Fl CURRENT JULY 1994 VOLUME 20 ISSUE6 ASSEMBLY URGES eee LET THE HEALING BEGIN... The 206th General Assembly experienced a great emotional swing - from despair and concern to euphoria. Entering into this assembly there was the major issue concerning last November's "Reimaging . . . God, the Community, the Church," conference in Minneapolis. The issue was of such proportion that 51 Presbyteries sent overtures for the assembly to take some action- many of them requesting punitive measures. The committee report which dealt with the BOHL WINS IN LANDSLIDE issue and requested the assembly take action was met with one of the warmest, most positive responses seen at a General Assembly in many years. The commissioners who spoke were all in favor, there was not one dissenting speech, When the commissioners voted they approved the report with 39% of the commissioners in favor. There were 4 against and 2 abstaining. Applause and singing of the Doxology and Amazing Grace went on for a period of at least thirty minutes. Realizing that they had witnessed a miracle that could bring Robert W. Bohl the church back together. Moderator of the 206th General Assembly In the first unusual action by this assembly, Robert W Bohl, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, was elected moderator by an overwhelming majority on the first ballot Saturday afternoon, The vote for Bohl was 410 votes of a possible 555 commissioners voting. Seldom does a moderator win on the first ballot, let alone with 74% of the votes, (Story comnned on Page 2) ‘This issue of the Current contains much about the "Reimagining God, the Community, the Church’ Jconference, It was the critical issue at this assembly, but not the only action. Pages 8-11 are devoted to helping the reader better understand the issues and the action| surrounding the conference. Copies of the committee's full ‘The commissioners stood and ‘applauded, report, and a video of the presentation are available from) held hands and sang the Presbytery Office.‘THE WABASH CURRENT - GA NEWS ISSUE BOHL, NEW MODERATOR (continued tom Page 1) The election of the moderator occurred Saturday afternoon. It is always the first order of business after the Opening Communion, the welcome by the Host Committee and reports by the Moderator, Stated Clerk and the General Assembly Council (GAC). ‘There were three candidates; Bohl, Jean Kennedy an elder from Pittsburgh and Bruce Spence, former chairperson of the GAC, also an elder, from Mountain View, Colorado, After five-minute nominating speeches and candidate speeches, the commissioners were invited to question the aspiring moderators. Questions covered the spectrum of issues facing the church including the "Reimagining conference” which was the subject on many commissioner's minds. Bohl was straight forward and candid in his answers to all the questions. Bohl said, " The whole church is watching and waiting to see what we are going to do at this assembly." He said, “this is an assembly that will not handle business as usual...We will seek again the biblical vision of the church, seek to recapture our heritage as a church, and take a look at our confessional standards." Concluding with, "We must not be a passive assembly "We must not let one group or one issue set the agenda for the whole church. We must listen to the Holy Spirit ‘We must be able to say that we are a Christ-centered church, a Christ-committed church, a Christ-led church.” In response to the question about polarity in the church Bohl said, "It is not right for this church to be tom apart by ordained people who align themselves with a single issue unless that issue is Jesus Christ." In answer to the ‘question, "What is your reaction to churches withholding, funds?" Bohl replied in the strongest of language "I believe itis an ecclesiastical sin." He said that he had leamed that the theme for next years assembly is stewardship. He went on to cite the church's "miserable" stewardship of about $550 per capita per year, saying "Presbyterians have not been sufficiently challenged by the mission of Jesus Christ and it is about time we strongly consider emphasizing the tthe." ‘The new moderator is 57 years old and has been pastor of the Fort Worth Church since 1980, serving pastorates in Pennsylvania before then. Wabash Valley Presbytery knows Bob Bohl from the stirring talk he gave at a Presbytery meeting during the time we were considering involvement in the Bicentennial fund, He says, "We must challenge our people to both support mission and be in mission, He indicated that he was going to "put every ounce of energy he had” into talking with the church throughout the country this next year. Kennedy and Spence split the remaining votes 118 and 27 respectively. OPENING COMMUNION. OUT-GOING MODERATOR DOBLER STRIKES A MESSAGE OF SERVICE AND EVANGELISM ‘The procession of 12 bagpipes accompanying the singing of "Amazing Grace," opened the communion service that began the 206th General Assembly. The local symphony orchestra provided prelude music and a 600 member mass choir from local churches sang... In what can only be described as a very traditional service this past year's moderator David Dobler preached a strong challenge to the 5000 worshippers. Citing scripture from Isaiah and Corinthians, he pointed out that "God chose you before you chose God. We are chosen to be ambassadors for Christ. ‘The trouble is that many of us want to answer God with "Lord, not me ~ not me!" He continued, "We think we have burdens too heavy too bear, but those burdens did not come from God. Let go of the things that bring you down, quit worrying about what the world tells you to do, until you feel all used up. Set down those constricting agendas and go