News archive
Committee on General Assembly Procedures opens business
The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, launched the opening session of the Committee on General Assembly Procedures on Sunday by summarizing the work of the Office of the General Assembly. Parsons highlighted a recent leadership study done in partnership with the Committee on Theological Education and the General Assembly Mission Council.
Citing trends observed by Daniel Aleshire, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, Parsons noted that two growth areas for the ministerial profession are “home-raised,” or homegrown, associates and bi-vocational ministers.
Posted at July 4, 2010 10:44 p.m. in ga219
Special guest makes appearance at Coalition breakfast
Heads swiveled when the Presbyterian Coalition’s co-moderator, Nancy Cross, announced the entrance of John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Presbyterian clergyman, during the group’s Sunday breakfast at the 219th General Assembly (2010).
Posted at July 4, 2010 9:50 p.m. in ga219 , witherspoon
Awards ceremony highlights national support for MLP churches
At Saturday night’s More Light Presbyterian (MLP) National Celebration Dinner at the 219th General Assembly (2010), Ross Murray, interim executive director for Lutherans Concerned/North America, issued reassurance to all dinner attendees: “One year ago, we, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), were meeting in this very place discussing the same issues [on homosexuality] when tornados and lightning struck and we knew we weren’t in Kansas anymore. Well, there was no little man hiding behind a curtain to help us … it’s been a year for us, and we are praying for you as you go through this process.”
Posted at July 4, 2010 9:36 p.m. in ga219 , gay , homosexuality , lesbian , more light
Phyllis Tickle addresses middle governing body leaders
“This is a lot like coming home,” author Phyllis Tickle told a gathering of middle governing body leaders at a Sunday morning breakfast hosted by the Presbyterian Foundation. Tickle, author of more than two dozen books including The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why, recounted how she grew up as a Presbyterian prior to becoming an Anglican as a young adult.
Posted at July 4, 2010 9:31 p.m. in ga219
Outgoing Moderator reminds denomination of need to involve younger members
“All creatures of our God and King … lift up your voice and with us sing … ‘Alleluia! Alleluia!’”
And so thousands of Presbyterians were called to worship Sunday morning at the 219th General Assembly (2010). With bright colors, liturgical dancers and tall Lion King-esque puppets – literally, all creatures worshipped. Kites, streamers and banners waved through the air as missionaries and pastors processed into the large hall.
Posted at July 4, 2010 8:57 p.m. in ga219 , worship
Global effort is local attraction
Visitors to the 219th General Assembly’s Global Marketplace can buy olive oil from Israel/Palestine and a blend of spices grown there so they can whip up their own salad dressing. Nearby they can buy a bowl to hold their salad, and beyond that a new purse to hold the money to pay for all their purchases.
Not only will folks come home with a keepsake from the Assembly, but they’re directly supporting the people who produced that memory.
Posted at July 4, 2010 3:32 p.m. in ga219
Lydia Women’s Empowerment Project: Embraced, Empowered, Employed
Stepping into the room where members of Lydia Women’s Empowerment Project meet is to enter a world most people rarely experience.
Posted at July 4, 2010 3:32 p.m. in lydie womens project , moderator election , stoll
‘Deadheads’ turn into 2nd-chance crosses
Wood thought to be too brittle to be used for anything has been transformed into significant faith symbols at the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) here, thanks to a partnership between a commissioned lay pastor (CLP) from Tower, Minn., and a couple in North Carolina.
William (Bill) Evans, CLP at St. James Presbyterian Church in Tower, has supplied 30,000 small wooden crosses made from “deadheads” — long-sunken logs that have floated back to the surface of some of Minnesota’s fabled 10,000 lakes — as gifts from the three sponsoring presbyteries to those attending the Assembly.
Posted at July 4, 2010 1:11 a.m. in ga219
Wisconsin potter crafts Communion ware for Sunday worship
The handiwork of Diane Millner will be an integral part of the 219th General Assembly when participants gather to worship on Sunday morning.
Millner, of Stockholm, Wisc., was selected by the Committee on Local Arrangements for the 219th GA to make the Communion ware that will be used in worship.
Posted at July 4, 2010 12:54 a.m. in cola , ga219
Feeding tummies and souls
If the exuberance of his eponymous café wouldn’t suit John Calvin, surely its expediency would.
For each of the five weekdays that the 219th General Assembly (2010) will be in session here – Monday, July 5 through Friday, July 9 – Westminster Presbyterian Church will offer commissioners, advisory delegates and other Assembly participants an opportunity to retreat to Westminster’s Calvin Café for a full breakfast or a complete lunch at a reasonable price in a relaxing atmosphere, while still allowing ample time to return to Assembly business. The church is across the street from the Minneapolis Convention Center at 1200 Marquette Avenue.
Posted at July 4, 2010 12:49 a.m. in ga219