The work of the Standing Committees has concluded and the work of the full Assembly is going on now. Each of the 20 Standing Committees will come before the full Assembly to make its report and recommendations. Many of these reports you will never read about in the news - things like approving minutes, celebrations, recognitions, ecumenical missions and so forth. What grabs the news are the controversial matters, and, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, each reporter, news agency or politicial group reports on the matter from its own point of view.
This morning, the commissioners were still disturbed from a surprise action from yesterday, when the Vice Moderator resigned. I do not recall witnessing something like this ever before, and the emotional impact it had on the Assembly was great. To relay to you what happened, I will copy what Sheldon Sorge (former Pastor of Davis Memorial Presbyterian in Elkins and now Executive Presbytery of Pittsburgh Presbytery) wrote in his presbytery blog:
A swirl of reports and judgments about the actions and motivations of Rev. Tara McCabe flew around the General Assembly during moderatorial elections last week, gaining in intensity over the ensuing days. It was exceedingly difficult to sort out hyperbole from fact. She had been selected by moderator candidate Rev. Neal Presa as his "running mate" early in the year, based on their long personal friendship, and Neal's desire to have someone at his side who is on the "other side" of major issues with which the church is struggling - one of the hottest of which right now is whether the church may bless same sex weddings in states where they are legal. Neal is against it, Tara is for it. He knew that when he chose her, and it was one reason he made the choice. He wanted their candidacy to bear witness to his commitment to the church's fundamental unity amid our differences.
Subsequent to his choice of Tara, and unknown to him until after the fact, she stood as a minister to witness and bless the wedding of two women in a D.C. restaurant. (Such weddings are legal in D.C.) The church has not extended permission to its ministers to officiate same-sex weddings, and when Tara's action became public knowledge, she faced calls to step down from being a vice-moderator candidate. Neal stood by her, and together they were elected by the GA last Saturday.
The firestorm of opposition and defense intensified over the ensuing days, and yesterday afternoon she stunned GA with an unprecedented action as she resigned from office just four days after being elected. She cited her desire not to embroil the church in a debate over her when it has much more important business to do. Neal accepted her resignation with regret, but the assembly remained deeply divided on whether she should resign. Yesterday evening, amid the process of seating Neal's second selection for vice-moderator (Rev. Tom Trinidad), a commissioner asked for a changing of the rules to allow a period of plenary deliberation about Tara's resignation. The assembly voted NOT to reopen that conversation by the slimmest of margins - 323-322. Clearly the church has yet to find anything close to a common mind about the issues at stake.
The New Vice Moderator, Tom Trinidad of Colorado Springs and Moderator Neal Presa took turns moderating today's plenary sessions. The Assembly voted to refer Mid Council matters to a new task force, while taking a stand against forming non-geographic presbyteries other than existing language specific non-geographic presbyteries (such as Korean).
Divestment comes up this afternoon -- whether or not to divest from particular companies related to business in the middle East, as recommended by the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI), reflecting conversations that have been going on for years between MRTI and particular companies. As I left the convention center, I saw placards being worn by young Jewish persons, urging the PC(USA) to vote for divestment.
As the Assembly deliberates, relief crews continue to work to restore power in West Virginia and in other states. FEMA is present, as are other relief agencies. Churches and individuals are collecting food and water. Joan Stewart is involved in the relief work conversations and coordination despite being on generator power herself. She has kept the presbytery office informed. Our prayers continue to go out in support of all who are working so hard to restore power, clear downed trees and provide relief to those needing food and water.
Forrest
Thanks for the update.
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