Demonstrators

In the middle of our afternoon session, people began marching toward the front of the assembly room carrying signs. As they made their way down the aisle, someone shouted, “order on the floor!” Suddenly, the Moderator announced we would sing a hymn; after singing, the demonstrators still remained at the front of the assembly. We immediately went into prayer for the church's unity. The prayer ended, but the demonstrators remained. After a time of awkward silence, the demonstrators began singing (I couldn't understand their words). When some of the observers began booing, the Moderator called the assembly into recess. As we moved around in recess, I noticed some of the General Assembly staff and the Moderator talking with the protesters. I also noticed that Fox news was present taping the demonstration. After the protestors left, we reconvened and finished our business before our dinner break.

After the dinner break, the Stated Clerk shared with us what had happened. It turns out the demonstrators were not a Presbyterian group, but an outside group that was demonstrating at our assembly (I heard unofficially from another person that this group goes to national meetings of churches, alerts the news media, and then protests at them as well). Although they did not have the proper credentials (there is someone checking credentials at each entry point), they somehow gained entry into our meeting area. Apparently, there is a standard procedure to move into recess if a demonstration occurs (demonstrations on the floor are not allowed by our standing rules). The Moderator had added the singing of the hymn and prayer (perhaps to give the protestors time to leave on their own), but they remained into our recess. Ultimately, they were advised that they could leave on their own or be arrested for trespassing. Some chose to leave on their own; others were escorted by police (peaceably) and were ticketed for trespassing.

I suspect we will be on Fox news somewhere; I suspect that there will little attention given to the peaceful response we had in song and prayer or the fact that the protestors were strangers in our midst; but I bet the media will report (accurately) that it happened at the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly!

Peace,

Richard