217th Assembly of Presbyterians

A Season of Discernment

2006-06-21T06:59:00.000-05:00

The report of the Taskforce on Peace, Unity, and Purity and Purity of the Church passed yesterday afternoon with a vote of 298 for and 221 against. I and a rag-tag band of like-minded Presbyterians have been working for this since we arrived last Wednesday. Our meetings in the committee stretched until about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday before it was placed in the docket for yesterday's plenary.

Much of the debate at the Committee on Ecclesiology focused on trying to debunk misinformation from the conservatives that it could lead to the banning of women being ordained and that it would lead to the ordination of more gays and lesbians into the church.

Let us be clear about what the taskforce report is. It is a Taskforce on How We Govern Ourselves, it is not a taskforce on sexuality. It does not change the Book of Orders or other parts of the constitution of the denomination; rather it affirms a practice dating back to 1729 which vests ordination decisions on local congregations. There are national standards, but these are locally applied.

Most of the focus has been on Recommendation 5, which issues an authoritative interpretation of the constitution regarding ordination standards (i.e. reaffirms the tradition). But all the other recommendations were received nearly unanimously (i.e. we stay as one denomination and should not split over our differences). They essentially say that we cannot continue to fight and try and resolve our differences by butting our heads. Alternative means such as discernment should be used in the decision-making process.

In the end, it was not the well-reasoned arguments and parliamentary moves that were used by both sides that convinced Presbyterians in the middle. One pastor puts it well: "We are sick and tired of fighting conflicts the way we have been doing it in the last 30 years. We should set it aside and do God's business."

The conservatives mounted a spirited, well-organized campaign led by a minister who spent 20 years lobbying the government. In contrast, our group was organized on the spot. He and I have gotten to know each other pretty well -- and actually like each other despite our differences. I hope to know him and his colleagues better as we enter into a season of discernment to resolve our differences.

A Day of Listening

2006-06-17T08:43:00.001-05:00

It was a day of listening. I do not know how many eventually signed up for the open hearing for my committee. Apparently, there were more than can be accommodated. So our committee leadership cut up all the names, placed them in a bowl and picked 60 names. They were divided equally between the those who were for or against the report of the Taskforce on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church. They had 2 minutes each.

Those who were against the report preached at the committee, in effect saying that it will bring fire and hellstorm to PC (USA) and warned that it will not only split the church but increase the decline in our membership. There were even 5 ex-gays (2 of whom I later learned were not Presbyterians and do it for cash) who obviously did not read even the summary of the report and railed against the ordination of homosexuals. Others railed against the ordination of women.

Those who were for the report testified in a calm but passionate manner. They expressed great joy that the taskforce -- diverse as it is -- were able to unanimously support the report. They emphasized the need for churches to use the discernment process the report recommended to find solutions to conflict. They also emphasized that the taskforce was a taskforce on the church, not a taskforce charged with resolving sexuality issues.

Among the speakers were former moderators and presidents of Presbyterian seminaries -- all of them urging the committee to adopt the report. We also heard from the taskforce members who worked for four years to craft the report.

The first part of the day was also useful in testing the committee moderators' parliamentary skills and giving us a taste of the conservatives' strategy to gut the report.

Habemus Moderator

2006-06-16T01:52:00.000-05:00

No, there was no white smoke from the electronic voting machines. Instead, there were three rounds of voting before we finally settled on Rev. Joan S. Gray as the moderator of the 217th General Assembly.

Rev. Gray won 307 votes or 62 percent of the total cast. Rev. Deborah Block of Milwaukee won 152 votes or 31 percent. Two male pastors trailed with 20 or less votes each by the third ballot. Rev. Gray has written definitive books on Presbyterian polity and governance. She was ordained by the Presbytery of Atlanta.

It is fitting that as we celebrate several anniversaries related to the ordination of women as pastors, elders, and deacons that we elected a woman to lead us in the next two years.

A Surprise Gift

2006-06-16T01:09:00.000-05:00

It is not often than a general assembly starts with an announcement of an unprecedented gift of $150 million. The benefactor, Stanley W. Anderson, is a businessman and an elder who is a member of the Central Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO.

