Orders committee I was moved to tears. There were many negative and narrow minded things said, but people on the committee also gave testimony to their own experience with friends and relatives who were gay or lesbian. Others spoke about the indadequacy of the understanding of scripture that is used to justify the exclusion of GLBT people. Many of the things that we said in our presentation last night were repeated again by commissioners. One man talked about our presentation and the testimony in the public hearing from Gays and Lesbians and how it had changed this thinking on the matter. When at last the vote was taken in the committee the motion to recommend to the General Assembly that this overture be disapproved passed by the narrowest of votes, 30 to 28. I was thinking that we lost by two votes and someone pointed out that a motion fails on a tie vote, so it one more person voted no on disapproval. So this recomendation goes to the assembly, but the vote totals are reported to the Assembly as well as the recommendation, so the matter has about as much of a chance in the Assembly as it ever has. At least that is my thinking right now. Earlier this afternoon I was feeling pretty low, alternately being tearful and on the verge of tears, and most of the Advocates were feeling the same. Many of us went to the evening worship sponsored jointly by More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve, the two national organizations to which Presbyterian Promise is related. There among friends I was able to cry openly and found release, encouragement and affirmation.
Eight of us went from that service to pile into an SUV and go eat Ribs at Dreamland Barbecue. The ribs were great, the sauce had quite a bite to it, and the beer was cold. I came home feeling much better.
A final up note was riding back on the Shuttle to the Hotel and realizing when we got off at our hotel that I knew an African man who got off with us. a Rev. Warren LaSane. Warren and I both attended a number of events for Black Pastors at Pasquals Hotel in Atlanta years ago when I was pastor of an African American Church. I was invited because of my position and welcomed for years as the only white speck in an otherwise all Black Event. It was good to see Warren, and to find that we were both at the Multicultural Event in Orlando a few weeks ago, although we never connected there. He is working on a Presbytery staff to work with multicultural issues and we exchanged cards.
Much of the rest of the day was spent as an observer at the Church Orders Committee.
After listening to the debate in the Church Orders committee I was moved to tears. There were many negative and narrow minded things said, but people on the committee also gave testimony to their own experience with friends and relatives who were gay or lesbian. Others spoke about the indadequacy of the understanding of scripture that is used to justify the exclusion of GLBT people. Many of the things that we said in our presentation last night were repeated again by commissioners. One man talked about our presentation and the testimony in the public hearing from Gays and Lesbians and how it had changed this thinking on the matter. When at last the vote was taken in the committee the motion to recommend to the General Assembly that this overture be disapproved passed by the narrowest of votes, 30 to 28. I was thinking that we lost by two votes and someone pointed out that a motion fails on a tie vote, so it one more person voted no on disapproval. So this recomendation goes to the assembly, but the vote totals are reported to the Assembly as well as the recommendation, so the matter has about as much of a chance in the Assembly as it ever has. At least that is my thinking right now. Earlier this afternoon I was feeling pretty low, alternately being tearful and on the verge of tears, and most of the Advocates were feeling the same. Many of us went to the evening worship sponsored jointly by More Light Presbyterians and That All May Freely Serve, the two national organizations to which Presbyterian Promise is related. There among friends I was able to cry openly and found release, encouragement and affirmation.
Eight of us went from that service to pile into an SUV and go eat Ribs at Dreamland Barbecue. The ribs were great, the sauce had quite a bite to it, and the beer was cold. I came home feeling much better.
A final up note was riding back on the Shuttle to the Hotel and realizing when we got off at our hotel that I knew an African man who got off with us. a Rev. Warren LaSane. Warren and I both attended a number of events for Black Pastors at Pasquals Hotel in Atlanta years ago when I was pastor of an African American Church. I was invited because of my position and welcomed for years as the only white speck in an otherwise all Black Event. It was good to see Warren, and to find that we were both at the Multicultural Event in Orlando a few weeks ago, although we never connected there. He is working on a Presbytery staff to work with multicultural issues and we exchanged cards.
This one will come up as a Saturday post because it is past midnight on the east coast, but I am writing on Friday night at 11 PM.
The group of us presenting spent the day between working with one another, rehearsing and perfecting our presentation, and observing what was going on in the committee. Almost all of us listened during the public hearing time as friendly and unfriendly speeches were made alternatively about the ordination of Gays and Lesbians. The committee spent much of the earlier part of the day considering three overtures with the intention of defining even more clearly that marriage is only between a man and a woman. After open hearings, hearing from the advocates for the overtures, debating each in the committe, and in one case working on a substitute motion that would have affirmed Gays and Lesbians the committee voted to recommend that the Assembly answer both of these overtures in the negative.
