Back Home in the Heartland

I made it safely home from San Jose and my head is so full of thoughts and ideas and my emotions are all over the places. Being a General Assembly Commissioner, is truly a once in a life time opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the experience of being a Commissioner, although tedious at times, it is an experience that I treasure having had. Now begins the big task of interpretation. I will not be sitting for days, listening, praying, reflecting, praying, and voting, but interpreting what happened when 750 Presbyterians from 173 Presbyteries got together in a big room in San Jose, worshiped together, prayed together, debated together and voted. Somehow in that process God's Spirit was moving and decisions were made and those decisions made some people mad and some people happy. I will need wisdom as I go about the job of interpretation.

The media, specifically the secular media, makes headlines that are meant to grab attention rather than convey fact.

As the incoming General Assembly Mission Council, Vice Chairperson, said in his blog, I'm still processing. As I process, I'll post more comments here...until then...let me process what happened.

John Calvin Mask.....

Having a little fun after the first day of the Assembly on Friday night. These masks are of John Calvin and I wish my photo of me taking a picture of me with the mask was clearer, but it isn't.

Next year is the 500th Anniversary of Calvin's birth so expect a big Reformed Tradition party next July!

Litugical Art from Sunday's Worship

These are amazing. Please tell me these images don't make you happy!

San Jose Self Cleaning Pay Toilets

These are peppered throughout the city. Pay toilets that are self cleaning 25 cents. This one is right across the street from the convention center and we walk by it on the way to our group meals in the Parkside A, which is on the back of the Civic Auditorium.

Tuesday

Tuesday began early with me attending one of the General Assembly breakfasts. It was good to catch up with some old friends from when I was on staff in Louisville and meet some new people. The speaker at this particular breakfast really good and the sponsoring organization is probably going to merge with another like minded organization, which should strengthen both groups.

Worship in the Civic Auditorium was excellent. The pastor of All Nation's church in Minneapolis preached and shared the story of that congregation. What a wonderful example of church transformation where a dying anglo congreagtion joins en-mass this multi-cultural congregation and turns the keys to thier building over to this new church development which has members from many countries and languages. It reminds of the simple fact that we all fail to forget and that is that we are ALL GOD'S CHILDREN.

I also want to give a wonderful shout out to my presbytery's Stated Clerk. She ran out to get me a new power cord when mine went missing and brought it to me. Now I have two as my missing one turned up. This is not a bad thing. All is good and all will work out as I can now have one at the office and only need to bring the computer and not all the gear when I work at the church.

I went to the Company of Pastor's luncheon and the speaker was Michael Medville was excellent. Pastors need to not only love their congregations but the context in which they pastor. Helpful and practical advice. Met a really neat woman pastor who is doing some neat things in transforming her congregation in Florida.

The afternoon was spent sitting in committee meetings and then in my own committee (Bills and Overtures) meeting. I sat in on a smoothly running committee which made my work easy.

After the committee broke up I went to dinner with the contingent of people from my Presbytery at a resturant chosen by the Executive Presbyter, La Pastaia in the Hotel De Anza. Good food, good company, and a nice walk back to the hotel from the resturant. Met some people from the Presbytery that I knew their names but not their faces.

Oh where oh where did my power cord go?

I think I have lost my power cord to my laptop. I'm using this on battery right now so I am just asking all you might read this to pray that I find my power cord, or else...I'm toast.

Now granted being toast wouldn't be such a bad thing. Toast is my favorite comfort food. Butter melted on warm toasty bread .... add a little grape jelly and well its nearly the most wonderful thing to eat.

The Assembly So Far....

Computer access has been interesting. Kinda ironic considering we are in Silicon Valley. This is one of those occasions I'm glad I'm not a IT person but very grateful for their hard work behind the scenes. There are so many behind the scenes people that make a General Assembly work for the Commissioner's and Advisory Delegates that don't get their just due.....so Thank You!!!!!!!

