General Assembly begins this Saturday, July 3, but the preparations have been going on for a long time. It was almost year ago that the Presbytery Nominating Committee began seeking nominations for Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD), Elder Commissioner and Minister Commissioner. We were elected at the September 2009 meeting: Mariana Berbert (Oshkosh, 1st Presbyterian) as the YAAD, Mary Ellen Keller (Forest Larger Parish) as the Elder Commissioner, and the Rev. Susan Zencka (Stevens Point, Frame Memorial) as the Minister Commissioner. At the May meeting, we were commissioned for service.
And, at the February Presbytery meeting, the Rev. Paula Sanders came to talk with us about the Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA) for the 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis, and to invite us to volunteer. I don’t know how many people have chosen to volunteer, but I do know that there are still openings for people to volunteer to help at General Assembly.
Of course, many people are working to prepare for General Assembly – in Louisville and Minneapolis, primarily. But we, your commissioners, are also preparing. We have been reading a lot — there are 124 overtures, most of them with considerable supporting material. There are two significant longer reports that were mailed to commissioners: the proposed Form of Government, and the Middle East Study Committee report. The Presbyterian Outlook has held 5 webinars, each on a significant issue before General Assembly, and some of us have listened to these presentations.
The Rev. Michael Lukens and the Rev. Lucy Rupe held an orientation for us in March, helping us to learn how to prepare for serving as commissioners. We have each received our committee assignment: Mariana Berbert is serving on Committee #6 – Church Orders and Ministry; Susan Zencka is on Committee #7 – Revised Form of Government; Mary Ellen Keller is assigned to Committee #8 – Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. These will all be fascinating and intense committees.
And now, we’re packing, and getting our last minute preparations made (like learning how to use this blog!). Mariana and I will arrive in Minneapolis on July 1, because we both have meetings on July 2; Mary Ellen is on a mission trip and will meet us in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 3 when General Assembly formally begins. I will try to keep up and write blog entries from time to time, but we will be very busy, and our work at GA comes first!
Finally, a request: pray for us, please. We take our work seriously — we hope to discern a faithful and Spirit-led response to all the issues before us. Many of the issues are quite complex. I know I have been trying to keep an open mind and avoid coming to conclusions so that I can listen fairly and faithfully in the Assembly. Listening for God’s voice in the voices that disagree with ours as well as those that agree with ours is a peculiar calling of Presbyterians. I hope and pray that we will be faithful to that calling, and we cherish your prayers. Thank you.