Anderson made his fortune in banking and financial services where he spent more than 30 years. He started Anderson and Associates, a firm which sold commercial card products and engaged in electronic commerce. When he was young, his family was on welfare.

Anderson's gift -- the biggest single gift received by PC(USA) -- will be set aside in the Presbyterian Foundation as the Loaves and Fishes Church Growth Fund. Anderson said in his speech that he was tired of declining membership figures in the church and the financial difficulties churches are having. Presbyteries can apply for grants but they must incorporate the three stated purposes of the fund: congregational transformation, racial-ethnic congregations, and new church development.

This grant will hopefully stop the decline in our membership and kick-start a growth. More importantly, I hope it will fuel a transformation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) into a denomination that reflects more accurately the demographics of our increasingly diverse country.

Creating a Safe Space

2006-06-14T23:26:00.000-05:00

Three hours have passed since my first session with the Ecclesiology Committee. It was a long one, starting at 3:00 p.m., breaking for dinner at 5:30 p.m., and then resuming for another session lasting until about 9:00 p.m. It was a good series of ice breakers, of acknowledging our personal baggage, and of creating a safe space with which to discuss one of the most controversial issues facing us.

The committee is composed of a good mix of presbyteries, of age groups, of gender -- but not of ethnicity. Of the 66 or so members, there were only four Asian Americans, two African Americans, and I think one Native American and one Arab American. As a denomination, we have to do better than this.

Judging from all that I heard about our hopes, fears, and ourselves, this committee represents a broad range of views. There is an overwhelming desire to discern God's will on what to do with the Taskforce Report and a general distaste for the deluge of letters, books, and DVDs that were sent before the assembly. There is also an overwhelming desire to resolve this issue once and for all so that we can focus on the other important issues we are facing -- like mission and evangelism.

It was also clear that there are those who will use parliamentary tricks to obfuscate the issue or delay the discussions. Even one lobbyist was overheard complaining that the executive session that followed the dinner was illegal since there was no motion for the committee to convene in executive session. Thank goodness he has no vote -- but his friends in the committee have.

By Their Colors You Shall Know Them

2006-06-14T14:02:00.000-05:00

I'm in Birmingham now. I've checked in, took a quick survey of the area, registered, and gotten my blue badge. Blue badges are for commissioners, observers wear yellow, PC (USA) staff wear red, local volunteers wear light blue, the press wear green, guests wear black, exhibitors wear gold, and advisory delegates wear navy. I've seen a couple of folks wearing a lot of colors attached to their badges. Either they are part of the Rainbow Coalition or they have multiple functions and identities during this assembly.

I still have to see badges in Braille, but I've seen a couple of folks on crutches and wheelchairs registering. I am glad that the organizers made sure that those who have disabilities are able to participate and are welcome.

The PC(USA) staff and local volunteers have been very efficient in ensuring that our arrival and registration go smoothly. I have no doubt that this will be an enjoyable and well-run assembly. I am very thankful to the Committee on Local Arrangements and our local host -- the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley.

So how many Presbyterians does it take to have a general assembly? It takes 2,900 participants and 2,000 volunteers. Daghang salamat, local hosts.

Bahala Na

2006-06-12T21:58:00.000-05:00

I must confess that I am running out of time to finish reading all the materials we are supposed to review. I skipped church last Sunday to catch up, figuring that I will be worshipping twice a day during the assembly. I did not regret it since I finished reading all the materials that were mailed to me and made a dent on the online documents.

With a couple of more hours of reading tomorrow, I think I will be as prepared as I will ever be for the assembly. In times like this, we Filipinos have a default saying. It is called Bahala na. This is derived from the saying, Bathala na -- or leaving it all up to God.

Such an attitude had always been derided by "modern" Filipinos or Westerners as an excuse for laziness. However, as my faith deepened through my spiritual journey, Bahala na has become increasingly true. We must surrender to God and live our lives according to God's will.

As I participate in the general assembly, I know that I can only study so far, read so much of the documents as I can, and listen to as many briefings as possible. In the end, Bahala na.

Mail Bag - 4: Pray for Us, Mary

2006-06-06T22:34:00.000-05:00

The 217th General Assembly is only a few days away and the amount of mail I have been getting is a testament to that. I am getting so much mail that a lot of it has to be left with the my condo's concierge because they no longer fit my mailbox.

