An ecumenical service of worship and Holy Communion was held on Wednesday morning in the sanctuary of Westminster Presbyterian Church. It's sanctuary is large enough to hold a huge crowd of General Assembly worshippers. Rev. Timothy Hart-Anderson began the service with a welcome, and the introduction of one of the members of Westminster who was to say a few words to us. To my surprise this member of the church was former Vice President and Ambassador to Japan, Walter Mondale. It was a thrill to be greeted by him.
The hymns were a combination of English, Korean, and Spanish songs. Worship leaders included people from other denominations in this country and abroad. The Minnesota Boy Choir led with the call to worship and anthems. During the offering, African Harmony, a Twin Cities ensemble committee to sharing and preserving Africa's heritage of song and days offered the song, "Yawe na bibele" (Lord of All Creation). The preacher was Peg Chemberlin, minister in the Moravian Church and Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and President of the National Council of Churches of Christ. Her message was a clear call to be in relationship and to be one with ALL sisters and brothers in Christ, which we all know is much harder to live out than to say. Her words rang in my ears as I joined all the other Presbyterians in the deliberations on in the first plenary session of the General Assembly after lunch.
The afternoon and evening General Assembly sessions held some momentous decisions which have the capacity to bring huge changes in our denomination. The Committee on Theological Issues and Institutions presented an overture to appoint a committee to produce a new translation of the Heidleberg Catechism, which is a part of our Book of Confessions. A few years ago, Dr. Jack Rogers challenged the General Assembly to take a look at this catechism, as there appeared to be some glaring mistranslations from the original German. This might have bearing on what we say we believe. A committee of scholars was appointed to take a look at it, and they reported to this General Assembly that indeed there were over 100 errors in translation that they had found. The recommendation to produce a new translation, which is also updated in inclusive language was approved on the floor. This new translation will be brought to the 220th General Assembly to be approved for inclusion in the Book of Confessions.
The last Confession that was added to our Constitution was shortly after the reunion of the Northern and Southern branches of the church, in 1986. This was the Brief Statement of Faith. Aside from the Confession of 1967, there are no confessions which address the sin of racism in our Book of Confessions. There are also no confessions that originated in the southern hemisphere of the world, where the majority of Christians in the world live at this time. The Belhar Confession came out of the fall of apartheid in South Africa and it addresses racism in church and society. It also is about living faithfully with others with whom we experience cultural and theological differences. It is timely for the world inwhich we now live. The General Assembly approved the inclusion of this confession into the Book of Confessions. It will now be sent to the Presbyteries to also approve by a two thirds majority vote in the coming year. This will be a chance for our Presbytery to study and discuss this confession and its implications for our lives of faith, and perhaps to take a look at our entire confessional heritage.
Finally, toward the end of the day, the new Revised Form of Government (FOG)was debated. The committee had recommended approval with the amendments they had proposed. A substitute motion was given that would have made this proposal a study document only and not allowed it to replace our present form of government. It was an emotional debate. Presbyterians really love their polity, it is so basic to who we are. I especially felt the emotion sitting among the stated clerks, many who are life-long Presbyterians who are so expert in their knowledge and functioning with the Book of Order. In the end, a large majority of commissioners voted to approve the new form of government and send it on to the presbyteries for approval. It appears that we have our work cut out for us -all of us. In the coming months, we all need to learn about the new form of government so that when we vote to approve it or not, we can make an informed choice. If FOG is approved by the presbyteries it will be a new structure (with so many of the time honored undergirdings still intact) that we will be living into.
Please pray for our church and the spirit of change that is upon us.
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