News archive
Cynthia Bolbach elected Moderator on fourth ballot
Cynthia (Cindy) Bolbach, an elder from National Capital Presbytery, was elected Saturday night as Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010) on the fourth ballot. She was the only elder in a field of six candidates.
Bolbach employed brief answers and a winsome sense of humor to win over the 712 commissioners and steadily gained ground, rising from 149 votes (30 percent) on the first ballot to 325 votes (53 percent) on the decisive fourth ballot. None of the other five candidates exceeded 23 percent of the vote on any ballot.
Posted at July 4, 2010 12:40 a.m. in cynthia bolbach , election , ga219 , moderator
Report on Civil Union and Marriage among the Conversation Mix
The Rev. Jim Szeyller’s voice choked as he recalled the year-long work of the special committee he moderated, which studied issues of civil unions and Christian marriage in a report to the 219th General Assembly.
Posted at July 3, 2010 11:59 p.m. in civil unions , ga219 , marriage
Form of Government Task Force engages commissioners
Flexibility and framework are words coming up often in the discussions surrounding the Form of Government revision being considered here at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Posted at July 3, 2010 11:51 p.m. in force , form , government , of , task
Participants get close-up look at MESC report
The nuts and bolts of the Middle East Study Committee (MESC) report, “Breaking Down the Walls,” were outlined Saturday morning during Riverside Conversations at the 219th General Assembly.
Posted at July 3, 2010 11:29 p.m. in middle east , peace
Hip Hip Hoo-Rhee! Ernest Trice Thompson Award luncheon honors past moderator's half-century of ministry
Blending a celebration of recent heritage with anticipation of the new was the theme of the Presbyterian Outlook’s luncheon at the 219th General Assembly (2010).
The six candidates for Moderator of this Assembly took time to sum up their weeks of campaigning.
The Rev Julia Leeth recalled the evangelical influence a youth pastor had in her life at a youth camp at age 19, where she first accepted Jesus Christ. Later, she was encouraged to work in church leadership and followed the road to her pastorate.
Posted at July 3, 2010 10:50 p.m. in ga219 , outlook
PC(USA) leaders share hopeful vision for GA 219
A hopeful vision for the 219th General Assembly (2010) and encouraging stories about Presbyterian ministries were shared Saturday at one of the six Riverside Conversations.
Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, identified seven hopes he has for this year’s meeting. His colleague Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council, expanded on Parsons’ hopes by giving examples of the PC(USA) fulfilling its commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” through evangelism, servanthood, discipleship and diversity.
Posted at July 3, 2010 10:46 p.m. in deep and wide , ga219
Participants in morning conversation share personal stories of understanding, celebrating racial diversity
We as individuals, congregations, presbyteries and a denomination are the problem as well as the solution when it comes to racism. That recognition was the focus of Saturday’s Riverside Conversation “Equipping the Church for Ministry with God’s Diverse Family” during the 219th General Assembly (2010).
Posted at July 3, 2010 6:26 p.m. in diversity , ga219 , racism
A bang!-up Sunday is planned for Assembly goers
Okay, so maybe attending a General Assembly over the Fourth of July weekend isn’t as exciting as a quarter-mile drag strip (and let’s not forget — our nation’s founders assembled over the Fourth of July weekend before it was the Fourth of July — and they did it while perspiring profusely in wool flannel and powdered wigs!). But there’s still plenty of action to go around — and you won’t miss it if you sneeze!
Posted at July 3, 2010 6:17 p.m. in fourth of july , moderator’s reception
Hopes for Mideast peace are shared among several faith leaders
A pre-assembly conference Friday on peace in the Middle East helped set the stage for the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
“Shalom, Salaam, and Peace: One Hope, Two Peoples, Three Faith Traditions” brought together perspectives on the Middle East from diverse faiths practicing in context.
Posted at July 2, 2010 11:55 p.m. in ga219 , jewish , middle east , muslim
Experiencing mission
Attendees of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) might have been to their share of conference exhibit halls.
But visitors to the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) section of this Assembly’s exhibit hall might feel as though they’ve been transported to a museum instead of a typical conference center hall.
Posted at July 2, 2010 10:25 p.m. in exhibit hall , ga219 , gamc