Then after an all Assembly worship which was very well done with the former moderator preaching and the commissioning of mission personnel as part of worship they began to hear the advocates for our overture. One person wrote out their testimony, then took ill and another person from her presbytery presented her testimony. Then two stood together so one could make a six minute speech. (each person was allocated 3 minutes). The two of them were subject to some rather hostile questioning by the committee, at one point the moderator reminded the committee admonished committee members to have more respect for the advocates.
Then 8 or us presented on behalf of 19 Presbyteries, we presented a mixture of rationality, scripture, theology, and moving stories. I told a little about Keith and asked if we should have approved his ordination. (my text below-I may have taken a wee liberty with detail, but think the story gets his call and gifts across.)
We believe it was an awesome and stirring presentation. We took only 50 or our 57 minutes and no one asked us any questions. I think because we answered them all, but it was pushing toward 10 PM and that may have made questions less likely also. The committee got up and stretched, had silent prayer and the chair requested that we all hold hands and we sang Be thou My Vision, then dismissed with prayer.
Tomorrow the advocates for other ordination standards overtures will be heard, then the committee will deliberate on each of them. One is friendly to our cause and the others are to reaffirm the standards and call for a moritorium (one 8 and one 10 years) on other overtures.
I do keep running into people I know. I was sitting next to and chatting during breaks with a woman who was obviously of a similar mind on what was going on. During a longer break suddenly we realized we knew each other, it was Charlotte Lorehnz. We have both changed over the 8 years since we saw each other last, she has lost as much weight as I have gained.
I also ran into Ginny, the Hager's daughter tonight, there for a few days advocating in less formal ways the same action I was there to advocate. I also taked to a seminary classmate tonight.
Here is my small part in our joint presentation:
Reflecting the love of God in Jesus Christ is the fundamental ethic out of which Jesus calls us to live. For a gay man named Keith, that ethic was real. He grew up in our denomination and loved it, but the Church did not fully welcome him, so he eventually dropped out of organized religion for years. When at last he reached out for spiritual help, he found a welcome at First Presbyterian Church. Each Sunday he sat in the same part of the sanctuary and met the people around him, including several elderly ladies. When one of those women fell and was in the hospital, Keith went to visit her and discovered her greater problem – she was dying of cancer. For the next year he visited Olga almost every day, in the hospital, back at home, in a nursing home. He was with her when she died. They were as unalike as they could be, an elderly white widow and an African-American gay man, but he ministered to her on behalf of the Church, on behalf of Christ. When the nominating committee was looking for people whom God had called and gifted for the ministry of deacon it was little wonder that they asked Keith. The congregation elected him unanimously. The question before you is should the session have approved his ordination.
Continue to pray for me and our cause, but for the whole Assembly that God's will for the Presbyterian Church will be done this week.
I would love to hear your comments by email or comments below.
The group of us presenting spent the day between working with one another, rehearsing and perfecting our presentation, and observing what was going on in the committee. Almost all of us listened during the public hearing time as friendly and unfriendly speeches were made alternatively about the ordination of Gays and Lesbians. The committee spent much of the earlier part of the day considering three overtures with the intention of defining even more clearly that marriage is only between a man and a woman. After open hearings, hearing from the advocates for the overtures, debating each in the committe, and in one case working on a substitute motion that would have affirmed Gays and Lesbians the committee voted to recommend that the Assembly answer both of these overtures in the negative.
Then after an all Assembly worship which was very well done with the former moderator preaching and the commissioning of mission personnel as part of worship they began to hear the advocates for our overture. One person wrote out their testimony, then took ill and another person from her presbytery presented her testimony. Then two stood together so one could make a six minute speech. (each person was allocated 3 minutes). The two of them were subject to some rather hostile questioning by the committee, at one point the moderator reminded the committee admonished committee members to have more respect for the advocates.
Then 8 or us presented on behalf of 19 Presbyteries, we presented a mixture of rationality, scripture, theology, and moving stories. I told a little about Keith and asked if we should have approved his ordination. (my text below-I may have taken a wee liberty with detail, but think the story gets his call and gifts across.)
