Dear Caldwell,
Last week, while the rest of us were going about our busy lives, doing our best to at least remember to try to be the hands and feet of Christ, hundreds of our denominational brothers and sisters met in Portland for the every-two-year General Assembly, the annual gathering where key decisions are made democratically about who we are as a people.
It was an historic gathering in many ways: Two women, one African-American and one white, were elected to represent us all nationally for the next two years, assuming the position of co-moderators. They will travel nationally, engage Presbyterians and others at the local level, listen deeply and tell our story. As important, comissioners elected the first African-American to be the top day-to-day executive over our polity and governance. He is Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, originally from Orangeburg, SC, who has courageously confronted injustices as the head of our national Washington office for the last several years. He is a fine, boldly forward-thinking man, and a friend.
Third, we named two committees to cast an entirely new vision for our work in mission, domestically and internationally, a recognition that we need totally new thinking from the ground up as the institutional church continues to undergo transformation.
The PC(USA), as with all mainline, Protestant denominational in America, is “being reformed” (a phrase that comes from our unofficial motto). We continue to get smaller nationally, numbering about 1.5 million members. At the same time, albeit too slowly, we are becoming more diverse, more missional and more inclusive and welcoming. This will be the focus of my doctorate capstone project, because I happen to believe that Caldwell is on the cutting edge. Our future is in God’s hands, as it always has been. And that is good news.
You can read a letter from our new natonal leaders here. And you can read more complete final coverage from the Presbyterian Outlook here.
And Caldwell was there. Our Business and Operations Manager Sally Herlong, who attends Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte, participated as a Theological Student delegate. Lo and behold, when the call went out for someone to pray, she volunteered and her prayer ended the last full day of business on Friday.
I asked her to share it, below. Quite magnificently, it captures the spirit of what happens when God’s people gather in the Holy Spirit.
Later this week, watch for updates from Washington, DC, where I am headed to catch up with our Youth on mission trip.
In Christ,
John
Sally’s Prayer at our National Convention
Friday, June 24 – 222nd GA (2016) Plenary Closing Prayer Sally Herlong
Tired, exhausted siblings in Christ, will you pray with me?
Strong, mother God, warm, father God, old, aching God young, growing God, great, living God,
With your loving guidance, we have walked with each other hand-in-hand while having the honor and privilege to participate in and witness so many historic moments in the PCUSA.
Clearly, your Holy Spirit has been moving among us. Just a week ago, at the outset of our GA journey, our emotions collided as we were remembering the 1-year anniversary of the shooting of 9 of your servant-children at Mother Emmanuel church in Charleston – while trying to absorb the reality of yet another slaughter and wounding of more than 100 of your LGBTQ children – and allies! – and lest we forget, the death of the perpetrator, a troubled and conflicted soul.
Such mass shootings are epidemic, and God you surely demand far more from us than our moments of silence… we hear you calling us to action and to speak-out until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Patient God, people are driven to fear of the “other” – but this fear can be overcome by knowledge and by willingness to both recognize and relinquish the tight grasp of power, privilege, and prestige. Your Word tells us love wins. Love overcomes. You are love, God – and love is love is love is love is love….
Here in this place, we have indeed voted with love – in favor of our denomination taking stands against social, economic, racial, and other injustices toward the marginalized – even when there were “financial implications!” Reconciling God, there are ever-disparate voices in our polarized world and in your church. In the ecumenical worship service, your servant Bishop Jackson, told us how we can ACT to resolve these human-created impasses: by remaining faithful & listening to you; not being fooled by popular public opinion; and most importantly, LIVING OUT OUR LIVES… as if… as if we know you.
O God, you have been our help in ages past, and still our hope in years to come – YOU are the HOPE IN OUR CALLING. With your almighty grace and mercy, grant that we may rest peacefully this night, that tomorrow, with your help, we can with energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, and love conclude our service to your church at this momentous 222nd General Assembly.
For it is through your Son, the Light of the world, that we pray. And let all of your children say… Amen.