with God - - a loving God who sets people free.” He reminded the Presbyterians of the Great commandment, "There is no other Lord than Christ Jesus Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ~ that's a lot of folks and Jesus meant it. Let us first and last be called to be ambassadors of Christ who are called to make the ‘gospel winsome and holy. Let us share the truth once more I know there is a God who loves me and that same God loves you. Lift high the cross of Christ." errrery GAC UNLEASHES 6-PART MISSION INITIATIVE Somewhat overshadowed by the furor over the "Reimagining . . God, the Community, the Church” conference the GAC promoted a six part mission initiatives program. Presented as a positive alternative to the issue of the day these initiatives are grouped under the GA's four mission priorities of Evangelism, Justice, Partnership and Spiritual Formation. Each was presented either on video or in person by knowledgeable spokespersons from the staff. PARTNERSHIP came first featuring a theme of " a Year with Aftica, Partnership was described as "building friendships" by Rev Alice Kyei-Anti a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ghana, ‘The illustration was the partnership between ‘Washington Presbytery (PA) and an Ethiopian presbytery. Because the Ethiopian Presbyter is growing rapidly in ‘membership, Washington Presbytery is starting a seminary scholarship for potential church leaders from that country. (continued on Page 5)DAILY WORSHIPa...s.0sssverososerse --GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES!!. ‘The worship experience for commissioners this week was a rich and moving experience as each speaker dealt with a portion of "The Great Commandment" [Matt 28: 18- 20] Attendance at worship was extremely good. Saturday: All authority has been given to me was the theme of a message delivered by Reverend Rafael Aragon with music provided by the magnificent bell choir of Westminster church. Rev Aragon reminded the ‘worshippers that our authority comes from Jesus who received it from God. We need nothing more than that assurance to move forward as Christians. Monday: Speaking to the theme of go therefore and make disciples of all nations, Reverend Bob Burkins said, "T believe the greatest days of our church are ahead of us. God is present, active and more involved in reforming this, church than we realize, than we are able to comprehend. Burkins pushed those assembled to reclaim personal witness in a church which has "effectively diminished” its value. He said the point which lies deep behind the great ‘commission is "disciples making disciples". He urged the church to place more emphasis on personal witness rather than on strategies and methods. Tuesday: The Reverend Cynthia Campbell using the text, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit told the commissioners that "being part of Christ's body is a full-time adventure, with the implications that it takes a life time to discover. "Do you remember what it means that we have been baptized?" Campbell asked "In baptism we are called to be compassionate rather than calculating, generous rather than greedy, respectful rather than isolating." "Perhaps now more than ever,” she goes on, "The world needs the church to be the church... willing to let our lives be shaped by the desires and purposes of God." "Contrary to the message of the TV evangelists," she says "Christ-shaped and Christ-driven living does not promise security or success, but a freedom deep within ‘our souls. as Christians go about their call for loving reconciliation.” The worshippers were reminded of our baptismal vows with our reaffirming them. Wednesday: With the Menaul school (a school created by the Presbyterian church to serve the educational needs of Native American and Hispanic young people) choir leading the music program, the Reverend Floyd Hart, an enrolled ‘member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, spoke to the text teaching them all that I have commanded you, said "our churches needed to become alive with Christ's ‘THE WABASH CURRENT -GA NEWS ISSUE ‘message of Love and forgiveness." He said he had leamed from the elderly people on the reservation that with no love and forgiveness in your heart, you are living a life worse than death itself," "people must embody and model obedience before others can be expected to obey." Thursday: Following the text remember I.am with you ‘always, to the end of the age, the Reverend Janice Stamper of the First Presbyterian Church, Savoonga, Alaska talked of God's abiding presence. Using scripture from John 15:1-17, she talked of the temptation with which we are faced as we want to become the vine dresser ourselves picking up God's pruning shears and trying to prune instead of being a part of the branches and living in Christ What Jesus promises, she said, "is power greater than anything we can do on our own and that power comes from prayer. She called for those present to "open their hearts to God rather than pressing our own agenda." She spoke knowingly of the presence of Jesus in her ministry when with the Alaskan elders they go to pray for a sick person. All the elders go and they may be there for an hour or twenty hours. Together they experience a real sense of Jesus’ abiding presence. The service closed with the worshippers humming to a moving performance of "Amazing grace" by the Korean Hanmi Presbytery Minister's Choir, OVER 400 MISSIONARIES SENT BY ASSEMBLY Friday: At the closing communion service on Friday moming Presbyterians were charged to stand against suffering, poverty and death by the Reverend Alice Kyei- anti of the Presbyterian church of Ghana. She stressed that Presbyterians had an urgent task in a world