This morning opened with worship at 8:30. Amazingly, Grace, our YAAD, after a late night of committee work, got up and made it to worship! Worship, again, was so amazing and inspiring!
After worship, I attended a meeting for COM (Committee on Ministry) members for a discussion of various COM issues and sharing of ideas. Immediately following, we met with the head of CLC, the church leadership connection, to hear about changes at CLC and advice on ways to better use CLC and to perform other position searches. Both of these will be helpful in my work on COM.
Then I attended a luncheon for Ruling Elders, where we had a panel discussion about what it means to be a Ruling Elder and how that affects ones work in the church and life outside the church. It was great to talk with other elders and participate in this discussion. The moderator for the meeting was Sara Dingman, our interim Synod Executive. Sara did a great job.
After lunch, we reconvene the Plenary to consider more business and overtures. Supper together included recognition of Grady Parsons, who is retiring as the State Clerk of the GA. Grady has done exceptional work in the past 8 years, including extensive travel representing the PCUSA in Ecumenical and Interfaith work. Grady is an exception pastor and leader and will be greatly missed. We can all be thankful for the his wisdom, guidance and labors for the church.
After dinner, we resumed business until about 9:15. This session included the approval for adding the Confession of Belhar to our Book of Confessions. One of the speakers who participated in celebrating this was Motlalentwa (Godfrey) Betha, my new friend from Committee 7, vice moderator of the Uniting Reformed Churches of South Africa. He gave a very inspirational speech. It was a very moving and spiritual celebration. I was honored to be part of that committee.
So ends another busy, but inspiring, day at GA222.
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