Well here are some thoughts just off the top of my head about

Friday - the highlights were lunch at Original Joes with the Presbytery's Stated Clerk and two other commissioners from Heartland Presbytery. The Anti-Racism training was interesting. The most powerful piece were the brave people who shared their personal stories and the impact that racism had on their lives. The video in the second half was good, but the questions for reflection were more powerful

Saturday - the highlight was orientation and the election of the new moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow

Sunday's highlight was the worship service. The original artwork for this assembly is beautiful. I know I need to post pictures. Joan Gray's sermon was very challenging. She left us with the question of 'do we want to'....the do we want to is "love your neighbor as yourself...which of course is tough....but we do, we truly do have to make that choice. Sunday was then the first meetings with committees, since I'm on Bills and Overtures, my coomittee met twice and we met before all the other committees. We get to watch the other committees to make sure they are following process correctly...not glamorous work, but important and someone has to do it. Oh.....I got to take a picture of and shake the hand of Mike Farrell (BJ Honeycutt on M*A*S*H) He was a speaker an event I didn't get to attend and signing his book in the bookstore area. Very cool!!!! He's doing some interesting work in the area of human rights.

Monday's highlight was David LaMonte who played and talked at our breakfast this morning. Committees met all day today. Worship after dinner in the evening was the highlight for me. The dynamic preacher from Atlanta (a new church development that is an emergent church) was probably the best sermon I heard in years.

What I am appreciating is how everything is tying back into the Assembly Theme of Micha 6:8 Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk humbly with your God.

Made My Way to San Jose

It has been an interesting and wonderful day. As soon as I get this posted, I'm headed to bed. It is now 9:31 pm San Jose time - 11:31 KCMO time. I've been up since 2:30 am or so. I never sleep well the night before a trip.

I left my house at 4: 28 am this morning and made the 45 minute trek to MCI, which is half way to Iowa (it's an exaggeration) but the airport in Kansas City is a bit of a ways from the city and I live in suburb that is as far southeast from the airport which is in the north west part of the metro.

My dear husband drove me to the airport and we got to singing and missed the exit so had to go and turn around. Of course I made it to the airport on time and had no problems going through security. I printed my boarding pass in advance too.

One of the other Minister Commissioners was on my flight so we were traveling companions and had a good chat on the flight. The KC to Las Vegas leg was a bit turbulant. The Las Vegas to San Jose leg was better.

The Committee on Local Arrangement (COLA) did a great job of running the shuttles and we got ourselves checked in at the hotel and four of us went to lunch at a local Italian place noted for its burgers (they were huge) but I had the daily special of Sirloin tips.

After lunch we got our tote bags and looked at the exhibit area. I ran into a ton of people I knew from my days in Louisville and my work with POAMN and had a wonderful time.

It is difficult to grasp the honor and task before me these next eight days. The other two General Assemblies I have attended were as staff. Now I'm a Commissioner. The role is completely different. I, along with 750 others are delegated the awesome responsibility of making descisions for the church. It will be interesting to watch the group discernment process. It will be interesting to watch God's spirit at work. I am humbled to be here in this role. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever thing I would be a Commissioner to General Assembly.

I have recevied some wonderful words of encouragement. My Presbytery's Stated Clerk left me a wonderful phone message on my cell phone. I stopped by the Presbyterian Elders in Prayer booth, which is being staffed by a minister in my Presbytery and she prayed for me one of the most powerful prayers and prayer times I have experienced in years.

The Anit-Racism training was good and I will post on that at a later time. It was a good use of 3 hours and I'm glad I participated in it. The video they showed was excellent.

I promise to post pictures sometime during this Assembly. San Jose is a lovely city, very walkable, great public transportation. It's just unseaonably hot today and supose to the same tomorrow. Sunday and the rest of our time here are supose to be normal temperatures.

Well its off to sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

Praying our Way to San Jose

Last night, Monday, June 16th was one of several Praying our Way to San Jose services that will be held this week as some of the General Assembly staff are driving from Louisville to San Jose. I was unable to attend last night's prayer service since the little church I pastor, Ruskin Heights Presbyterian Church, holds its Stated Session Meeting on the third Monday of the month - so I was doing what small church (we have 58 on our roll) pastors do - moderating a Session meeting, which went well.