dominated by unfair economics and unjust politics. "It is not easy to speak of God's love to people where children are killed and dead bodies float in the drinking water. Yet, itis in such a world, we are to make our presence known as God's people...Such is the world in which we are called to go and ‘make disciples for Jesus." Reverend Clifford Kirkpatrick then fed the assembly in a commissioning service for over 400 missionaries itis "the largest group of mission personnel in over a decade.” The group included 170 volunteers in mission; (93 were young adults.) Sixty-six long term mission workers were among the persons commissioned. Also welcomed were 57 global partners coming for mission work in the United States. Honored for their work were 30 retiring missionaries and 49 others who had completed their term of service. In the serving of the elements, Reverend Paula VanderHoven told worshippers, "God's spirit has blown through this hall like the Kansas wind..and we who are here have been a part of that transformation."‘THE. WABASII CURRENT -.GA NEWS ISSUE ISSUES OF HUMAN SEXUALITY. TO CONSIDER or NOT TO CONSIDER? The assembly started out on a rocky note. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA), who plans the assembly and suggests the places where overtures and other business are referred had assumed that because of last year's assembly they should refer all overtures on Human sexuality to the 208th General Assembly. ‘The action of the 205th General Assembly called for a three year moratorium on sexually oriented issues urging cach church and cach governing body to engage in study during that hiatus. The real issue was the long standing tradition of General Assembly; namely, that one assembly cannot bind the actions of future assemblies. By our polity the ‘commissioners of each assembly are free to debate and set policy voting according to their consciences ‘The Bills and Overture committee, who acts as the floor manager of the assembly and directs all business to the other committees, took issue with the COGA recommendation and promptly asked for the assembly's approval to make some 16 referrals concerning sexuality to the appropriate assembly committee. ‘There then ensued a vigorous floor debate. Some overtures were related to homosexual ordination and others related to same-sex unions. There were a large ‘number of commissioners who wanted, what had become known as the "Savannah Overture," to be dealt with at this, not some future, assembly. The "Savannah Overture” recommends amending G-6.0106 of the Book of Order to require fidelity within the covenant of Marriage or acy, in order to hold an ordained office” The vote was 57.5% in favor of the Bills and Overture committee for referring all overtures on sexuality issues to the committees of this assembly. CHURCH ORDERS AND CONDUCT An attempt to define more precisely what is acceptable sexual conduct for clergy and other church officers was rejected after a sustained debate Wednesday afternoon, ‘The majority report of the committee wanted to approve the "Savannah Overture” which required ..."fidelity within the covenant of Marriage, or celibacy, to hold an ordained office." A minority report to the committee's report proposed that the Book of Order be amended to say that " the lives of deacons, elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament should demonstrate Christian faith and life as defined by Scripture and the confessions." By a vote of 357 to 176 the minority report was adopted. Rejected in the debate was one amendment that proposed that all elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament adhere to standards of tithing, attending worship regularly, and engaging in the discipline of Bible study and practicing daily prayer. On the recommendation of the committee the assembly refused to adopt two overtures addressing the ordination of Gay and Lesbian people. An overture calling for "Lay Preachers” to have greater involvement in Presbytery and to be permitted to baptize ‘was referred for further study. Another overture, also referred, was one which would allow temporary pastoral relationships to become permanent. Tn other business the commissioner's resolution recommending for five year term limits on General Assembly staff at the level of managers, administrators and executives was rejected. MINISTERS NOT PERMITTED TO BLESS SAME-SEX UNIONS ‘Amending the words from “inappropriate” to "shall not >be permitted," commissioners on Tuesday voted to make it impossible for any Presbyterian Minister to bless same sex union. ‘The change in wording passed 248 to 222 and the overall measure passed 249 to 207. While the directory for worship already forbids ministers from performing, marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, this action will call for Presbyteries to vote for a change in the Book of Order. In other actions on the report of the Committee on ‘Theological Issues and Institutions, the assembly approved ‘overtures sent by Presbyteries (1) calling for an inquiry into the theological significance of contemporary science as it relates to reformed doctrines of humanity and sin; (2) calling for the development of liturgies for use in ministries with victims and those who vietimize; (3) calling for beginning the process of creating a brief catechism and (4) calling for 1995 as a year to emphasize repentance and prayer within the denomination. teeeaee ‘GUEST EDITOR FOR THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ISSUE LOF THE CURRENT IS ROBERT K WHITFORDFUTURE PROBLEM??: PROCEDURES AIMED AT SHORTENING GA ‘The Committee on GA Procedures report recommended that overtures from Presbyteries not received by the specified dates be returned to