A General Assembly Reflection
The 2007 General Assembly has closed and I might add it closed with a bang!! Jim Wallis was our preacher for the closing session and he did a bang up job. He is much better as a speaker than as a writer and he called us as Disciples to be true to our name. His message was about social justice -- but with a "revivalist" tone. He called us to join together and change the world. I must say I was moved.
Earlier in the evening I had the opportunity to hear and then meet Krista Tippett, whose book I've reviewed on this blog. It was a great message that encouraged us to share our faith in the world with humility and grace.
Yesterday was taken up with business sessions (the afternoon of which I attended). The issue that divided us concerned the Iraq War and a call to oppose it. The measure passed despite some maneuvering to get it thrown out, but the passage was fairly narrow. I was impressed by our moderator's actions after the vote. Bill Lee called us to prayer, a prayer for discernment and healing. It took the rancor out of the issue, I thought.
I didn't get to offer any reflections on Tuesday, but here are a few thoughts.
1. Went to the Northwest Christian College luncheon and was impressed by the vision of the new president of my alma mater. NCC will soon become NCU. It is growing and we'll see where it goes.
2. Transformation Seminar
I took part in the two day Transforming Congregations seminar, which had as its Tuesday leader Alan Roxburgh. Allen is a leader in the Missional Church movement. What I gained from this two day session was that we are called to be missional-- focused not inward but outward, focused on discerning God's direction not planning programs -- and that being missional doesn't happen over night. I hope to blog more on this later.
3. Tuesday Worship.
If the very famous Jim Wallis was the preacher last night, on Tuesday evening we were treated to the wonderful words from the Boston Women. The Disciples are not strong in New England, especially Massachusetts, but three women there have worked to start a new church, two have been working at Harvard (Belva Jordan and Stephanie Paulsell) and the third, a young woman named Elizabeth Meyer Boulton, is the founding pastor of that church. Elizabeth is a profound and powerful preacher who can dig deep into the emotional and spiritual depths of our lives. The theme of the message centered on water -- baptism -- and calling. It spoke of change and dreams.
Worship every night, led by Bill Thomas was simply grand. We may be small in numbers, but we have a group of musicians that is simply wonderful!!!
So, off I go today, after lunch with my friend Mark Toulouse of Brite Divinity School, back home to California. I will enjoy being home, even if only for a short period because I'll be soon heading off on vacation, but I will go home empowered and encouraged and hopeful. I got to see old friends and make new friends -- and as clergy that is always the high point of any assembly!
Earlier in the evening I had the opportunity to hear and then meet Krista Tippett, whose book I've reviewed on this blog. It was a great message that encouraged us to share our faith in the world with humility and grace.
Yesterday was taken up with business sessions (the afternoon of which I attended). The issue that divided us concerned the Iraq War and a call to oppose it. The measure passed despite some maneuvering to get it thrown out, but the passage was fairly narrow. I was impressed by our moderator's actions after the vote. Bill Lee called us to prayer, a prayer for discernment and healing. It took the rancor out of the issue, I thought.
I didn't get to offer any reflections on Tuesday, but here are a few thoughts.
1. Went to the Northwest Christian College luncheon and was impressed by the vision of the new president of my alma mater. NCC will soon become NCU. It is growing and we'll see where it goes.
2. Transformation Seminar
I took part in the two day Transforming Congregations seminar, which had as its Tuesday leader Alan Roxburgh. Allen is a leader in the Missional Church movement. What I gained from this two day session was that we are called to be missional-- focused not inward but outward, focused on discerning God's direction not planning programs -- and that being missional doesn't happen over night. I hope to blog more on this later.
3. Tuesday Worship.
If the very famous Jim Wallis was the preacher last night, on Tuesday evening we were treated to the wonderful words from the Boston Women. The Disciples are not strong in New England, especially Massachusetts, but three women there have worked to start a new church, two have been working at Harvard (Belva Jordan and Stephanie Paulsell) and the third, a young woman named Elizabeth Meyer Boulton, is the founding pastor of that church. Elizabeth is a profound and powerful preacher who can dig deep into the emotional and spiritual depths of our lives. The theme of the message centered on water -- baptism -- and calling. It spoke of change and dreams.
Worship every night, led by Bill Thomas was simply grand. We may be small in numbers, but we have a group of musicians that is simply wonderful!!!
So, off I go today, after lunch with my friend Mark Toulouse of Brite Divinity School, back home to California. I will enjoy being home, even if only for a short period because I'll be soon heading off on vacation, but I will go home empowered and encouraged and hopeful. I got to see old friends and make new friends -- and as clergy that is always the high point of any assembly!
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