LETTERS FROM BIRMINGHAM

Reports from the 217^th General Assembly

From Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Baltimore

6/15/2006

Dear Friends,

Every Assembly bears the burdens of expectations – some hopeful and some fearful. This Assembly is no different in this regard. Many in our denomination imagine the worst but I am confident that the Spirit will be with us during this week and as Paul has written, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) This statement of faith has filled my heart throughout my thirty-eight years of ministry and remains with me here in Birmingham. I invite you join with me in placing our trust in God rather than the machinations of people and organizations, for we shall surely not be disappointed.

Arriving at the Convention Center we found ourselves in the midst of many booths displaying the efforts of many Presbyterians. I first headed into the Fair Trade Coffee stand where we got our bottomless coffee mug. Our commissioners found themselves seated in row C – great seats in a large hall. Commissioners received orientation, listened to the Moderator report on his two years in office, and then a major announcement was made.

Stan Anderson of Central Presbyterian Church in Denver stood before the Assembly and announced that he will contribute 150 million dollars to create the Loaves and Fishes Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide grants between $250,000 and 1 million dollars which includes three areas: Church growth, Racial-ethnic growth, and Church transformation. The grant also requires the Presbytery to match 10% of the grant for mission work and 1% of the grant for the Theological Education Fund. The intent is to grant these funds by the end of 2009. What an amazing gift and a statement of confidence in the future of the Presbyterian Church. It will be exciting to see how the Presbytery might be able to participate in this challenging program.

Following dinner, the hall filled, swelling to standing room only as we approached the election of Moderator for the next two years. Four had been nominated:

Deborah Block (pastor and a former member of the Covenant Network Board) is from Milwaukee. She spoke extensively about the unity in Christ expressed by her congregation and another in Kenya where many of her church were. She proclaimed that the Day of Pentecost is upon us – where many different people will come together in gift and grace.

Kerry Carson served churches in Iowa and Minnesota – including one that I also served - was nominated by North Central Iowa. He encouraged us to look for a new future that seeks to renew our commitment to the Great Commission and Great Commandment.

Joan Gray (author of Church Polity) is from Greater Atlanta. Joan called for us to remember that we have a God who makes a way where there is no way. And she believes that God will do this with our denomination – if we do not concentrate on fixing problems and instead focus on the larger call of God.

and Tim Halverson, a self-described centrist called for discipleship, mission, and growth as our central concerns (he has pastored a rapidly growing church and teaches a weekly Bible class attended by some 600 folks). He is from Peace River Presbytery.

The election process consists of five-minute nominations, following short speeches by the candidates and then questions from the floor. The key to the election is – more often than not – how the candidates respond to the questions that last for an hour. Questions were asked about the role of youth, their multi-cultural experience, the ordination of openly gay and lesbian persons (D-one supported ordination, K & J two spoke of the Bible’s rejection of such, and Tim dreamed of a day when this would occur – a day that is not yet), what is the greatest challenge (T-a passion to grow, J-restoration of energy, K-find hope again, D-to live as a people of the Word – Deborah reminded us that the lectionary reading for the Sunday after the Assembly is Jesus in the boat, calming the waters – a metaphor of our times and a wonderful gift), describe your plan for reconciliation (J-I defer to God’s leading, K-the answer comes from the members not the moderator, D-at the Lord’s Table where we worship together, K-only through the prayers of the people will I figure out what to do), where do you ground yourself in Scripture (K-texts on Jesus as well has hymn texts, count your blessings one by one; D-the Psalms; T – Romans 8:28; J- Psalm 139); given recommendation 5 of PUP – did we make a mistake in requiring ministers to support ordination of women and do you support this recommendation (T-yes we made a mistake and yes I support #5; J-#5 will not solve our theological differences in the church; K - #5 is not the answer; D – supports #5 but does not want to equate women’s ordination with that of gays and lesbian – PUP is calling us to find new ways of being the church) Describe the picture of the church in five years (J-heart on fire with God; K–a picture of two hands joined together; D-hands of many different colors; T-windmill tilting into the wind doing something)

Last Assembly the excitement about the eventual candidate grew as the questions were answered. This time around this did not really happen. Each of these candidates spoke well but not one candidate standing out clearly from the rest. On the first ballot, the YADs voted first and voted for Deborah. Then the commissioners expressed their preference as follows D-143; K-109; J–139; T-113. Because 50% must vote for a candidate – a second vote was taken: D-160; K-69; J-205; T-69. On the third ballot – Joan Gray was elected (D-152; K-19; J-307; T-20).

It was late – almost 11:30pm Baltimore time – and so we all headed back to our places of rest. Friday will bring the committee meetings that will last through Saturday.

Blessings,

Peter

The Presbytery of Baltimore | 5400 Loch Raven Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21239 | 1.800.511.0087 | 410.433.2012

Fax: 410.433.2066 | office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Letters will be sent daily during the Assembly