the Presbytery rather than simply holding them over to the next assembly, The assembly further voted that if an overture deals with substantially the same issue considered by one of the two previous assemblies the body may choose not to act on that overture, + by referring it to a subsequent assembly, by declining to consider it or # by taking no action. ‘When such actions are recommended to the commissioners, 25% of those present and voting are required to overturn such recommendations. In a harder to understand action commissioners voted to allow its successor assemblies to act directly on business without first referring it to a committee. ‘Thus in the future assemblies will be able to: ‘+ refer items to committees for them to report back for action; ‘+ allow committees to take final actions themselves; + allow the assembly to approve consent agenda or * to debate and take action on issues without referring, them to a committee. ‘Asa twenty year veteran of assemblies, this writer will be very interested in how the clerk will rewrite the standing, rules so that these rules are followed, while at the same time maintaining decorum and orderliness. Certainly any item that the commissioners want to discuss as a whole will hhave to be identified on the first day and docketed. Imagine what might have happened if the "Reimagining, God, the Church, the Community” conference had been taken up by the assembly as a whole. The healing that has been started might never have happened, We need committees and the opportunity for group of 50 to 60 people to examine an issue and prayerfully consider it before 600 persons try to address it in plenary. teeeeee GAC MISSION INITIATIVE continued trom page 2) ‘The Presbytery is also helping to build a Bible School in Ethiopia. Another PARTNERSHIP alternative is Volunteers in Shared Ministry. About 100 young adults ages 18-25 are training for volunteer service in the U.S. and abroad. ‘The Rev. Sally Evans, who for the past 20 months has directed post-hurricane Andrew assistance in Florida, spoke of the effect volunteerism has on the volunteers. "Their work changes the volunteers too," she said, "At the least, they appreciate what they have, and at the most, jit makes them want to do more." One new volunteer, ‘THLE WABASH CURRENT.- GA NEWS ISSUE Angela Madden said that the experience had opened her eyes to the greater mission of the church. Another volunteer Kriss Voss-Bothmeier said, "Even in the midst of great pain ... there can be singing, dancing and celebration. For SPIRITUAL FORMATION the initiative is the creation of centers for Christian reflection and spiritual formation, In a pre-recorded conversation, Howard Rice and Marjorie Thompson talked about the loss of meaning in modern society. "People try to find meaning in things that cannot bring it, said Thompson adding that there is a "desired to know that God is trustworthy” ‘Speaking to the commissioners, DeAun West called the pilot center a tremendous opportunity. The EVANGELISM initiative centered on church development and redevelopment. By the end of 1994 the church will have access to detailed demographic studies to aid in this work nationwide. A video presentation highlighted redevelopment work at two California Churches. Under the JUSTICE priority came an initiative of ‘ministry in the cities and racial violence. A video described the deteriorating situation in many inner cities. Cesar Gonzales, a former gang member who has changed his life is now a sophomore at the University of ‘New Mexico. In personalizing the initiative, he told of how a Presbyterian congregation gave him the opportunity to attend Menaul School after he had been severely beaten by a member of another gang. "Given a chance gang members can turn their lives around,” he said, "Gang members... are victims of poverty and violence." ‘The commissioners then spent the lunch time on four successive days discussing each of these priorities and the initiatives. Each table talk discussion was key-noted with a ‘en minute discussion on the issues with some direction as to the items the commissioners might want to consider. TABLE TALK ABOUT MISSION PRIORITIES ‘The table talk scemed to be successful way of having the commissioners engage in dialogue and share experiences and idcas in mission. Reports from the table talk were often exciting and uncovered some projects that ‘were going on, but more importantly they gave the commissioners a chance to dialog about what these areas ‘meant and how the church engages in mission ‘This might be a fruitful area for the Presbytery to consider for dialog at future Presbytery meetings. Perhaps, ‘one priority per meeting, to discuss the scriptural basis and ,, what Presbyters think about it, in mission related to it, and what the Presbytery might do.B28] Visitors from Presbytery Former EP Local Marquee Beth and Rick Hurley ‘Sue Whitford COMMISSIONERS Elder Jane B Rev. Ron Elder Alyn MeConnaha Rev. Stuart Robe Elder “huck Rev. Clinton Robe YAD Lisa Krloger Judy Becker tends Evangelism Booth Ginny Miller (GAC) talks with friend Interim EP Chuck Watt confers with Bill Fall (COGA) studies Clinton, Chuck and Alyn Bills and Overture ReportWichita Air Museum - Site of Moderator’s Reception Clinton, Lisa and Jane enjoy magazine ‘Waltrer Ungerer(GAC) talks with Parker Williamson (Editor of Layman) Gotcha! Editor Former EP Chuck Hammond Bob Whitford doing his thing?‘THE WADASII CURRENT - GA NEWS ISSUE "REIMAGINING CONFERENCE HAS MAJOR IMPACT ON ASSEMBLY* The aftermath of the Reimagining Conference held in Minneapolis in October 1993 set a major portion of the agenda and action of the 206th General Assembly. So much has been made of this conference that this version of the news refers the reader, who wishes more information to the Presbytery office for copies of the full report by the GA Committee on GAC Review, for the ‘opening statement by Committee moderator Rev John Buchanan and for a video. 