Most of the mail have lately been urging me and other commissioners to vote against Recommendation 5 of the Theological Taskforce on the Peace Unity, and Purity of the Church. Inherent in those letters is a fear of change; of forgetting that as Presbyterians we are always reforming. One thing I have learned all these years is that the only constant in this world is change. We must embrace change and have faith in God as we continue to reform ourselves.

Among my recent mail was a card postmarked Wheeling, WV. Fellow Presbyterians there have appointed Mary Hood to be my Prayer Partner. Thank you, Mary! Your and other people's prayers are especially needed to help us discern God's will during this assembly.

Assassinated for their Faith

2006-05-31T21:20:00.000-05:00

As I prepare for the general assembly, I cannot help but despair that our denomination is seemingly consumed by the issue of sexuality. My worldview was recently yanked back in place with a series of messages circulated in the listservs I subscribe to -- and I hope it will stay in place during the general assembly.

The controversy over who can or cannot be ordained based on their sexuality is nothing compared to pastors and church workers in the developing world who put their lives on the line as they witness and prophesy for the Lord.

In being prophetic, many have paid for their lives, especially in the Philippines where eight pastors and church workers of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines have been killed since May 2005. I know of no other country where so many pastors and church workers have died in a similar time period.

Here they are, loyal servants of the Lord:

+ Rev. Edison Lapuz, Conference Minister of Northeast Leyte Conference of the UCCP, shot and killed on May 12, 2005.

+ Rev. Raul Domingo, Pastor in San Jose, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, shot on August 20, 2005, died on September 4.

+ Junico Halem, active member UCCP Aluran, Misamis Occidental, shot and killed on December 6, 2005.

+ Nestor Arinque, chairman of the Church Council UCCP, Mabini, Bohol, shot and killed on March 7, 2006.

+ Rev. Jemias Tinambacan, Pastor of UCCP Calaran, Calamba, Misamis Occidental, shot and killed on May 9, 2006.

+ Jose Doton, active member of UCCP San Nicolas, Pangasinan, shot and killed on May 16, 2006.

+ Pastor Andy Pawikan, Licenciate Pastor of UCCP Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, forcibly taken, tortured and believed killed around 4:00 p.m. when a gunshot was heard, on May 21, 2006.

+ Rev. Noli Capulong, Chairman of the Christian Witness and Service Committee of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Calamba City (UCCP-Calamba), May 27, 2006.

I got this list through our mission co-worker in the Philippines, Cobbie Palm. Cobbie is a son of Rev. Jim and Louise Palm, mission workers at the Church Among the Palms (I kid you not!) in Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. When they returned to US, they directed the Stony Point Conference Center.

"There is a pervasive feeling that the nation is sliding back into the terror of unwarranted killing and the systematic way and method of the killings only point to the military," writes Cobbie in an email. Since 2001, 585 activists and leaders of progressives organizations have been killed. It seems that the bullets are now trained at pastors and church workers.

When we won our fight for democracy in the Philippines, I thought that the extra-judicial killings conducted by the military (the media called it salvaging) would have also ended. Clearly, it has not.

Already, the Philippines is known as one of the most dangerous place to be a journalist, with nine killed last year. Clearly, it is also such a place for pastors.

The Capulong Brothers

2006-05-31T19:56:00.000-05:00

Since May 2005, eight pastors and leaders of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) have been shot and killed. The latest is the Rev. Noli Capulong, one of two brothers who are also pastors, who was assassinated on May 27.

At the time of his death, Noli was chair of the Christian Witness and Service Committee of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Calamba City (UCCP-Calamba), a few miles south of Manila. An email from one of our mission co-workers, Cobbie Palm, said that two gunmen shot Noli several times as he was returning home. He left behind a wife, a 20-year-old son, a 16-year-old daughter, and the grieving communities he helped.

What makes Noli's death doubly tragic is that he was one of the best possible kidney donors to his brother, the Rev. Dr. Noriel Capulong. Noriel is a professor at the School of Divinity of Silliman University and a noted Asian scholar of the Old Testament.