We believe it was an awesome and stirring presentation. We took only 50 or our 57 minutes and no one asked us any questions. I think because we answered them all, but it was pushing toward 10 PM and that may have made questions less likely also. The committee got up and stretched, had silent prayer and the chair requested that we all hold hands and we sang Be thou My Vision, then dismissed with prayer.
Tomorrow the advocates for other ordination standards overtures will be heard, then the committee will deliberate on each of them. One is friendly to our cause and the others are to reaffirm the standards and call for a moritorium (one 8 and one 10 years) on other overtures.
I do keep running into people I know. I was sitting next to and chatting during breaks with a woman who was obviously of a similar mind on what was going on. During a longer break suddenly we realized we knew each other, it was Charlotte Lorehnz. We have both changed over the 8 years since we saw each other last, she has lost as much weight as I have gained.
I also ran into Ginny, the Hager's daughter tonight, there for a few days advocating in less formal ways the same action I was there to advocate. I also taked to a seminary classmate tonight.
Here is my small part in our joint presentation:
Reflecting the love of God in Jesus Christ is the fundamental ethic out of which Jesus calls us to live. For a gay man named Keith, that ethic was real. He grew up in our denomination and loved it, but the Church did not fully welcome him, so he eventually dropped out of organized religion for years. When at last he reached out for spiritual help, he found a welcome at First Presbyterian Church. Each Sunday he sat in the same part of the sanctuary and met the people around him, including several elderly ladies. When one of those women fell and was in the hospital, Keith went to visit her and discovered her greater problem – she was dying of cancer. For the next year he visited Olga almost every day, in the hospital, back at home, in a nursing home. He was with her when she died. They were as unalike as they could be, an elderly white widow and an African-American gay man, but he ministered to her on behalf of the Church, on behalf of Christ. When the nominating committee was looking for people whom God had called and gifted for the ministry of deacon it was little wonder that they asked Keith. The congregation elected him unanimously. The question before you is should the session have approved his ordination.
Continue to pray for me and our cause, but for the whole Assembly that God's will for the Presbyterian Church will be done this week.
I would love to hear your comments by email or comments below.
Friday, June 16, 2006
I do apprecaite the responses I have received and hope to hear from more readers. You may send email to revtdavis@sbcyahoo.net or leave comments that all can read by hitting the comments link at the end of each post.
I do ask your prayers for the whole assembly, but particularly for our group as we make our presentation. The latest word on comittee schedule has us presenting at 8 PM (9 PM Hartford time) tonight.)
I do ask your prayers for the whole assembly, but particularly for our group as we make our presentation. The latest word on comittee schedule has us presenting at 8 PM (9 PM Hartford time) tonight.)
The General Assembly has a new moderator. On the third ballot with four candidates running, after 10 PM Thursday evening the Assembly elected Joan Gray as moderator. The good news is that the two very conservative candidates lost support on the second and third ballots. The bad news is that most of us favoring action to open up ordination at this assembly supported Deborah Block who openly supports our position. Joan will be a fine moderator, but believes we need to continue to wait before changing the constitution.
It has been a long day, as all of them promise to be.
We did get started this morning at 7:45 AM revising the 16 page joint presentation. At 10 AM we went to a briefing for overture advocates, followed by a meeting between the OAs and the Church Order Committee leadership. Besides our overture there is one overture friendly to our cause and there are 8 overtures with the opposite intention and three dealing with marriage, all before the Church Orders Committee, each with their own advocates.
With breaks for orientation for advocates and a luncheon sponsored by the Covenant network we continued to work together until we had a draft we were pretty satisfied with about 4 PM. After a half an hour break we came back together to read it through. It is a wonderful and moving presentation, by the time we read it over with each person speaking the part they will speak before the committee many of us were in tears. It deals with both head and heart, the Bible and Theology and personal stories of the pain of exclusion and threatened exclusion.
We do not want to publish any of our presentation until we give it, probably at 8 PM tomorrow evening, but when it has been presented I will share what my part in the presentation has been.
I missed the reception by the More Light Presbyterians because the OAs were still reading out presentation through, but many of us got there for the dinner they sponsored and the great program they put on affirming Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Presbyterians. We ran from their program to get to the Assembly plenary at which the moderation was elected.
I did take some pictures, but 11:45 PM is a late hour to think about downloading them from camera to computer and then uploading them to this blog. Sunday is a Sabbath rest when little business is scheduled, I may then have the leisure to post some pictures.
It has been a long day, as all of them promise to be.
