Many think of the week after a General Assembly as the time to return to the regular rhythm of life and life in the church. But following this particular General Assembly meeting the regular rhythm has been disrupted. The dust is not settling. To the contrary, the dust is even now just beginning to rise. So, how now shall we pray?
Pray for those directly and indirectly affected by the decisions of the General Assembly.
Pray for those in leadership and those marginalized by the decisions of the General Assembly.
- the Moderator of the General Assembly, Heath Rada, as he publicly represents and defends the decisions of the Assembly to the watching world;
- the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Gradye Parsons, as he communicates the decisions of the Assembly to our ecumenical partners, various governmental entities and agencies and the mid-councils of the PCUSA;
- the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Linda Valentine, as she leads the PMA staff in implementing the priorities established by the assembly and proactively seeks to advance the positive witness of the denomination through 1001 New Worshiping Communities, the Call to Missional Living and Educate a Child, Save the World;
- the staff members of the OGA (Office of the General Assembly), PMA, Presbyterian Foundation, Board of Pensions and others who must necessarily navigate the contentious waters of a denomination out of accord with itself.
Pray for those who rejoice and for those who weep over the decisions of the General Assembly
- pray for those whose advocacy prevailed in this assembly that they will possess a sufficient generosity of spirit to insure the protection of conscience of pastors and sessions who find the actions of the assembly grievous;
- pray for those who were hoping for a different outcome and who now have difficult decisions to make about the future filled with hope to which God calls.
Pray for the commissioners of the General Assembly – those that support the redefinition of marriage and those who do not; those who support divestment related to Israel and those who do not; those who support other particular actions of the Assembly and those who do not.
Pray for those who now must leave to be allowed to do so with the property where they worship, study the Scriptures, reach out to local communities, serve the lost, lonely and needy. Property that they bought, built upon, have insured, paid to keep up and call “church.” Pray that presbyteries will respond graciously to the request of congregations to realign to other Reformed bodies with whom the PCUSA is in fellowship.
Pray for those who are called to remain as prophetic missionaries in the PCUSA. Pray for their divine protection, guidance, resources, partners, and endurance. May they be living demonstrations of the Gospel’s beauty and truth and may they be willing to remain close enough to the fire some may yet be snatched.
Finally, pray for repentance, revival and that the Word of God would be restored to its rightful place in the life of the PCUSA.