Our New Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA

The process of electing a moderator for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA is unlike anything else in the Presbyterian Church. 

There are campaign buttons, literature, "meet and greet the candidate" forums, campaign speeches, and even a debate-like forum. 

Then the voting begins. 

But that is rarely the end.

The voting process begins with the outgoing moderator calling on the advisory delegates to vote.  These include seminary students, YADs (young adult delegates), ecumenical advisors from those invited from sister denominations and missionary advisors.

As they will do with every vote, these advisory delegates vote first.  Their votes are then projected on a screen so that the commissioners can consider the will of these different groups. 

Presa led each ballot for each of the advisory groups, with the exception of the ecumenical advisors, who consistently voted for the Branson.  What I found interesting about that is that Branson consistently received the lowest number of votes of all advisory groups as well as with the actual commissioners.

Once the commissioners have had a moment to see the advisory delegate votes, the soon-to-be retired moderator will say, "Commissioners, you have been advised." 

Now the commissioners get to vote.

Tonight we had four candidates and four ballots.  We do not elect the individual with the highest votes, but rather the one who has at a clear madate of the majority of all votes.

On the fourth ballot, Neal Presa became the new moderator, receiving 338 votes or 52 percent of the 688 commissioners.

He was escorted into the hall with his family, greeted by former moderators, and commissioned by the Assembly.  A moving moment came when his children led prayer.  One young boy prayed, "Lord, protect my Daddy as he travels."

The Rev. Neal D. Presa, pastor of Middlesex Presbyterian Church in New Jersey was the first candidate his home presbytery, Elizabeth Presbytery, has ever nominated for moderator.

The Filipino-American graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M.) and Drew University (M.Phil. and Ph.D.). He also studied at Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, CA and is an adjunct faculty member at Somerset Christian College and New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

Presa has served as moderator of Elizabeth Presbytery and serves as chair of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism.  He served two terms on the General Assembly Council, including one term (2003-2004) as vice-chair. He has also served on the Committee on Theological Education and on the board of trustees of Princeton Theological Seminary.

Opening Worship at the General Assembly

One of the best parts of the General Assembly is the opening worship service. 

This year worship felt different.  It was not the "superbowl" experience that we experienced in Minnesota two years ago, with an incredible procession at the beginning and a baptism at the end.  But this service, although more subdued than in previous years, was still a great worship that glorified God. 

The music was very well done, with trumpets, flutes, handbells, handchimes, timpani, piano, organ, drums and singers.  The music reflected classical and jazz.

The attendance was over 4,000.

Joanne Rogers, wife of the Rev. Fred Rogers, a Presbyterian pastor who starred in the children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” led the processional. Banners from presbyeries hosting the Assembly and two liturgical dancers were part of the procession.

 The sermon was, as is tradition, delivered by the outgoing moderator. Ruling elder Cindy Bolbach, Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) told us that our first act as an assembly, as well as our last, is the worship of God.  Bolbach's presence evoked an emotional response from everyone.  Having struggled with a recent battle with cancer, she delivered her sermon while seated.  At the beginning of the worship, Sheldon Sorge, executive presbyter for Pittsburgh Presbytery, invited attendees to honor her by standing.  Many of the commissioners surprised Bolbach by putting on bright green tinsel wigs.

Mark 2:1-12 was the text for Bolbach's sermon.  This had been her focus as a candidate for moderator two years ago.  At that time, she identified the Presbyterian Church with the paralyzed man in this text.  Now, however, she sees the church as those four who helped the paralized man encounter Christ.

Bolbach said, that the heart of the gospel is not a structure or the Form of Government of the Book of Order, but rather, “the heart of the gospel lie disciples like those in Mark who are willing to take risks, willing to do whatever it takes to help others see Jesus. Not just carry those whom they like, but maybe even carrying those they don’t know, those they don’t like. Willing to go up to the roof, willing to cut a hole in it.”

As is tradition, the opening worship included the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  For many years, the communion ware has been designed and made by a local artists. 

General Assembly - A Family Gathering

Over 6,000 Presbyterians have gathered in Pittsburgh for the 220th Genaral Assembly.  I think  the town I grew up in had only 2,900 residents -- and that was before they closed the town's textile mill in the 1980s. 

Arriving at the airport in Pittsburgh, I ran into 27 old friends from around the country.  One was a pastor from Nebraska - we had been students in seminary together and I hadn't seen Charles since 1980.  Another was a pastor from Peace River Presbytery -- I see Kathleen every month when she and I attend the stated meetings of the Committee on Ministry. 

There is a bit of a "family reunion" feel to the General Assembly -- which is not far off the mark.  There are close relatives you see frequently and those you haven't seen in years.  There are even those cousins you've never met -- and if you've ever been to one of those large family gatherings you've heard descriptions like, "That lady over there is your cousin Joe's widow's son's daughter in law."

The connections sometimes seem stretched, but the connection in a word is FAMILY.   You go to these reunions because you are a Smith, or a Jones, or a Pittendreigh.