1 would like to set the stage from my perspective and then highlight significant happenings. ‘THE CONFERENCE The ‘Re-Imagining . . . God, the Community, the Church. conference, was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 4-7, 1993 and was in response to the World Council of Churches’ ‘Ecumenical Decade: Churches in Solidarity with Women." It was hosted by the Churches in Solidarity Committee of the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul ‘Area and Minnesota Council of Churches. More than 2,000 people attended, from 32 denominations, 49 states, and 27 countries. The conference included plenary presentations, table groups, discussions of responses and personal faith journeys, small group discussions, services of worship, singing, Iturgy, as well as theater and concert performances. It is important to remember that the ‘Re-Imagining God, the Community, the Church* conference was ‘identified by planners as a conference to enable dialogue and discussion around the theme of ‘re-imagining, not on developing confessional statements; to facilitate theological discussion, not to write new creeds for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Women theologians from 10 denominations, 12 countries, and 8 racial ethnic backgrounds were invited to address aspects of this theme as It pertains to God, Jesus, church, creation, community, and world. Other areas, such as family, sexualty, arts, language, ethics, work, and ministry were also included. ‘THE LAYMAN BLOWS A WHISTLE A woman reporter for the Presbyterian Layman newspaper attended the conference and found it to be offensive in a number of ways. When the newspaper issue ‘which reported on the conference was published, there was an outery from many in the church who were concemed that the UPCUSA would have had anything to do with the planning of such a conference. Especially a conference ‘where some of the speakers presented theological images * Words in Italics are from John Buchanan's Statement to the GA, or from the GAC Review committee's report wi ‘was adopted by the assembly. far from our understanding of reformed theology, where the concept of sophia as an image for God was put forth and where the atonement was questioned as being too "gory." It is clear that the issue that started all the furor centered around the questions of Theology. ‘The Layman's article sounded a note of warning, one ‘which prompted a number of persons to get the tapes of the conference and listen to them. T have talked with some 20 persons who have studied the tapes and all but two found very little to differ with the facts contained in the Layman's, conference report. Most, however, decried the Layman's style of presentation which tended to sensationalize.) PRESBYTERIES REACT Within the Presbyterian polity one way to redress an issue is for a Presbytery to overture the General Assembly and call for action. There were some 51 overtures, most, calling for a study, some for dismissal of the responsible GAC Staff (This meant primarily Mary Ann Lundy, Director of Churchwide Planning), some actually commended the conference, et. LUNDY'S ACTION CAUSES STIR In a carefully worded statement issued jointly by Rev James Brown Executive Director of the GAC and Mary ‘Ann it was announced before the GA started that Mary ‘Ann Lundy could no longer be effective in her job. Words like "fire," "terminate," or "resign were not used, Although the impression was that she had resigned, During the assembly, at a dinner of the Presbyretian Health, Education and Welfare Association, Mary Ann Lundy, in what seemed in opposition to the previous announcement said "Check the assumption that I resigned." She said that the furor is not about ‘the conference itself, but is a battle for the soul of the Presbyterian Church launched by political religious forces led by the far or radical right" She said it also is about Biblical interpretation, gender, sexuality and power The power struggle, she suggested, is about "who will lead the Presbyterian Church - those who seek justice or those who seek unity." She said, The worst part of the last few months were hate letters I received from people I don't know and don't know me," ‘THE ASSEMBLY BEGINS Most Presbyterians approached Wichita with apprehension. A full day of prayer the day before the assembly opened was planned. Questions like: + Will this cause the church to split? ‘Will we ever be able to talk with one another again and on what basis? + Is there freedom for GA staff to be themselves? + Dowe havea theology?‘were on every body's mind, I was a commissioner to the 1972 assembly when the hot topic was the gift from the UPC Legal Defense fund sent for Angela Davis' trial defense- This conference was at least as poignant as that very controversial issue. It, also, seemed to be as controversial as the Human Sexuality Report in 1992. As this the 206th assembly began, there was an air of anticipation, How would the assembly deal with it? STATED CLERK ADDRESSES IT In his report on the state of the church, Stated Clerk Jim Andrews suggested that the conference itself was only a symptom. The symptom of a deeper disease that has to do with the erosion of trust, Congregations do not trust bodies that do not seem to do what they want them to do. Reconciliation is an absolute must! Itis the necessary need in the church at this time! NEWLY ELECTED MODERATOR ADDRESSES IT New Moderator Bohl in his post-election news conference was asked about the controversy. He indicated that from his perspective there were four problems with the conference: 1. Aprofound theological concer “Where do we stand?" 