Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAAD's) lead an energizer during Thursday's plenary, to give commissioners a needed energy boost!
A word about the Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAAD's).... Indeed the Assembly is blessed to have the participation and engagement of the YAAD's at this meeting of the General Assembly, I have witnessed the YAAD's in two different Standing Committees, and in each, the YAAD's contributed to the discussion in a very positive way. YAAD's have full voice and vote in the Standing Committees and voice in the plenary sessions, as does our Theological Student Advisory Delegates, Ecumenical Advisory Delegates and Missionary Advisory Delegates. All advisory delegates contribute in the plenaries, and the YAAD's add an extra dimension, such as when the Moderator invited some YAAD's to come up on the platform to lead the Assembly in an energizer. While it is not the best picture, you can see above a depiction of this moment. After the energizer, you could sense new energy in the Assembly hall. YAAS's are not coached on what to say in the deliberations. They are not handed a script to read. What you witness is their energy and thinking from a different generational perspective -- a real gift to this Church.
The question of divestment was the big issue yesterday and last night. The Assembly went until 10:30 p.m. last night, wrestling with the Standing Committee report on the Middle East and Peacemaking. The big issue within the committee report surrounded whether the Assembly would follow the recommendations of our Mission Responsibility Through Investments Committee, as well as missionary and others to divest from three companies - H-P, Motorola and Caterpillar. This was not a new topic, for several past Assemblies grappled with this issue, deciding on a phased conversation approach with these companies. How much money? It amounts to less than 0.1 per cent of our investments, but the strategy of divestment was the hot topic issue. The Standing Committee recommended divestment, and there was a minority report recommending investment instead in West Bank companies. The end result was a split vote of 333-331 in favor of the minority report. Fatigue was a factor in last night's deliberations, which makes one wonder how they will deal with the weight of today's agenda -- a day which typically runs very late into the night in that flight arrangements for departure have been made for tomorrow.
Life at General Assembly is never dull! We continue to pray for our commissioners....
While the Assembly has been meeting, I have been in active correspondence with Joan Stewart and others on the recovery efforts in West Virginia. The Charleston Gazette reported that 20,000 more power outages happened with Thursday's storms and that 36% of Applachian Power's customers were without power. Please pray for all those working to help the people of West Virginia... Also, you need to know that our own Synod has sent us $10,000 to help with the recovery efforts. I am grateful for the care, concern and support of this Synod. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been contacted, but it is till early for them to get engaged, as the focus is with first responders and the power crews working so hard to restore power.
Prayer needs abound!
Blessings to you all,
Forrest
Thanks.
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