We did get started this morning at 7:45 AM revising the 16 page joint presentation. At 10 AM we went to a briefing for overture advocates, followed by a meeting between the OAs and the Church Order Committee leadership. Besides our overture there is one overture friendly to our cause and there are 8 overtures with the opposite intention and three dealing with marriage, all before the Church Orders Committee, each with their own advocates.
With breaks for orientation for advocates and a luncheon sponsored by the Covenant network we continued to work together until we had a draft we were pretty satisfied with about 4 PM. After a half an hour break we came back together to read it through. It is a wonderful and moving presentation, by the time we read it over with each person speaking the part they will speak before the committee many of us were in tears. It deals with both head and heart, the Bible and Theology and personal stories of the pain of exclusion and threatened exclusion.
We do not want to publish any of our presentation until we give it, probably at 8 PM tomorrow evening, but when it has been presented I will share what my part in the presentation has been.
I missed the reception by the More Light Presbyterians because the OAs were still reading out presentation through, but many of us got there for the dinner they sponsored and the great program they put on affirming Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Presbyterians. We ran from their program to get to the Assembly plenary at which the moderation was elected.
I did take some pictures, but 11:45 PM is a late hour to think about downloading them from camera to computer and then uploading them to this blog. Sunday is a Sabbath rest when little business is scheduled, I may then have the leisure to post some pictures.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
It has been a long day, the alarm went off at 4:45 AM and I was on the Plane to Atlanta at 9:30 AM. After a two hour lay over in Atlanta a plane loaded with mostly Presbyterians took off for Birmingham, AL. Due to the time change we got there 10 minutes before we left. More time to get luggage, find the shuttle to the Holiday Inn Airport. It was nearly 3 PM Birmingham time by the time I got to the Hotel. The hotel is a bit of a dump, in the process of being rennovated, but located in an industrial Area near the airport. Commissioners and GA staff get the hotels downtown while alternate commissioners and Overture advocates get the distant ones. It is about 20 minutes by shuttle to the convention center. I waited 20 minutes in the Alabama sun before the shuttle that was supposed to be there at 3:30 came.
After registering and having a cold beverage I went to the Covenant Network Reception followed by dinner. At these events most of the Overture Advocates connected and 10 of us sat together and talked over and after dinner. We will meet at 7:45 AM in the Cov. Network hospitality suite and begin our face to face work of turning the third draft of a combined presentation into a final form and deciding who speaks what pieces. We have known for a long time that one of the 22 Advocates wanted to present separately, and it seems that two others will join him in this decision. One OA had death in the family, but NYC presbytery replaced him so we will have 57 minutes for our joint presentation.
I look forward to meeting the rest of the group tomorrow.
Each of the candidates for Moderator spoke briefly at the Cov. Network dinner. Deborah Block is former co moderator of the Network and the overwealming favorite in the room. If she is elected tomorrow night it will be a good sign that the Assembly is in a mood for a more liberal stance on ordination and other issues.
I went to the Witherspoon Society briefing on issues, but left to be sure to get the shuttle which was reportedly making its last run at 10 PM. So I am here, in a hotel with the world's slowest wireless network, trying to read email and hoping this post will get through.
I have seen Christ Caton from our Presbytery who is an advocate for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Jane Spahr and Lisa Larges and others from That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS), Dick Hasbany from our Presbytery who is coordinating the TAMFS booth in exhibition hall, and several others I know.
More tomorrow
After registering and having a cold beverage I went to the Covenant Network Reception followed by dinner. At these events most of the Overture Advocates connected and 10 of us sat together and talked over and after dinner. We will meet at 7:45 AM in the Cov. Network hospitality suite and begin our face to face work of turning the third draft of a combined presentation into a final form and deciding who speaks what pieces. We have known for a long time that one of the 22 Advocates wanted to present separately, and it seems that two others will join him in this decision. One OA had death in the family, but NYC presbytery replaced him so we will have 57 minutes for our joint presentation.
I look forward to meeting the rest of the group tomorrow.
Each of the candidates for Moderator spoke briefly at the Cov. Network dinner. Deborah Block is former co moderator of the Network and the overwealming favorite in the room. If she is elected tomorrow night it will be a good sign that the Assembly is in a mood for a more liberal stance on ordination and other issues.
I went to the Witherspoon Society briefing on issues, but left to be sure to get the shuttle which was reportedly making its last run at 10 PM. So I am here, in a hotel with the world's slowest wireless network, trying to read email and hoping this post will get through.