2. An ecumenical issue; "The church should deal with ecumenical issues or else threaten God's opportunity to reach our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can't retract or retreat” 3. A woman's issue "There is pent-up anger across the country for ‘women serving in the church." He noted that there are still congregations in the denomination that will not ordain women to the office of elder of considered calling a clergywomen. 4. A funding concem The $66,000 spent on the conference was dispensed according the Bicentennial Fund guidelines and those who are concerned about it "have missed the ‘rue value of the fund which has provided support for 42 additional missionaries overseas and countless other projects important to our witness to Christ.” ASSEMBLY'S GAC REVIEW COMMITTEE The subject was assigned to the assembly committee on GAC review moderated by the Reverend John Buchanan, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian in Chicago. The committee spent almost all of Sunday afternoon and some of Monday in hearings. Listening alternately to the pro's (those who say that the conference was a positive event) and the "cons" (those who have deep concems about varying aspects of theology and worship out of the conference.) John describes the committee's experience, "We have had an extraordinary experience since we arrived in ‘THE WABAs NI WS Wichita last Thursday, 24 hours before most of you. It was the kind of committee that confirms your trust in the PC(USA)...committed, bright, thoughtful, faithful: with a wonderful group of YAD's who contributed in significant ways. We have spent a lot of hours together - somewhere around 50. We have worshipped together, prayed and sung "The Church's One Foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord,” and "Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” And we have talked with one another at that level of conversation which Martin Buber once said leave both partners in a different place afterward. The members of the GAC Review Committee came to Wichita understandably wary ~- concerned about the task they had ‘been asked to do. “Each member of the committee had received letters, telephone calls, and lots of advice. Fortunately, we also came with the sense that we were being held in the prayers of friends, colleagues, members of our congregations and many people we have never met. It became clear, as we introduced ourselves 10 one another, that the committee which the Assembly had invited to hear and to respond to 50 overtures concerning the Presbyterian Church's relationship 10 the "Re- Imagining...God, the Community...the Church..." Conference was itself a reflection, a microcosm, of the diversity of the church which was generating and reacting 10 the overtures It became clear that whatever was going on in the Presbyterian family around this issue was going on in the committee. And so it began, and the process is important, The ‘method may be the message or at least a very important art of it. We took some time to know one another and to listen to one another and to learn why this whole matter ‘has touched so many so deeply. And then we listened to the church, We met with the overture advocates and they agreed to cluster their overtures in several groups and to choose single spokespersons for each group. And so, we heard five substantive presentations, and we engaged in conversation with the advocates. It was a very helpful experience. Then we listened to the church, Sunday afternoon and evening, 102 persons spoke to us in an open hearing almost evenly balanced between those who were critical of the church's involvement in the conference and those who ‘were supportive of it. Presbytery of Wabash Valley's Ginny Miller was one of the 102 persons. She spoke on behalf of the conference, affirming the participants "ability to discern and their right to attend events such as the Re-imagining conference."{THE WABASH CURRE! 1A NEWS Everyone who wished to speak, was given a chance to speak. John Buchanan described it to the assembly this way, "We heard pain - from those who felt that their own faith had been maligned by the conference - and the pain of those who attended the conference and found it to be a wonderfully enriching and spiritually deepening and profoundly Christian experience - and who could not ‘comprehend the reactions of others.” In the middle of those hearings, I wrote this scribbled note to myself "Remarkable. The last speaker regarded what happened at the conference to be a Gnostic heresy which the church condemned in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The next speaker had such an important experience that she can't wait for the next conference. I now and respect them both." The committee listened patiently, carefully and lovingly. ‘They also heard from the those involved in the funding of the conference and from those leaders involved deeply in the ecumenical relationships of the church, Buchanan says, "Then we went to work" ASSEMBLY'S RECEIVES REPORT ‘The committee worked diligently fashioning a report with several drafts, that would respond to the many overtures. That report which the committee had approved ‘unanimously was brought to the floor on Thursday morning. ‘Most of us expected a long debate, The press was there and the galleries were full with about 1000 visitors. What actually happened was a surprise - everyone who rose to speak had a large green paddle - indicating they were speaking in favor. No one stood to speak with a red (in opposition) paddle. There were no amendments A historic vote of 516 for, 4 against