Glimpses of GA
by Jim ~ June 28th, 2008. Tags: church, denomination, GA, iowa, Katrina, PC(USA), presbymergent.Here I offer a few glimpses into my experience at GA:
1.) I’ve mentioned this already, but it bears repeating again. For me one of the great joys of going to GA was meeting up with, as we called them, the “imaginary friends” I only knew by way of the blogosphere. Some of my spare moments at GA were spent in conversation with these folks at the Presbymergent booth, at the Tuesday evening party, during a bloggers dinner, by way of twitter, and in brushes with folks in the hallways of the assembly center.
2.) It was moving to have people extend words of concern, sympathy and support when they discovered that I was a commissioner from East Iowa. Once people found out I was from Cedar Rapids, they inquired as to the state of my home, my church, and our city. Many offered to send resources as well as mission work teams. It was such a blessing to know that the wider church will be there and available to help us in our recovery.
3.) Once I broke the ice speaking at the microphone, a few other opportunities presented themselves for me to speak on the floor of the assembly. One particular moment was when I offered an amendment to a resolution that offered thanks for the Presbyterians and PDA for their work in Katrina, Rita, and Wilma recovery efforts. The approved amendment offered a word of thanks to those whose help was extended, not just through PDA, but though local congregations in hurricane affected areas.
4.) One extremely frustrating moment was on the floor of the assembly when one item of business was tied up in parliamentary procedure and motion after motion for what was close to two hours only to find out that in the end what was being argued was not going to have any significant or practical affect. The argument was merely symbolic, in the end a complete waste of time, and the primary reason our Friday evening session went until 11:30 p.m. In this and many other cases (the debate on ‘amendment b’) it became quite clear that those who know the rubrics of Parliamentary procedure are able to wield power over those who do not and that the stated clerk’s advice can significantly set the course of the assembly’s action.
5.) Turns out that the election of Bruce Reyes-Chow as moderator was a harbinger of things that were to come later in the week for the assembly. The election of the candidate of ‘change’ foreshadowed other significant votes - changing the church’s official stance on homosexuality and sending a replacement “amendment b” to vote in the Presbyteries. Thankfully the second nuclear bomb that would have totally blown apart our denomination by changing the language of marriage in our constitution was not dropped by this assembly.
6.) At the same time there were moves to ‘center’ the church on issues such as developing resources that better reflect the diversity of the churches teaching and opinion on abortion and sex education, on balancing what the denomination has to say about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and the acceptance of a “commissioners resolution” which encourages extending a means for gracious separation to churches who wish to leave the denomination.
7.) There is more to say, but for now, one final highlight was the honoring of Rev. Cliff Kirkpatrick who served our church as its Stated Clerk for the last twelve years; which is longer than I’ve been Presbyterian! During his service to the church, Cliff was often a lighting rod for those pained by the various problems of our church. However, I have only experienced him as a capable, affable, and faithful servant not only of the church but of Jesus Christ.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
All week long, I watched the 218th General Assembly. It astounded me how many times people stated that Jesus would do this or say that to bolster their arguments. What a load of baloney! None of us were around with Jesus in New Testament times. We have no earthly idea about what He would do or say with regard to our cultural dilemmas and ecclesiastical issues. We question the authenticity of the Gospels and the authority of the scriptures. We transfer our own cultural preferences and see our own societal prejudices in the texts that were written by the people who truly knew Him.
We are a bunch of narcissistic hypocrites looking to justify our politically correct ways and cultural orientations. We cast aside our allegiance to Christ because we don’t want to submit to Him. We change what the Bible says because we want everybody to like us. And then we get up to the microphones and tell other people what Jesus would do as if He’s our best buddy, turning Him into a theological ventriloquist’s dummy by putting words into His mouth and thoughts into His head.
Bovine manure! We are the biggest bunch of failed followers in the history of Christianity and we have so diluted the Gospel that we have deluded ourselves into shaping Jesus like play dough and making Him a bobblehead character to sit beside our PCs. Our modern Presbyterianism is a theological tacky, mood manufactured, and cheapened grace of a faith. Even the word faith is false when applied to us – we have spiritual trends, and that’s about all.
Perhaps we still have time left. Perhaps we can return to what we once were. Perhaps the Church will go through a revival, instead of cultural capitulation and doctrinal denial. Philippians 2:9-11 can be the starting point.
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Dude - #5, don’t be bringing me into it
Yeah, that was quite the experience. There is a great deal of pain and anger out there right now that will require me to really embrace being the moderator for the entire denomination. Some may not let me, but i will try. It was great meeting you in person and i am sure it will not be the last!
June 29th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Jim - We are glad that you made it back to Cedar Rapids safely. We have been checking in all week to see how things are goings. It has been a bit difficult for my mom to see and read since she was supposed to be there.
I know that my dad was there with you in spirit. He would have been very proud of you for getting up and speaking on the floor. We kept checking the photos from the week to see if we could see you, but we didn’t.
Thanks again for keeping us updated, and for the beautiful memorial tribute you had to my dad on your blog.
God’ Peace
June 29th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Stushie, it became pretty clear in the discussion on our first major issue of the week (regarding Islam) that there is a general lack of theological or biblical sophistication among the representation at GA. I’m certainly beginning to wonder if the GA is the appropriate place to make those types of statements.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I gotta agree - “Call the question and all previous questions” was a sneaky move. It should probably be banned by GA standing rules.
One thing to watch is a generational shift on gay ordination. The newer generations (those in High School today and younger) often wonder why the heck we’re arguing about homosexuality.