Noli is gone, but Noriel still needs help. Friends of Noriel Capulong have raised half the $40,000 needed for his kidney transplant. He needs your help. You can email Cobbie Palm or send your donations through the Rev. Joe Malayang of our sister denomination, the United Church of Christ. His address: Rev. Joe A. Malayang, Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Trip to Palestine and Israel

2006-05-24T20:37:00.000-05:00

Memories of my 1980s trip to Israel and what was then the Occupied Territories of Palestine washed over me as I listened to Jewish and Palestinian peace activists last night.

As I listened, I was reminded of the constant questioning I got from Palestinians as to how they can immigrate to the Philippines. Nor could I forget the unrelenting grilling I got from several soldiers at the Ben Gurion Airport as to where I went and what I did during my visit. Frankly that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

The situation was bad for the Palestinians then but it has clearly become worse judging from the video and the testimonies last night. I was buoyed, however, by the activists' passionate belief that peace can be achieved by non-violent means. I pray that it will be so.

So when it comes to voting on the overtures regarding divestment, the decision is easy. I support divestment. It is the right and prophetic thing to do.

Mail Bag - 3: A New Wind Blowing?

2006-05-12T15:28:00.000-05:00

The mail I have been getting recently gives me hope that there may be a new wind blowing through our denomination. No longer do the communications stake out the positions of any particular group; rather they are saying that no, not their organization's will be done -- but God's will be done.

The session of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, MO writes: "Along with our greeting comes a message that is without a political agenda...We want you to know that we will be praying daily...We pray that the Spirit of the Loving God will fall afresh upon you every day throughout the Assembly and that the Spirit will guide you in leading our church to a new day."

The board directors of the Covenant Network sent me a copy of their May 9 statement, "A Time of Hope in the Church." It reads in part: "...the Covenant Network's Board of Directors believes that the church stands at a remarkable moment of hope that will not come again soon. ..We trust that God will do more, through Christ Jesus, than we have yet asked or even imagine possible."

Then a friend passed a column published May 8 in The Layman, an online publication of the Presbyterian Lay Committee. Peggy Hedden, chair of the board of directors, writes in her column, "Praying for the Right Thing": "The decisions made (during the General Assembly) will speak volumes about who we think God is and what kind of living mirrors his character...They show us that we do not have to worry about correctly advising God to pass this overture or defeat that recommendation in the business of the assembly. Rather, we can with full confidence earnestly implore God to bring glory to himself and advance the coming of his Kingdom. We can leave to him how to bring that about. We can with full confidence know that whatever happens – whether “disaster” or “victory” from our immediate perspective – God is in charge and is working his will in his way and in his time."

As we try and discern God's will, I can only say AMEN! to all these letters.

Elohim Hashivenu

2006-05-08T19:53:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I attended a concert by excellent a capella choir. One song struck me as very appropriate for the ordination controversy that has gripped our denomination for far too long. It was composed by Salamone Rossi (c 1570 - c 1678) , the leading Jewish composer during the Renaissance in Italy. He was the first to bring choral, polyphonic music to the synagogue -- a revolutionary proposition at that time.

The song that struck a chord in me is Elohim Hashivenu based on Psalm 80:3, 7, 19. Here are the lyrics, with the Hebrew text in italics:

Elohim hashivenu
O God, restore us;
vehaer panekha venivashea.
cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
Elohim tsevaot hashivenu
O God of hosts, restore us;
vehaer panekha venivashea.
cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
Adonai elohim tsevaot hashivenu
O Lord of hosts, restore us;
vehaer panekha venivashea.
cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

This will be my psalm for the general assembly.

Tips and Tricks for Surviving the Assembly

2006-05-05T20:44:00.000-05:00

We had our general assembly orientation last night at the National Capital Presbytery. We went through the DVD that headquarters sent and ran through Les.

Although Les contains more materials and seemed to be functioning better, we decided not to take any chances. The NCP will burn the documents into a CD so that we can have back-ups when Les breaks down. Although the latest changes will not be incorporated into the documents, we will at least have the copies of the originals.