and 2 abstaining then occurred, resulting in a euphoric moment for the church, The commissioners knew they were part of something special. Perhaps a miracle. By approving the report the assembly called for action and affirmed a number of principles. ACTION This General Assembly hopes that the conflict ‘surrounding the ‘Re-Imagining . ... God, the Community, the Church . . ." conference will be put to rest. The General Assembly calls on all Presbyterians to accept apologies offered and to practice forgiveness, acceptance, understanding, and forbearance. ur church has suffered. Our people have been hurt. Itis time for healing and for getting on with the mission of ‘our church. “The church confesses its faith when it bears {a present witness to God's grace in Jesus Christ" (Book of Confessions, "The Confession of 1967", 9.01) 10 Therefore: We ask all Presbyterians, from our rich variety off theological perspectives, to assume responsibility for} extending trust, for caring about our church, tor} generously supporting its mission. We call on ‘critics of the church's leadership* and| “critics of the critics" to cease and desist and to allow| healing to happen and trust to be rebuilt. We call on the women of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to hear the depth of our hope and strength of our commitment that this will not be the last ‘opportunity for ecumenical, cross-cultural, andl interfaith conversation. We affirm the importance 0 women's voices and work in the church and the} important task of developing and articulating our} theology. We call on the whole Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to] affirm the centrality of theology in the service of our} Lord Jesus Christ who is *.. . the way, and the truth, and the lifet (John 14:6, NRSV). ‘SOME IMPORTANT AFFIRMATIONS. (OUR THEOLOGY MATTERS What we believe about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the human condition, the hope for salvation, shapes our life as a church, We value theology. We say what we believe as we worship. We send our candidates for ministry to theological seminaries. We teach our children the faith in cour homes and church schools. In this generation, our church has twice attended to the important work of articulating our theology in ways particular to the age; “The Confession of 1967" and ‘A Brief ‘Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).” The Assembly Committee on General Assembly Council Review concludes that the ‘Re-Imagining . . . God, the Community, the Church . ..* controversy is primarily a theological controversy. The ‘Re-Imagining . . . God, the Community, the Church . . .* conference was not planned to discuss, defend, or teach the tenets of the Reformed faith as contained in the creeds and confessions of our church. Nevertheless, the committee recommends the General Assembly assert that some of the theological content of conference presentations and worship rituals not only extended beyond the boundaries of the Reformed theological tradition but also beyond that tradition’s understanding of what makes faith Christian. Clearly, conference presentations and rituals intencled to push boundaries and attempted to discover and explore new language, not worship a new god. Just as clearly, however, conference presentations and rituals used language, including the term ‘sophia,* in ways that imply worship of a divine manifestation distinctly different from ‘the one triune God . . . whom alone we worship and serve (Gook of Confessions, ‘A Brief Statement of Faith," lines 5- 6)." Yet, some found the use of sophia" as a name for God to be liberating.The committee acknowledges and regrets that many in the Presbyterian family were offended, dismayed, hurt, ‘and angered when they read what happened at the Conference. In addition to hearing the responses of many of its members, the commitee recommends that the General Assembly and the General Assembly Council ponder the depth of feeling engendered by this theological crisis. It is our opinion that members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) were offended, dismayed, hur, and angered because they believe that the PO(USA) ‘lther no longer adheres to its traditional theological ‘moorings oris afraid to say that it does. Our response to those Presbyterians is to affirm joyfully and gratefully our Presbyterian confessional standards, particularly those standards that were criticized and ridiculed at the conference. + We affirm the one triune God. We affirm the uniqueness of God's incarnation in Jesus Christ. We affirm the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation. We affirm that the Scriptures, by the Holy Spirit, are the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ (Book of Order, G-14.0207b) + We affirm, again and again, the faith once delivered historically expressed in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds, and the other historic confessions of our church. We reject teachings that deny the tenets of our faith Let there be no doubt that theology matters, that our Reformed tradition is precious to us, and that we intend to ‘hand it down to the next generation: our children and our ‘grandchildren. ECUMENISM MATTERS We atm the historic ecumenical commitments of our church. We value ecumenical, cross-cultural, and interfaith conversations and the right of all persons to attend. Participants in ecumenical, cross-cultural, and interfaith conversations anticipate that their own theologies will be challenged and stretched, and that their ‘sacramental liturgies may not be appropriate for sisters land brothers from other communions. All ofthis was true at the ‘Re-Imagining ... God, the Community, the Church -*conference We affirm