EDIT: NAP has since rescinded their funding pledge. Although they are currently looking for alternate ways to support me, your donations are still very much needed.
North Alabama Presbytery voted to donate $1500 to my YAV year which, with the matching funds from FPC, makes up a full third of my fundraising requirement. I was at the presbytery meeting to give my report on the GA so I got to see it happen -- all things told, it was a small item of business, but I still got choked up to see the immense support of my PCUSA family. Plus, parliamentary procedure!
Witnessing NAP in action makes me think of a verse we used a lot at the GA -- Galatians 3: 28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
In Christ there is no race, no economic status, no gender, only love.
Looking around the presbytery meeting, I witnessed the incredible diversity of the body of Christ; in fact, the group was more ethnically diverse than the PCUSA as a whole, particularly in its leadership. How we have been so blessed I can't say, but I am sure we owe much of it to our executive Presbyter Warner Durnell, one of the people I admire most in the PCUSA and the world.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Commissioned
On Wednesday, July 4, I was commissioned by the General Assembly to serve as a missionary of the PCUSA. It wasn't until I was actually up there on stage with half a dozen other YAVs that I realized that I was, in fact, undertaking a life as a missionary. It seems so un-Presbyterian -- we don't really do the whole "saving souls" thing -- so I've been reflecting on it every since.
First of all, "saving" someone is only God's job, and I know I have nothing to do with it. But beyond that, I have no intention of going out and trying to bring people into the flock; all I've ever wanted to do as a YAV was serve. To be a servant. To do whatever needs to be done, whether I'm pastoring to unjustly detained immigrants or making photocopies and cleaning floors.
And so, I've decided, this is the Presbyterian version of the Great Commission: Jesus calls us into the world to bring the Word, and the Word is love. It does no good to tell people how much they are loved if you can't show them.
May more than the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to God -- may the work of my hands be God's instrument as well.
Peace of Christ
First of all, "saving" someone is only God's job, and I know I have nothing to do with it. But beyond that, I have no intention of going out and trying to bring people into the flock; all I've ever wanted to do as a YAV was serve. To be a servant. To do whatever needs to be done, whether I'm pastoring to unjustly detained immigrants or making photocopies and cleaning floors.
And so, I've decided, this is the Presbyterian version of the Great Commission: Jesus calls us into the world to bring the Word, and the Word is love. It does no good to tell people how much they are loved if you can't show them.
May more than the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to God -- may the work of my hands be God's instrument as well.
Peace of Christ
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Eyes of the World
In case we ever doubted that the world is watching what we as a church do, here I am in a few news articles:
Chicago Tribune (via AP)
The Guardian
Sun Sentinel
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Newsmax
Reuters
Tribune Review
The Columbus Dispatch
Full Channel
And, of course, the Presbyterian Outlook.
Chicago Tribune (via AP)
The Guardian
Sun Sentinel
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Newsmax
Reuters
Tribune Review
The Columbus Dispatch
Full Channel
And, of course, the Presbyterian Outlook.
Monday, July 2, 2012
A connectional church
How blessed we were to receive four such capable and compassionate candidates for the position of moderator of the 220th General Assembly! I'm so excited to watch how our new elected moderator, Rev. Neal Presa, live out his new calling.
On to personal reflection: I was somewhat aware of but still not entirely prepared for how many people I would see at GA that I already knew. I feel like the denomination gets smaller with each person I meet. Every time I sit down to share a meal with a fresh set of faces, I find someone with a connection to me -- if not someone I had already met, someone who knew a former pastor of mine, who met some of my friends at a youth retreat, who is a fellow alum of a program I attended. I have been so showered with love since the moment I arrived! I am completely sure that the connectional spirit of this church has influenced how gracious and civil (nearly) every discussion has been. I look forward to more interaction with my brothers and sisters in Christ and in the PCUSA!
Peace of Christ
On to personal reflection: I was somewhat aware of but still not entirely prepared for how many people I would see at GA that I already knew. I feel like the denomination gets smaller with each person I meet. Every time I sit down to share a meal with a fresh set of faces, I find someone with a connection to me -- if not someone I had already met, someone who knew a former pastor of mine, who met some of my friends at a youth retreat, who is a fellow alum of a program I attended. I have been so showered with love since the moment I arrived! I am completely sure that the connectional spirit of this church has influenced how gracious and civil (nearly) every discussion has been. I look forward to more interaction with my brothers and sisters in Christ and in the PCUSA!
Peace of Christ
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