Here are other tips:

1. Dress comfortably but also bring a light jacket because invariably, there will be very cold rooms and no way to adjust the thermostats.
2. Wear comfortable shoes since the main mode of transportation in convention centers will be by walking.
3. Visit the exhibits when they first open. That will be when the exhibitors will display their best goods and when most freebies are available.
4. Pace yourself. Do not attempt to attend every event.
5. Take time out to rest.
6. For bibliomaniacs, be sure to bring an extra bag for the books you purchase.
7. Seek out old friends and take time out to make new ones.
8. Do your homework and read the materials beforehand.
9. Carry a list of cell phone numbers, hotels, and emails for your fellow delegates from your presbytery.
10. Enjoy the assembly.

Our executive presbyter, Wilson Gunn, a veteran member of the AEPS (not the animals, but the Association of Executive Presbyters) said that he will also be available to help in any way he can -- ensuring that we do not run out of our favorite snacks, that we are fed in case the lines in the restaurants will be too long, and will coordinate our group. I must say he is a wonderful member of the AEPS, especially if he stocks up on chocolate ice cream which many of us listed as our favorite.

Women, Women, Women

2006-05-04T09:41:00.000-05:00

During the 217th General Assembly, we will celebrate several milestones for Presbyterian women -- the 100th year that women were ordained as deacons in the United Presbyterian Church of North America; the 76th year that women were ordained as elders in the PCUSA; and the 50th year that women were finally ordained as ministers of the word and sacrament in our denomination.

We should also rejoice that two of the four candidates for the Moderator of the PCUSA are women. They are the Rev. Joan Gray, recently the interim pastor of the College Park Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, and the Rev. Deborah A. Block, pastor of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee, WI, of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. (The other candidates are the Rev. Kerry Carson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Conrad, IA, of the North Central Iowa Presbytery, and the Rev. H. Timothy Halverson, pastor of the Faith Presbyterian Church of Cape Coral, FL, of the Peace River Presbytery).

It is, however, ironic that we are commemorating these women's historical milestones in Birmingham, AL. Ten years before the 1983 re-union of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (Northern), delegates from 260 Southern Presbyterian congregations that split from PCUS gathered in Birmingham to form the National Presbyterian Church. It eventually morphed into the Presbyterian Church in America. Among others, they split largely on the role of women in the church and other theological issues. That is why to this day there are no women ministers in the PCA.

The meeting was held at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 13 miles from the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex where we will be meeting to celebrate the leadership roles women have played in the Presbyterian Church USA, especially as ministers of word and sacrament and possibly elect another woman as our new Moderator.

What Would Mrs. Kim Do?

2006-05-03T07:32:00.000-05:00

Among the increasing number of letters that I have recently been getting -- thanks to the 217th General Assembly -- one stands out. It is not about the general assembly. Rather it is a report from Aikwang Won in Koje, South Korea.

Aikwang Won, literally the Garden of Love and Light, was established in 1952 by a humble Korean Christian, Mrs. Kim Im Soon. Abandoned by her husband during the Korean War, she found succor in the Changsungpo Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Kim supported herself and her daughter (now living in Virginia) by teaching. One day, a desperate government official left seven orphans in her care. As more orphans were left with her, she built an orphanage. In 1978 -- and with the growing prosperity of South Korea -- she converted the orphanage into a home for mentally handicapped children. In 1989, she was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award (Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize) for "nurturing hundreds of abandoned and handicapped children to adulthood in an atmosphere of beauty and love."

I had the privilege of spending time with the Queen of Koje Island, as her neighbors fondly call Mrs. Kim. If the Dalai Lama (another Magsaysay laureate) oozes holiness; Mrs. Kim oozes unquestioning love for all people. As the our general assembly approaches, my thoughts often wander back to her. If faced with all our differences, what would Mrs. Kim do? Undoubtedly, it would be to love all of us without regard for our differences or for our handicaps.

Mail Bag - 2

2006-05-02T08:18:00.000-05:00

Judging from my recent mails, it would seem that there are more groups lobbying for the rejection of the report of the Taskforce on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church -- or at least rejecting Recommendation 5. Has the Presbyterian majority chosen to remain silent? I hope not.