Ruskin Heights is an older adult congregation and the past four years I have spent with these folks has helped form me into the pastor I am today. They are good salt of the earth folks and although they aren't into the 'media' stuff - no fax machine, no website, only five or six member families even have an e-mail address. The church computer is basic and has dial up internet. The lessons of appropriate technology are applicable here in the US. The Ruskin congregation seeks to faithfully follow Christ the best they can as the world changes around them. It is these folks that I will keep in my heart and mind and prayers as I seek to serve this denomination - my Church - as a Commissioner at the upcoming assembly.

Last night' Praying our Way to San Jose, service was held at First Presbyterian Church in Lee's Summit, MO. The video starts and the audio kicks in 30 seconds later. The bells that open the service are wonderful. It is fun for me to hear and see my Presbytery colleagues lead this service.. Prayer, especially for the work that faces the commissioners beginning on Friday is so important. Please, all who read this blog, remember me and the other Commissioners and Advisory Delegates in your prayers.

In case you want to do what I have done to participate in the service, you can catch last nights service on live streaming video at this link.

Allison Seed, who has chaired the General Assembly Council for the past three years, is a Minister Member of Heartland Presbytery and pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Independence, MO. Allison is the preacher for this service. My biggest disappointment about missing this service was not getting to hear Allison preach. I always like to hear other powerful women preachers. It helps me improve my own preaching.

As I have watched the service on live streaming video I have been inspired by the hymn in this service, but my biggest inspiration has been Allison's sermon. It interprets the work before the Assembly and brings it home to you and me. Please take the time to listen to the service and hear her Sermon.

And don't forget to pray!

General Assembly Mailings

As a Commissioner to the Upcoming 218^th General Assembly, I have been receiving mail since March. Some of the mail is OFFICIAL and comes from the Office of the General Assembly. Other mail has come from other General Assembly entities like the General Assembly Council, the Presbyterian Foundation, the Board of Pensions, and the Presbyterian Church Development Corporation. Still other mail has come from individuals, churches, and organizations related to the denomination in some way or another.

The Assembly is one week away. I leave on the morning of the 20^th so I can be present in San Jose on that afternoon for Anti-Racism Training. To date this is a list of the mail I have received. It is in no particular order. The list I was keeping in the margin of my blog, well the volume of the mail is too much for that little list so I have created this blog entry.

The folks who have sent me this mail expect me to read it. Some of it has been sent to ‘help’ me interpret and understand the business before the assembly. I have to make a choice in what I read to prepare. My first responsibility is to read and understand the business as it presented on the Assembly website and organized in pc-biz. I’m still working my way through the FOG (Form of Government Task Force) Report and trying to understand the implications should it be adopted.

The mailings are in my opinion possibly helpful but, I’m viewing them as ‘voter’ guides that are put out during the election season. It is helpful to read them to see what various perspectives think about something, but one must discern the perspective being advocated when one uses a voter guide.

On a side note, the Discernment Tool developed and published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program entitled "Guidelines for Communal Discernment" is very helpful. Which reminds me, I need to get those printed before Monday’s Session meeting to give to my Session because I think they will find it helpful.

I sometimes wonder if the amount of money spent on some of these mailings could be put to better use supporting and funding hands on mission and ministry that feeds a hungry person, binds up the wounds of a hurting person, or lifts up spiritually the life of a person separated from the Love of God we know in Jesus Christ.

Well my primary task is to read and understand the business before the Assembly on pc-biz.

This list of mail is extra credit reading:

OFFICIAL MAILINGS

Office of the General Assembly: Registration Guide to the General Assembly

Letter from the Office of the General Assembly giving my committee assignment (Bills and Overtures)

Office of the General Assembly – The report of the Form of Government Task Force in bound form

Letter from the Moderator of the Bills and Overture’s Committee (the Committee I’ve been assigned to)

Letter from the Office of the General Assembly confirming my registration and tickets purchased for assembly events

Letter from the Office of the General Assembly with final instructions and confirmation of reservations.

OFFICIAL ENTITIES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

Presbyterian Publishing Corporation – letter about their work and invitation to stop by their booth in the display area and get a free mug.

Letter and DVD from the General Assembly Council – outlining the structure of the church and the work of the General Assembly Council

Post card from the Presbyterian Foundation

GENERAL ASSEMBLY COUNCIL SUB-ENTITIES/ORGANIZATIONS

Postcard from Congregational Ministries Publishing – they will make house keys at their booth at GA, provide a 10% discount on their resources (must present card) and if you one of the first 100 (there are over 350 commissioners) commissioners you will receive the new Witherspoon Press title, “The Apostles Creed” free!

