Welcome to Minneapolis! Welcome to the 219 General Assembly of the PCUSA! There are so many ways that commissioners and other participants are already being made to feel welcome as this biennial gathering of Presbyterians begins to get underway. Downtown Minneapolis is an ideal site for this meeting. The convention center is easily accessible from the airport and is very close to the major hotels and eateries of the city. Only a block or so away from the center is Westminster Presbyterian Church, host of a number of activities and gatherings during this event. Minneapolis is a beautiful and inviting city.
I have had the opportunity to do some exploring of the city's streets, parks and labyrinth of skyways (enclosed walkways between buildings)already this week. As the newest stated clerk of the group, I arrived a few days before the beginning of General Assembly to attend the Association of Stated Clerk's pre-assembly meeting, which was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church. I found the stated clerks to be an extremely knowledgeable and dedicated group of individuals, upon whom I know I will depend as colleagues as I begin my service to the Presbytery of the Cascades. During this meeting, the clerks met with a number of individuals from the national offices of the General Assembly to learn more about the issues which will be considered at the assembly and how the possible changes to the constitution will affect the workings of our presbyteries and other governing bodies. The highlight of the gathering for me was meeting and getting to know the other clerks, and especially the times of worship and prayer.
Today is the day that the commissioners and others begin arriving. The registration at the Convention Center began early this morning. The Presbytery of the Cascades is represented by a great group of people this year, coming from across our Presbytery. Our commissioners and the General Assembly committees on which they will serve include Rev. David Hampton, Mission Coordination, Elder Tracy Cerri, Civil Uniion and Marriage Issues, Rev. Aleida Jernigan, Bills and Overtures, Elder Verne Duncan, Peacmaking and International Issues, Rev. Audrey Schindler, Social Justice Issues A: Promotions of Social Righteousness, Elder Judy Hubbard, Middle East Peacemaking Issues. Rev. Richard Christensen, Social Justice Issues B: Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven, Elder Claudia Eagle, Church Growth, Christian Education Investment & Loan Program, and Young Adult Advisory Delegate, Jaclyn Hill, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. My hope is that as the Assembly progresses, each one will contribute some of their experience and insight to this blog to share from collective perspectives. Also representing Cascades Presbytery is Rev. John Mahon, one of our co-executive presbyters. I am aware that other members of Cascades Presbytery are also attending as visitors, and as I see them, I will try to mention them here as will as the perspectives they bring to the whole.
The theme of the assembly this year is "Out of the Believer's Heart Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water" (John 7:38. ) Our worship at the Stated Clerk meeting and the worship of the Assembly in the coming week will reflect that theme. To prepare for the Assembly worship, participants were asked to bring a small amount of water from their local rivers, lakes, and streams. My contribution will be water from the Willamette River that flows through my neighborhood, a few blocks from my house. I hope this water gathered from all of our peoples will represent a coming together in unity in Jesus' name, a remembering of our common baptism, and a pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon this gathering.
Please include the General Assembly and all those I have mentioned here in your prayers this week. I look forward to sharing this time with you
