General Assembly
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Advice to PCUSA General Assembly Commissioners
The 221st General Assembly (GA) in Detroit will soon be upon us. If you are a commissioner to this year’s assembly, you have probably attended an orientation or have one on your calendar. Just last week, fellow commissioners chosen as committee moderators and vice-moderators were trained and prepped. I was a commissioner to the 219th…
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Advent: What Are We Waiting For?
I love Advent. It is my favorite season. My favorite part of the season is not the actual Christmas day, but the whole leading up to part – waiting and preparing. Maybe because growing up in an immigrant family, this time of the year was the worst for me. My family wasn’t familiar with the…
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A PCUSA Open Letter to the Old regarding the Young from Someone in the Middle
Dear Old, First let me define what I mean by “old.” In some regards I am referring to age, considering an overwhelming majority of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. denomination is . . . well, old. However, I am also referring to one’s longevity and history with this particular denomination as well – cradle Presbyterians, Presbyterians…
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A Sunday (28) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Hangover
After returning the night before from a long nine day trip in Pittsburgh where I attended the 220th General Assembly, Sunday was painful. And yet, I had to get up, get the kids dressed, and head over to the church. My Head of Staff was smart in getting that day off, but at least I…
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In the Middle: Intersection between Age & Wisdom
Photo by Dan Meyer I am a member of the Committee to Review Biennial Assemblies. This committee was tasked to research and suggest changes to the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. We surveyed hundreds of past General Assembly commissioners and staff, asking them what message would they like to convey to this…
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A Sunday (27) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Dear Daughter
Dear Daughter, I know I am gone for a long time. Nine days is a long time to be away, but I want to share with you what I have already witnessed in three days. I have experienced and participated in things that should give you much hope dear daughter. I have experienced and participated…
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Non-Geographic Presbyteries & the Issue of Diversity
Rev. John Vest, a member of the Mid Council Commission, recently wrote a blog stating his views about non-geographic presbyteries: “After much conversation and reflection, I changed my mind and embraced the concept of non-geographic presbyteries as a potentially energizing and catalyzing change to our existing way of being Presbyterian, which I do not think…
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Building a Plane While Flying
Originally posted on The Presbyterian Leader on June 14, 2012 . . . Growing up, I used to hang out with my dad at the airport. This wasn’t the kind of airport that you go to when catching a flight. This was a small airport where airplanes were built and tested. My dad was a mechanical engineer…
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The World Is Flat or Is It? – Changes in Presbytery & GA
9 The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. (John 2.9) Jesus chose as his first miracle to change water into wine. Seems like a mundane trick to choose as your first “hey guys, look what I can do”…
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Changing General Assembly: Can It be Possible?
The General Assembly constitutes the bond of union, community, and mission among all its congregations and governing bodies. (Book of Order G-13.0103) A couple weeks ago, I traveled to Indianapolis for the General Assembly Biennial Review Committee. Not the sexiest committee to be on, but as I soon found out, our task is certainly an…
Still Waters 