Presbyterian Women – letter about women’s issues before the assembly

No particular office but a 100 Witherspoon Street address – flyer for Presbyterian Women’s Concerns Events and flyer for Racial Ethnic Concerns events

PHEWA –(Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association) letter from their sub-group PARO (Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options) outlining their positions on issues before the assembly.

OTHER PRESBYTERIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Israel/Palestine Mission Network – materials about their network including the guide for commissioners called “Just Peace”, a DVD and the booklet “The Cradle of Our Faith: The Enduring Witness of the Christians of the Middle East.”

First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, MO – A letter telling the commissioners they are praying for them – no agenda

Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church – letter and DVD on item number 16:01 (overture 007) before the assembly urging my support (this is the church that generated the overture)

Book "Jesus the Bible and Homosexuality" by Jack Rogers - from The Covenant Network of Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and several other organizations

The Witherspoon Society – A letter of welcome and a brief outline of how the assembly works, and how to best speak for issues of justice at the assembly.

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship – Their newsletter outlining their assembly events (Jonathan Kuttab is speaking at their breakfast on June 25^th. I worked with his wife Beth briefly when she consulted with the Jinishian Memorial Program)

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians – The Summer 2008 issue of The Covenant Connection – their newsletter

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians – Book entitled “Frequently Asked Questions About Sexuality the Bible & the Church: Plain talk About Tough Issues” edited by Ted A. Smith

Presbyterian Lay Committee – a letter with a breaking news story about significant proposed changes to the Presbyterian Foundation and in the PS an invitation to stop by their booth in the Assembly area and pick up a copy of their latest book “Broken Covenant” (need to show my badge)

The Witherspoon Society – a copy of Witherspoon Network News

Mr. Donald M. Maclay – Letter from the Israel/Palestine Mission Network to follow up their first mailing of “Just Peace” flyer urging my non-support on various items of business before the assembly and a flyer with their events at the assembly.

University of Dubuque – inviting me to their Seminary Luncheon on Wednesday (already have a ticket to the Louisville Seminary Luncheon)

The Presbyterian Layman – An introductory letter, a copy of the most recent issue of the Layman, and request to sign onto their petition on Church Property

Presbyterians Pro-Life – letter outlining their perspective on various assembly business and information about their activities/events at the assembly.

Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry – Theology Matters – a booklet that critiques the New Form of Government

1^st Presbyterian Church Presbyterians for Peace – A letter from US Senators to GA Commissioners – the topic is the Israel/Palestine issue – one of the signers is Kit Bond from Missouri – it is interesting to note that I have written to Senator Bond on several issues and Senator Bond has not responded to my CONSTITUENT mail – I’m not persuaded by politicians!

The Presbyterian Coalition – A critique of the New Form of Government

Medical Benevolence Foundation – letter inviting me to the International Health Breakfast, the office of International Health Ministries, and the work of MBF as a ‘Validated Mission Support Group.:

Postcard from Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery – Two former commissioners are praying for me and the other commissioners (I like letters and cards like this … I can use all the prayer I can get, plus there is no ‘agenda’)

Presbyterian Action (The Institute on Religion and Democracy) – letter telling commissioners who they are and what positions they would like commissioners to take on assembly business.

Presbyterians for Renewal – Renews newsletter (with insert on 8 items of business this organization believes to be important)

Presbyterians for Faith, Family, and Ministry – Theology Matters May/June issue on Healing Same-Sex Attraction

Heartland Presbyterians Pro-Life – letter explaining their position on two items of business before the assembly and urging my support of their items.

PC(USA) Mission Invitation

MY FAVORITE MAILINGS

My favorite mailings are the letter from the church in Kirkwood, MO and the postcard from Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery – prayer is what I and all the other commissioners need. Prayer that we will hear God’s Will amid all the bucking for position and politics…and who said the church isn’t interesting.