Among my recent mail is an April 26 missive from the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, GA. To their credit, they made a reasoned case as to why the recommendation conflicts with the Book of Order. Obviously, I need more time and more balanced information to discern the guidance of the Lord on this matter. Let me add, however, that I love the First Presbyterian Church's slogan: "Where God's House Feels Like Home." And like any home, we do bicker and disagree.

Save Darfur

2006-05-01T17:23:00.000-05:00

One of the celebrations we will have during the historic 217th General Assembly is the 25th anniversary of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. This was established by the General Assembly in 1980.

I was reminded of this as people gathered last Sunday to rally against the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Since 2003, this government-sponsored genocide has resulted in the deaths of more than 400,000 people and the displacement of 2.5 million people.

Earlier, I was at a book-signing featuring Wole Soyinka and his new memoir, You Must Set Forth at Dawn. Several participants to the April 30 rally were there to urge us to attend. They also came to thank Wole Soyinka, the first African to win a Nobel Prize, for his efforts to stop the genocide.

Soyinka said that the Africa Union (AU) is not equipped to stop the genocide and is dragging its feet. He said that the AU leadership is wrong in saying that the situation in Darfur was a "family affair. "A crime against humanity is not a family affair; it is an international affair," Soyinka said. He urged the United Nations to intervene and send an multinational peacekeeping force.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, we should, like Wole Soyinka, continue to keep the pressure on our government and the United Nations to stop the genocide in Darfur.

Hotel and Flight

2006-04-25T17:21:00.000-05:00

Since the Ecclesiology Committee meets earlier than the rest of the GA committees, I had to adjust my hotel and flight to arrive on June 14. (The assembly starts June 15 in the afternoon). , I got confirmation today that my hotel booking and flight have been adjusted. I will be staying at The Wynfrey and will be sharing the room with an elder from the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.

I have not stayed at The Wynfrey in my previous visits to Birmingham, AL. Unfortunately, it is not downtown and is far from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. If you have not been there before, these are landmarks worth visiting. I hope I will have time to re-visit them. They are pivotal to my understanding of what it means to be an American.

Mail Bag - 1

2006-04-23T22:13:00.000-05:00

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.

Here are the Numbers...

2006-04-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

I always like to center myself before making significant decisions or wading into controversies. This is what I am undergoing now in preparation for the 217th General Assembly. Part of my centering process is to take a look at the numbers or the statistics concerning our denomination.

The latest figures available from the PC(USA) Research Services date back to 2004. It confirms what anyone who goes to a Presbyterian Church immediately sees:

The number of congregations and members continues to decline despite efforts to plant more churches and increase members. There were a total of 11,019 congregations in 2004, and a membership of 2.36 million.
Our denomination is overwhelmingly Caucasian, a reflection of its European roots. In 2004, more than 92% of PC(USA) members were Caucasian; 3.1% were African-Americans; 2.9% were Asian; and 1.3% were Hispanic. Native Americans numbered less than 1%.

Recent figures from the National Capital Presbytery reflect the national picture. We had 111 congregations in 2005 and a membership of 36,048. Caucasians led the membership (25,485); followed by African-Americans (2,855); and Asians (606).

Do these figures bother me? It should bother us all. The declining figures are extremely bothersome, along with the lack of racial diversity. This is why the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts and Hands (MIJHH) is important. Despite our denomination's lack of racial diversity, the diversity of views within it uplifts me. I hope that PC(USA) continues to be one despite our diversity of views, including those who call for schism if they cannot dominate.

Coffin's Credo

2006-04-19T21:04:00.000-05:00

When I was a graduate student at Columbia University, I was a member of the Riverside Church in Manhattan. It was then led by the Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., an ordained a Presbyterian minister, who served as senior minister of this United Church of Christ church, from 1976 to 1987.

I spent many Sunday mornings listening to his thought-provoking sermons. From the pulpit, he promoted peace, advocated for nuclear disarmament, protected the environment, and struggled to end poverty and homelessness. Rev. Coffin was one preacher who firmly believed in afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

Now he is dead, passing away at the age of 81 on April 12. Those who want to attend his memorial service on April 20 at 4:00 p.m. can do it online through the Riverside Church's webcast.

Rev. Coffin left behind hundreds of sermons, speeches, and a couple of books. Fortunately, he compiled excerpts from this body of work into a handy book, Credo. I picked up a copy at the 216th General Assembly, in Richmond, VA.

