Reconciliation and Community

My blog posts have switched to morning entries, because I'm just too sleepy at night once our days are over to write!  Yesterday (Thursday) I was struck by the spirit of reconciliation that is a part of this General Assembly.  That might relate to our early adoption of the Belhar Confession, which has a focus on justice, reconciliation, and unity.  Several of the overtures that came to this GA were amended in committee to take them from their strongly-worded, "it must be this way" tone, to statements that acknowledge that we have a wide variety of views within our denomination, and that we truly want to make space for variety, even while working on unity.  And mostly those amended overtures have passed with that reconciliation tone.  Now, we are humans, and may I dare say as a Reformed theologian, sinful humans (!), so that does not mean there have not been a few grumpy comments made here and there, but I really and truly have been struck with the attempt of these commissioners to be community, to work together toward unity, and to do their work rooted in the love and reconciliation we all have in Christ.  Another piece of that might be the worship we have shared, and the moments of interruption in our business for us to pray together about our work and other needs in the world.  And we have used parts of the Belhar Confession several times to confess our sin, to exclaim our gratitude to God in Christ for the love poured out in Christ, and to be reunited in the Holy Spirit in the language of justice, reconciliation, and unity.

Last evening our Presbytery of the Miami Valley delegation went out to dinner together.  We had a delightful time...good food, good conversation, some good laughter, and that spirit of community was with us.  Perhaps I should say that the Spirit of community was with us!  Then we went back to the meeting for our evening session.  Please know that your four elected commissioners are working very hard. Today (Friday) is the final full day, with sessions this morning, this afternoon, and this evening, and then there is a morning session tomorrow.  Please continue to keep Gidget, Marvella, Richard, and Sandy, our commissioners, and Larry and myself here as support staff, in your prayers! 

Many thanks to the Rev. Karen Cassedy who is here with us, helping and listening well, and who took this photo at our dinner last night:

Blessings, dear friends!