My Presbyterian Pedigree

I’ve been a Presbyterian since my parents joined the Community Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Minnesota when I was in kindergarten or so. I was raised in that church, baptized on December 31, 1978, since I wasn’t baptized as an infant and I didn’t want my baptism to be part of the Confirmation and Commissioning process. I wanted to it to be a stand alone event that would mark my acceptance as Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. I was confirmed as a full member with my Confirmation/Commissioning class the following May (1979).

My father’s family is historically Presbyterian. My great-grandparents were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My aunt attended Westminster Presbyterian Church every Sunday growing up in Minneapolis. My father’s step-mother was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota and her pastor was Gary LeTourneau of the famed – within Presbyterian circles PJC case – LeTourneau vs Twin Cities Area Presbytery. Gary LeTourneau conducted my step-grandmother’s funeral in 1993. I didn’t make this connection to Presbyterian history and this Landmark PJC Case until after receiving notification of my step-grandmother’s death and reading the bulletin from the Service for the Witness of the Resurrection.

After graduation from college I attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and graduated with my MDiv in 1990. I began my candidacy process in Northern Water’s Presbytery in 1987 and transferred that candidacy to Heartland Presbytery in 1991. I was ordained by Heartland Presbytery in 1994, was briefly a member of Ohio Valley Presbytery, which validated my call to a staff position as Program Assistant for the Jinishian Memorial Program. I worked for the former Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit before the 1993 restructure and then for the Worldwide Ministries Division until I left Louisville to move to the Kansas City area. I transferred my presbytery membership back to Heartland Presbytery in May 1999. I left my staff position in Louisville in March of 1999.

While on General Assembly staff, I helped staff the task force that wrote the Respectful Presence resource for congregations on Interfaith Worship and Celebration, that was commended to the church by the General Assembly in 1997.

I have served Heartland Presbytery as a member and moderator of the Church Order and Listening Division which holds responsibilities for review of Session minutes and registers as per the Book of Order and assisting with the Bills and Overture process at the Presbytery level. My most recent tenure on the Division was 2005-2007 where I served as Moderator of the Division. I have supplied pulpits throughout the Presbytery and have a great love for smaller churches and older adults. I currently serve the Ruskin Heights Presbyterian Church as their Temporary Supply Pastor and Heartland Presbytery as a Member at Large on the Presbytery Council assigned to the Business Affairs Committee. I am also a member of the Stewardship and Mission Interpretation Division of Council and a member of the Sexual Misconduct Response Panel.

Last year the Church Order and Listening Division undertook the task of revising the Presbytery’s Manual of Operations. The folks that worked with me and our Stated Clerk from the Division, Jack, Evelyn, and Renee’ did a fine job and the Presbytery approved the Manual at the February meeting this year. What an interesting experience that was!

I have also served on an Administrative Commission and two Investigating Committees.

I currently serve on the Church Order committee of the Synod of Mid-America.

For anyone who wants to doubt or question my Presbyterian Pedigree – here it is for you to see. Outlining this has been helpful to me.

My election by Heartland Presbytery to be one of their Minister Commissioners is a great honor and privilege. I am awed by the responsibility placed before me, awed with the support and love of my colleagues in ministry and I pray I am up to the challenge and the task.

The Mail Keeps Coming - Commissioned at Presbytery

Yesterday, June 10, 2008, Heartland Presbytery met at South-Broadland Presbyterian Church . Those commissioners who were elected to attend General Assembly were commissioned during the worship portion of yesterday's meeting. It sort of makes it official.

Meanwhile the mail keeps coming. The official mail from the Office of the General Assembly, and the mail from the groups who want to bend my ear to vote the way they want me to vote. I still have not completed my reading and I hope to do so this week.

I did note a postcard from a congregation indicating they were praying for me and all the other commissioners. I cannot begin to tell you how important I think that is and how much I appreciate those kinds of letters. I'll write more later.

13 Days and Counting

I leave for General Assembly in 13 days. The mail from constituent organization (think former Chapter 9 organizations...this is going back over a decade) is staring to pile up. I'm working my way through the business posted on pc-biz. I must say that I found a really useful resouces on Group Discernment that I will be printing and copying for my Session members to begin to utilize at their June meeting. This has been the 'highlight' so far of my reading and preparation.

I'm wondering what to pack and might have a better idea after Presbytery meeting on Tuesday (6-10-08).

It will be an interesting experience to be a Commissioner.