Initial Impressions

We had a wonderful opening committee meeting for Committee 4. Our worship was authentic and Christ-centered. We have awesome leadership. I'm glad to be a part of this committee. Our work will be challenging, but also exciting. I think anyone who has the opportunity should attend and/or be a commissioner to a General Assembly. You truly get to see the best of the church. Too often we only focus on the worst of the church, which is also here. Today's opening worship for the General Assembly was also meaningful and Christ exalting. If you didn't watch online, you missed one of the most awesome prelude pieces, "Variations on 'Kum Ba Yah'" arranged by Joel Raney. The bell and voice choirs were also excellent. I enjoyed singing the responses in the Prayer of Great Thanksgiving. We used a simple, gospel tune found in the "Glory to God" hymnal. Afternoon worship wasn't so hot. I know what they were trying to do in acknowledging and denouncing recent acts of violence, but I will not stand for nor recite parts of a prayer made to Allah by one of our ecumenical partners. I can respect Muslims, but I will not recite their prayers. Tonight, we elected our new co-moderators, Jan Edmiston and T. Denise Anderson. I think they are up to the job. Do I agree with them on everything? No, but I didn't with Heath Rada or Bruce Reyes-Chow either, and yet I thought both of them were excellent moderators--fair, good listeners, diplomatic, and good representatives for the church. I think these two ladies will be the same. Denise sat at our dinner table tonight. This morning I got to sit a table with our outgoing Vice-Moderator Larissa Kwong Abazia. I spoke with our wonderful PMA staff this evening. And I'll give a plug for the annual Evangelism/Discipleship conference at St. Pete Beach, FL the first week of August, Be the Light I know there is much ugly and disappointment to come, but I am thankful for the good and right.