Parsons to Mission Council: ‘I am grateful’
PCUSA Stated Clerk previews General Assembly at GAMC meeting
By Carmen Fowler LaBerge, The Layman, February 17, 2012
LOUISVILLE — The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) greeted the members of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) at their meeting on Friday, Feb. 17.
“There are 134 days to the General Assembly and counting,” Gradye Parsons said, referring to the 220th GA of the denomination to be held in Pittsburgh, June 30-July 7.
After sharing the theme of the Assembly based on Isaiah 40:31 — “Walking, Running, Soaring in Hope” — Parsons reviewed issues ranging from moderator candidates, business in hand and plans in place.
Four candidates have been endorsed by their presbyteries to stand for moderator: the Rev. Neal Presa, the Rev. Robert Austell, the Rev. Randall Branson and the Rev. Susan Davis Krummel.
The 220th GA will receive reports from several special committees and task forces from the 219th GA, including:
· the review of biennial assemblies;
- the nature of the church in the 21st century;
- the Mid Council Commission (formerly the Middle Governing Bodies Commission);
- the monitoring group on the Middle East;
- climate for change in the Church;
- retranslation of the Heidelberg Confession;
- special Committee reviewing existing Authoritative Interpretations of the Constitution;
- the Racial Ethnic and New Immigrant Church Growth task forces.
The Stated Clerk gave an overview of the 40 overtures sent by presbyteries to the Office of the General Assembly (OGA), noting that the deadline for presbyteries to submit overtures proposing changes to the constitution must be received by OGA by March 2.
The 40 overtures submitted to date can be categorized into eight subject areas:
- ordination standards;
- marriage;
- Israel/Palestine;
- Board of Pensions;
- immigration;
- non-geographic presbyteries;
- union presbyteries;
- church property.
Parsons also informed the members of the GAMC of other business before the GA.
“Commissioners will deal with the Racial Ethnic growth report, the 1,001 New Worshipping Communities initiative and the special offerings task force report,” he said.
Parsons said the Rev. Jerry Pillay from the Presbyterian Church of South Africa, and president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, will be the ecumenical speaker. The Rev. Brian McLaren will be the GA breakfast speaker on Monday morning.
Those comments led to an acknowledgment that life at the Assembly is more than business. Parsons shared the plan for Riverside conversations, a return to the practice of worship being held to open the Assembly on Saturday with all involved in GA attending Sunday worship with local congregations. Daily worship from Wednesday through Friday of the Assembly will be held at 11 a.m. as an order of the day.
The Stated Clerk concluded his remarks with a sense of gratitude in advance of the Assembly.
He noted:
- “I am grateful that teaching elders, ruling elders and advisory delegates gave up a week of their summer to serve in the ministry of discernment for the whole PCUSA;
- “that a climate of prayer brought the light and wind of the Holy Spirit into the GA;
- “that commissioners and advisory delegates were transformed by new relationships with each other and with God;
- “that the church heard the concerns of local congregations and the cries of people suffering injustice;
- “that the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and our discipleship was deepened;
- “that parliamentary authority was manifested in the giving and receiving of respect and reconciliation;” and
- “that the GA fosters faith in the midst of the ever-changing life of the PCUSA.”
Quoting from G-3.0501, Parsons reminded GAMC members that GA meetings are not convened so that Presbyterians can fight with each other but rather to “strengthen the bond of union, community and mission among all its congregations and councils, to the end that the whole church becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness.”