I have seen Christ Caton from our Presbytery who is an advocate for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Jane Spahr and Lisa Larges and others from That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS), Dick Hasbany from our Presbytery who is coordinating the TAMFS booth in exhibition hall, and several others I know.
More tomorrow
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Even though my mind is much occupied with traveling and the business of the Assembly the work of the Church in this place continues. Today we had staff meeting to go over the schedule for the time when I am gone. Ruth Van Anden, our office manager is off because of the need to attend to family matters, Jane Murray is in the office today, Lois Maxwell filled in yesterday. As always we concluded our staff meeting with prayer, asking for God's blessing on the work of the Assembly, on our members who are ill and incapacitated and those who grieve the loss of loved ones. We prayed for peace and reconciliation in our own city and throughout the world, particularly in Iraq.
After Staff meeting I met with the treasurer and sexton, after than a person who has been attending worship met with me for counseling and prayer.
I have talked to the Clergy Commissioner from our Presbytery, the Rev. Bill Evertsberg about the committee on which he serves - Peacemaking and International Affairs - and the issues that committee is dealing with. The hot issues will be about relationships with Israel and Palestine and the action of the General Assembly two years ago to begin a process of disinvestment in US companies who support Israel, particularly those whose goods are used to build the Separation Barrier and to destroy Palestinian homes. Bill will be leaving the Assembly on Monday evening and I will be voting in his place on much of the business that comes from committees to the Plenary meetings.
Tonight is time to pack and get ready to be at the Airport at 8 AM for a 10 AM flight. After I get to the Assembly and get registered I will be attending a reception and dinner sponsored by the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. Many of the overture Advocates will be there and many of us will meet one another face to face for the first time.
We will begin at 7:30 AM on Thursday finalizing our presentation which we will make to the Church Orders Committee on Saturday morning.
Please be in prayer for me for traveling mercies tomorrow, and throughout the Assembly be praying for my participation and for the guidance of the Almighty for the whole Assembly.
After Staff meeting I met with the treasurer and sexton, after than a person who has been attending worship met with me for counseling and prayer.
I have talked to the Clergy Commissioner from our Presbytery, the Rev. Bill Evertsberg about the committee on which he serves - Peacemaking and International Affairs - and the issues that committee is dealing with. The hot issues will be about relationships with Israel and Palestine and the action of the General Assembly two years ago to begin a process of disinvestment in US companies who support Israel, particularly those whose goods are used to build the Separation Barrier and to destroy Palestinian homes. Bill will be leaving the Assembly on Monday evening and I will be voting in his place on much of the business that comes from committees to the Plenary meetings.
Tonight is time to pack and get ready to be at the Airport at 8 AM for a 10 AM flight. After I get to the Assembly and get registered I will be attending a reception and dinner sponsored by the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. Many of the overture Advocates will be there and many of us will meet one another face to face for the first time.
We will begin at 7:30 AM on Thursday finalizing our presentation which we will make to the Church Orders Committee on Saturday morning.
Please be in prayer for me for traveling mercies tomorrow, and throughout the Assembly be praying for my participation and for the guidance of the Almighty for the whole Assembly.
Monday, June 12, 2006
To read the official news from the General Assembly follow this link. http://www.pcusa.org/GA217/news
For the First Presbyterian website go to http://www.firstpreshartford.org
For the First Presbyterian website go to http://www.firstpreshartford.org
Our daughter and son in law brought our new granddaughter Hannah Marie Thormes to visit us over the weekend, Above is one of the pictures we took.
Twenty two Presbyteries have sent the same overture to the General Assembly to eliminate the following paragraph from our Book Of Order.
b. Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
Each Presbytery has appointed an Overture Advocate to represent their Presbytery. All 22 of us have been collaborating to make the most convincing presentation to the committee considering our overture. In the process of this collaboration we have sent the group collectively over 500 email messages. We have had three conference calls, each around 2 hours in length. The last of these calls was this morning.
The committee is allowing three minutes per person, as of this morning three of the 22 of us will take their three minutes personally, one is uncertain, and the rest of us will make a joint presentation not to exceed 54 minutes. At this point I have been tentatively selected to be one of a half a dozen speakers who will present out joint presentation to the committee. One of the things I will be doing will be to share a little about Keith and the incredible contribution he has made to our congregation. I raise the question whether he is not a person called and gifted by God for ministry as a deacon, and if so should the session have refrained from ordaining him because he is gay.
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