that Scripture and Reformed speech about God include feminine and masculine images. We affirm in the strongest possible terms that the body of Christ is made up of women and men. God calls both women and men to ministries in the life of the church. Any attempt to silence or marginalize any voices is not worthy of Christ's body. We reaffirm our church's commitment to solidarity with women, especially in the important task of thinking theologically. FUNDING WAS OK, MORE SCAUTINY NEEDED This committee concurs with the report of the Bicentennial Fund Accountability Committee. We iu ‘THE WABASH CURRENT - GA NEWS ISSUE. encourage and support the commitment of the GAC to ‘conduct a more careful scrutiny of future allocations and disbursements of Bicentennial Fund moneys. GAC TOOK LEADERSHIP* We are grateful that the process has led the council to develop a full response to the controversy. With the GAC's, ‘most recent statement, which we affirm, we trust the denomination to join the 206th General Assembly (1994) in seeking wholeness and reconciliation for the future of the mmission and ministry of the PCUSA waseeee ASSEMBLY RECEIVES GIFT FROM KOREAN CHURCH Bringing greetings to the assembly was the moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Korea. Along with his greetings was included che & for $50,000 to help fund the futurechapel at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville teeeeee ECUMENICAL DELEGATES SAY THANK YOU Does our mission and work on the international level have any effect? This oft-asked question, received a clear answer at the annual mission dinner of the Worldwide Ministry Division, As each ecumenical delegates was introduced their response to the PCUSA's efforts in mission ‘were emotional and heart-warming, Thank you for the years of support and concer for the miracle that has occurred in South Africa," a man from South Africa said, Thank you for standing with us as we finally obtained a free democratic assembly," a woman from Malawi said. "Thank you for the missionaries that you sent us 110 years ago and thank you for praying with us for the reunification of Korea,” delegates from that country said "Thank you for helping us in Mozambique." "Thank you for caring about the happenings in Uruguay." "Thank you for standing, with us in Costa Rica." "Thank you for the Presbyterian Church in Ghana." “Thank you for assisting the Church in Jerusalem." “Thank you for helping us learn English in the Hungarian Reformed Seminaries.” "Thank you for helping us with the refugees in Kenya that ‘come from Ethiopia and the Sudan.” "Thank you for standing with the Christians in Pakistan as ‘we were being shot at and killed in recent months." On and on it went We can be thankful for the manner in which our mission dollars are being utilized around the world. Thank you , Lord! 1 GAC’ repr to GA (30.1069) which cepted eadrsip ‘espensibiiyandacknowicded the primary causes was lack of teas can be obtained fom the Presbytery Ofc,GA NEWS ISSUE THREE FROM PRESBYTERY ELECTED TO GA POSTS Virgina Miller ‘The General Assembly elected Elder Virginia Miller of the First Presbyterian Church of Mishawaka to a full three-year term on the General Assembly Council ‘The General Assembly re-elected the Reverend Walter Ungerer, Pastor of the. First Presbyterian Church of Kokomo, to a second three-year term cn the General Assembly Council. ‘Thomas Lemon Esq. ‘The General Assembly elected Elder Thomas Lemon Esq. of First Presbyterian Church of Warsaw to serve a three-year term on General Assembly's Property Commitee COCU = COVENANTING COUNCILS Several commissioners were concemed that the Consultation on Church Union. (COCU) is not addressing, the preservation of both the reformed understanding of the Presbytery function as the authoritative Bishop and the role of the office of elder. It was explained that in its present form the COCU is no longer calling for a structural union but that the nine denominations are calling, for unity in faith, in ministry, mission and the sacraments. The only structure will be "covenanting councils" which would include ministers, elders, and non-ordained lay people to plan joint Eucharist, joint mission projects and, possibly, ordinations, Next year's GA will address places where COCU would change our Book of Order. MARGE CARPENTER HONORED Familiar to many in this Presbytery and known throughout the church as one of the premier interpreters of the church's mission and long time faithful in the news service, Marge Carpenter was honored, pending her retirement from the General Assembly Staff in December. ‘The Stated Clerk called her the most sought after speaker in the Presbyterian church, Carpenter was greeted by a standing ovation by the assembly and was presented with a hand-carved Madonna and Child figurine Her acknowledgment was probably the shortest talk she has ever given, She said, "The church is alive and well in the world and I am tired of hearing anything else." JOHN BUCHANAN ‘A_leader for the future - John Buchanan, formerly of Wabash Valley Presbytery. He was Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Lafayette from 1966 to 1974. He is. presently pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. As the moder- ator of the GAC Review Committee at the Assem- bly, John emerged as a leader par excellence. John expresses a strong Christology, and at the same time is vitally interested in having the church deeply involved in justice and evangelism in the ‘world. Fourth’s heavy mission involvement including, after school tutoring, housing and homelessness speaks to that witness. mews solif WABASH CURRENT. EDITOR, RaLonED FLANARY "rt a on 9 PropuctioN: GLaDvS sancenT Ws alk PRESBYTERIAN dilly cnurcu (usay