Electing a moderator!

We elected a Moderator tonight. The headline read "Elder Cynthia Bolbach elected on the fourth ballot!" What does that mean?

First, a bit about the process. The General Assembly gathered last night for the sole purpose of electing a moderator. At 7:00 pm, the nominating speeches began. We had six people who had declared their candidacy prior to the meeting, and no one was nominated from the floor. The six included five ministers, one elder, one Korean=American, one African-American, two candidates who were self-proclaimed evangelicals, small church pastors,a large church pastor, and at least two who were bilingual. Amazingly, their diversity was exceeded by the diversity of the people they had selected to serve as their vice-moderators.

Each candidate had someone give a nominating speech, and then they each gave a speech. After those, each candidate answered questions from commissioners. Ninety minutes later, we were ready to vote. We vote electronically, and we continue voting until a candidate has 50% of the votes. It took four ballots. None of the candidates removed themselves from the ballot (sometimes the ones receiving the fewest votes will ask to be removed from the ballot for the subsequent vote).

In some ways, I was surprised by the vote. When I had heard the candidates speak briefly at lunch earlier in the day, our new moderator was the least impressive, in my opinion. But, as the candidates answered questions, she kept her answers brief, seemed more direct inher answers, and used humor effectively. She was the only elder, which I think helped her. Listening to the other five candidates move into mini-sermons while answering thier questions seemed to lump them togehter and gave her a distinctive place in the minds of the commissioners. As the questioning continued, the other five seemed to grow weary, but our Moderator seemed to get stronger.

WEary might be a fair description of how all the candidates must have felt by the end of the night. When they "stand" (that's the term used) for Moderator, they literally spend the first two days standing side-by-side at booths in a general gathering area to greet all the commissioners and answer their qeustions. The only criteria to stand for Moderator is to be a commissioner to the General Assembly and to not overspend the $1500 limit for their campaign. They also have several opportunities to speak to different settings before the night of their election.

Now Moderator Bolbach's two years of leading our denomination begins. May God bless her in her work.

Peace,

Richard

Arrival

After leaving the house at 5:30 yesterday morning, I arrived in Minneapolis and registered as a commissioner for General Assembly. I now have an official badge and lengthy schedule of events and meetings.

I had a chance to jog through downtown Minneapolis late in the afternoon. I like being able to choose a side of the street that was in the shade; the many people on the sidewalks and stop lights, not so much.

Last night had a concert featuring an 8 man a capella choir and a Minnesota bluegrass band. Wow! I hope all the worship services have that kind of quality.

As I wander around seeing nametags, it feels like a family reunion with all the cousins who you have heard about but never met in person. the higly visible name tags (I can now attest to how helpful name tags are!) mean you can tell whom you are passing. many of these people have written articles I have read, or answered questions on the phone for me through the years, or are people I have read about in years past.

I have also been reminded of our connectedness. One of the moderatorial candidates is the minister serving a church in NC where the Beers (they joined with us this summer) attended several years ago. I had a chance to visit with her and share their greetings (Andy and Jill -- Maggie gave me a pen and a pin with her name on it for ya'll). I suspect lots of little "reunions" will be taking place this week.

Now I am off to my first actual meeting of the week.

Peace,

Richard

Eve of departure

The time has almost arrived. I have been busily putting my notebook together and trying to get caught up on the important issues before I leave, but of course, the time to leave will arrive before my preparation is complete.

As I looked at the schedule and plotted my days, I realized three things:

1. I love worship. I have scheduled to be in worship every time we have it and to also take in a couple of extra worship-like events.

2. I must be genetically coded as a Presbyterian. I actually enjoy reading about the issues. Even scarier, I even understand some of the nuances of the process and the subtleties of the issues.

3. I find it a bit daunting to be part of a decision-making process when I feel so ill-informed on some of the topics. Sometimes I find myself reading an overture or an argument, and I know there is more to it than is readily apparent, but I don't know the back story. Or this morning I read two different arguments being made about an issue and found both compelling and written by people I know and respect, and somehow I will be part of a group that chooses one side or the other. Or, perhaps, there is a better way yet to be found.

I hope the Holy Spirit is hard at work, especially with those of us who are a little slower than others!

Peace,

Richard

Committee work

If you would like to read more about the upcoming General Assembly meeting, check out this link: http://www.pcusa.org/ga219/

Electing a moderator

General Assembly begins with one of the most exciting moments of the Assembly - the electing of a moderator. I used to think there was a pattern of male/female and clergy/elder that was typically followed, or at least impacted the voting. I'm not sure that is true anymore. In fact, when I read about the candidates, I ams truck by how diverse they are. As I read about the candidates, it occurred to me that the Presbyterian Church in its demographics. Perhaps we do not see it in the pews in many of our churches, but the moderatorial candidates certainly reflect a different looking church than the one I remember from my childhood. I will have a chance to hear the candidates speak at a lunch Saturday afternoon and then again before the vote that evening at the first gathering of all the commissioners. I am excited to hear their visions for who we are as the Presbyterian Church.

If you want to read about the candidates, follow this link: http://www.pcusa.org/ga219/business/modelect.htm I'd love to hear your impressions of the different candidates.

Peace,

Richard

Single issues and community

Much of the mail I have received in preparation for serving as a commissioner to General Assembly is from groups or people who are very interested in one issue. Typically, the group provides information and their suggestion as to what General Assembly should do (usually it means to vote for or against something). As I read this mail and contemplate how I might vote on an issue, I find myself wondering what will happen to the group who does not get enough votes for their issue. I suspect it means that they will be very upset, and if history repeats itself, will threaten to leave the denomination or actually leave. I find myself wondering how I can vote on an issue and still remain in community with people on both sides of the issue. Not an easy task. In fact, it seems to me that the church mirrors the secular world of politics (or vice versa) these days -- a world where we decide if a person is for us or against us based solely on one issue. I cannot fathom how that approach allows us to be in community with one another. Surely, being bound together in Christ is stronger than disagreement on one issue!

Peace,

Richard

My blog has shifted from Lenten reflections to General Assembly reflections. I will be adding thoughts about my preparation for the General Assembly, and then I will add daily comments while at General Assembly.