Mail Bag - 1

Since our names as commissioners became available through the PC(USA) headquarters, I have been getting some interesting mail. I guess the lobbying season is officially on.

Rev. Chris Hammond, parish associate of the Vienna Presbyterian Church sent me Given and Sent in One Love: The True Church of Jesus Christ. The Witherspoon Society mailed me their briefing materials. The Covenant Network sent Far From Home: Tales of Presbyterian Exiles, and Sexuality, the Bible & the Church, and a DVD, "Turning Points." Presbyterians for Renewal sent me a DVD, "Speaking a Mystery: God's Design for Human Sexuality."

Then there is a form letter from the session of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church urging the rejection of Sections 4 and 5 of the PUP Report. A similar letter was sent by the session of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, though they limited it to the rejection of Recommendation 5 of the PUP Report.

I know more will come as we approach the start of the General Assembly. For those of you who want to lobby me, several words of advice: the shorter your materials are, the better the chances are that I will read them. I prefer to save trees, so direct me to your websites. Be warned that I used to work for Greenpeace so I am adept at lobbying and campaigning.

Please understand that with the amount of reading I need to do, my priorities are the materials that come directly from the General Assembly Office. Those who know me well already know that I have already developed a study schedule to prepare for the 217th GA.