As I re-read it earlier tonight, I was struck at how his words are still relevant today, especially as we face divisive issues during the 217th General Assembly. He writes:

"Rules at best are signposts, never hitching posts...We have to come up with love as an answer to legalism on the one hand and lawlessness on the other. Love hallows individuality. Love consecrates and never desecrates personality. Love demands that all our actions reflect a movement toward and not away from nor against each other. And love insists that all people assume their responsibility for all their relations."

Death by a Thousand Cuts?

2006-04-18T22:35:00.000-05:00

The Associated Press reported last Saturday, April 15, that our denomination plans to cut jobs at the headquarters in Louisville, KY for the third time in four years. The number of cuts -- from the 600 staff -- will be announced by the end of this month.

The reason is simple: headquarters needs to trim its $114 million budget by 13 percent in the next two years. Officials say that the cuts are needed to change how the PC(USA) does its business. More and more churches are using the funds they raise to run their own mission and social outreach programs instead of being dependent on headquarters.

While I sympathize with those who will be laid off, this is very much a part of being Presbyterian -- reformed and always reforming. I pray for our headquarters staff that this transition will be smooth. Change is always painful, but if there is anything I have learned from working is that the only constant in life is change itself.

I hope that we will come out a stronger denomination as we reform ourselves, and not die in our own version of the Chinese ling chi or death by a thousand cuts.

Less Expectations for LES

2006-04-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

The 217th GA is being hailed as the first "paper-less" general assembly for PC(USA). This will certainly save a lot of trees -- if not a forest -- judging from the amount of documents that are traditionally needed to transact the church's business. (It would be good if someone actually crunches the numbers and figure out how many trees are saved) .

The core is a network called LES, which must stand for something or is perhaps the name that the staff have given the electronic system in an attempt to anthromorphize it. If it is the latter, I am also guilty of it since I will be bringing Bobot -- my laptop -- to the general assembly.

The concept behind LES is theoretically cool. LES will not only be a repository of documents, but will also enable users to track changes, it has a section for notes, and a calendar. During the assembly, recorders will be able to post reports as changes happen or decisions are made. After the assembly, it becomes an archive. Reality is, however, far from cool.

I applaud any effort to save trees, but the problem is that LES is turning out to be a klutz. Never mind that it's design is non-existent; especially if compared to the ease of navigation and graphic design of the PC(USA) website. I have a broadband connection at home, but LES keeps on crashing or worst, freezing -- that is, of course, if you can access it. If I use my wifi, I encounter the same problems. I thought it was just me, but I have heard from other commissioners who have similar problems.

The excuse that the staff is giving is that it is a work in progress, but after it was allegedly beta tested at the 216th GA, one would expect that the bugs will have already been resolved as it is rolled out.

Now imagine 534+ commissioners plus dozens of advisory delegates, overture advocates, observers, and staff accessing LES simultaneously over a wireless network during the 217th GA. The system will crash or freeze. LES' developers better have several 24/7, on-site techies -- and not out-sourced to a company in Bangalore.

Last March, I emailed the PC(USA) staff at AskLes@ctr.pcusa.org regarding problems I had logging in. They are unable to do anything other than forward my email to the computer rental company which they contracted to develop LES. From their response, and from what I am experiencing, the contractor, ABS Computer Rentals, Inc. should just have focused on their core competence -- renting out computers for conferences.

I suggested to Sharon Youngs, communications coordinator of the Office of the General Assembly, that we be provided with a CD containing all the documents we will need to transact business as a back-up when LES crashes or freezes. So far, no response.

Needless to say, I am hoping that LES gets sorted out soon so that s/he can interact well with Bobot and the other laptops during the general assembly.

Ecclesiology and "Seven Last Words From the Cross"

2006-04-14T22:35:00.000-05:00

I was recently informed that I have been randomly assigned to the Ecclesiology Committee, one of the 15 committes that will be deliberating during the 217th GA. It has only one doctrinal item in its agenda: to discuss the report of the Theological Taskforce on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church. This is the product of five years of hard work by 20 Presbyterians representing the broad membership of the church.

This weighed heavily on my mind, especially this Holy Week. The noon Good Friday service at the NYAPC and a performance tonight of James MacMillan's "Seven Last Words from the Cross" brought me some clarity.

As I listened to Jesus' last words in worship and in song, I was struck by the first and last movements. Jesus said, as he hanged from the cross: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). In the controversy surrounding the ordination of gay elders and pastors in PC(USA) -- which is at the core of the PUP Report -- both sides claim that they are right. But are they really? Do we really know what we are doing?

The last words of Jesus -- "Father into Thy hands I commend my Spirit" (Luke 23:46)-- underscores the recommendation of the PUP Report that we need more time to talk and discern the Lord's will. (Three of the six recommendations cover discernment). With each side battling and quoting the scriptures against each other, it is best to leave the resolution of the controversy up to God.

We need to sit still and know the will of God. Discernment is best achieved in quietude, not in battle.

...and from the National Capital Presbytery

2006-04-13T09:04:00.000-05:00

At the GA 217, the National Capital Presbytery will be representated by four elder-commissioners and four pastors. The elders are Elizabeth Jernigan of First Presbyterian Church of Arlington; Shirley Logan of Northeastern Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC; Paul Wackerbarth of Knox Presbyterian Church; and myself.

The pastor-commissioners are the Rev. Dr. David Ensign of Clarendon Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Donna Marsh (at-large), the Rev. Ann Philbrick (specialized), and the Rev. Eunice Yang of Adelphi Presbyterian Church .

In addition, the general presbyter, the Rev. Dr. Wilson Gunn, and the stated clerk/treasurer, the Rev. Dick McFail, will also be there for the National Capital Presbytery.

If you've ever corresponded with Dick, his email signature carries an interesting quote from St. Teresa of Avila: ""The Lord walks among the pots and pans.." As a pot, among the 534 pots and pans attending the GA 217, I take great comfort in that quote.(Of the 534 pots and pans, half are elders and half are pastors).

The NYAPC Contingent

2006-04-12T10:09:00.000-05:00

Although I am the only elder-commissioner from The NYAPC, others from our church will also be there. Our pastor, the Rev. Dr. Roger Gench, will be an overture advocate (the Presbyterian equivalent for a lobbyist; an overture is a resolution) for the National Capital Presbytery; then there is the Rev. Dr. Frances Taylor Gench (yes, they are a couple) who is a member of the
Theological Taskforce on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church; and Beth Law who has been nominated as a member of the board of directors of the $1.7 billion Presbyterian Foundation.

Beth is an accomplished musician who earns her living as a lawyer. She will bring her legal expertise in to the effective running of the foundation. And music to soothe raw nerves should the discussions become heated during board meetings. So fellow commissioners, please vote for her.

Roger confessed in a sermon one Sunday that he had actually wanted to be the member of the TTPUPC, but Frances was appointed instead. However, the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic nominated him to be a member of the General Assembly Council which acts on behalf of the General Assembly in between sessions. His greatest qualification, aside from being an ardent jazz organ aficionado, is that he is a Kansas City Chiefs fan in a city dominated by the Redskins. So for that act of bravery alone, I urge fellow commissioners to vote for him.

I also know that Kirsten Kingdon, a board member of the Covenant Network, will be at the GA to help with the various activities that the network has lined up. The NYAPC is an affiliate of the network as well as the More Light Presbyterians.

This is going to be fun!

With friends like these......

2006-04-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

When I was elected to be an elder-commissioner (or delegate) last year to the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), many of my friends extended their condolences. They were surprised and tried to discourage me. "You have to read through a huge pile of materials...you'll be constantly lobbied...you'll be meeting until late in the evenings...there are too many controversial items on the docket (the agenda)..."

I told them I was actually looking forward to it since it would be the first general assembly I will be attending. I always believe in trying things at least once. Controversies do not scare me, especially since some of the best minds in the church have spent years studying these controversies and have come up with their recommendations. I'm a night owl, so evening meetings do not scare me -- though whether my brain still functions is something else. Everything will be done online so at least I will only have to lug my laptop. (I better see my eye doctor before going to Birmingham.

They still laughed and extended their condolences -- as only friends could.