For the 6,000 people gathering here the connections sometimes seem stretched, but our family unity is found in a single word - CHRIST.  We come to these General Assemblies because we are one of the 2 million members of the Presbyterian family.

Once the meeting begins on Saturday, these Presbyterians will discuss issues that will prompt robust conversations.  As you read about some of these debates, you may wonder someone in your Presbyterian family could take such a position so different from your position.  But don't be troubled by these differences or the intensity of the debates.  Remember that we are a family bound together by a love of Christ and by the often difficult of seeking and doing God's will.

Looking ahead to the 220th General Assembly

I was asked this morning, "What is it about this General Assembly that is so historic?" 

"They are all historic," I said. 

"Well, why is it so potentially divisive?"

"They are all potentially divisive," I said.

But they are also all have the potential for bringing about healing, wholeness, peace, unity and purity.

General Assemblies are the national level of our church's govenment and are held every other year in a different city.  This year the 220th General Assembly meets in Pittsburgh during June 30-July 7.  Among the issues that will be addressed:

Sex!  What's a General Assembly without discussing human sexuality?  Same-sex marriage, gay ordination and same-sex partner benefits in the Board of Pensions will certainly be robustly debated.  These issues will also receive the most attention in the secular press - and these are the issues that may be inaccurately reported by those secular writers who will not understand the whole process of the General Assembly. 

But the General Assembly is not all about sex.  These are just a few of the roughly 800 individual items of business to be handled by the 688 voting commissioners, one of who will be Laura Miller, one of the ruling elders of the Chapel by the Sea.

1. Same-gender marriage: There are overtures to allow gay marriage.  An "overture" is a motion that comes from a presbytery or session.  If the General Assembly approves of an overture, that will not be the end of the process.  A majority of presbyteries have to ratify that overture over the next several months. 

The Presbyterian Church, USA, currently defines marrage in the Book of Order, W-4.9000, as being between “a woman and a man.” There are overtures to change that definition of marriage as being between “two people.”

There are also proposals from five presbyteries to adopt “Authoritative Interpretation” of the constitution that would allow pastors to officiate at wedding ceremonies in states where same-gender marriage is legal.  Unlike an overture, an authoritative interpretation does not require presbytery ratification, but can be approved by either the General Assembly or its Permanent Judicial Commission.  There are also proposals for authoritative interpretations that take the opposite view.

2. Ordination standards: In 1996, we added a statement in our Book of Order requiring all ministers, elders and deacons to practice “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” That provision was removed by the 2010 General Assembly.  Some presbyteries will seek to overturn that deletion.  Others will provide for each presbytery or session to set standards for ordaned service. 

3. Middle East peace: Once again we will be considering recommendations that the PC(USA) divest itself of stock in three corporations ― Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions.  It is the opinion of some that these corporations are “profiting from non-peaceful pursuits in Israel-Palestine.” One of several overtures on this subject calls for “a plan of active investment in projects that will support collaboration among Christians, Jews, and Muslims and help in the development of a viable infrastructure for a future Palestinian state.”

Some overtures asks the Assembly to “recognize that Israel’s laws, policies and practices constitute apartheid against the Palestinian people.” Another seeks to condemn the "production and sale of Israeli products that come from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”

4.  Church government and councils: The Presbyterian Church has several levels of church government.  The local council is the Session.  The next is the Presbytery (our Peach River Presbytery is composed of 39 congregations of SW Florida).  The next is the Synod (ours is made up of SC, Georgia and Florida), and the national level is the General Assembly.  In my opinion, the Syond no longer has a function and should be eliminated.  That might happen. 

There are also proposals for creating non-geographic presbyteries that would be united by a "particular missional purpose."

The 16 Synods might be replaced with 5 regional administrative commissions to support the work of the presbyteries. 

5. Special Offerings: There are four Special Offerings in our denomination.  In the past decade or so, the income of these offerings have declined by 25%.   No one is suggesting that we eliminate these offerings, but there are proposals regarding the goals and timing of these offerings.  Chapel by the Sea promotes three of these offerings:  the One Great Hour of Sharing, Peacemaking Offering and Christmas Joy Offering. We do not participate in the Pentecost Offering, which goes to support ministries with youth, young adults, and children at risk.

6. Immigration: The last General Assembly voted to "refrain from holding national meetings in states where travel by immigrant Presbyterians or Presbyterians of color might subject them to harassment or racial profiling.” That action was prompted by anti-immigrant legislation that was being adopted in Arizona at the time of the last General Assembly, and that was being considered in other states.  One proposal seeks to rescind that action. 

Other proposals support a variety of ways to build bridges and serve as advocates for immigrants.

7. Confessional statements: The church has a Book of Confessions, which has several doctrinal statements.  This General Assembly will consider two doctrinal statements to be included in the Book of Confessions - the Belhar Confession (adopted by churches in South Africa as a theological response to racism) and a new translation of the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563.

Our last General Assembly recommended inclusion of the Belhar Confession, but that proposal failed to be ratified by the presbyteries.  National Capital Presbytery is reintroducing the proposal this year.

8. “The Nature of the Church in the 21^st Century”: As we continue to move into the 21st Century, the church faces a number of challenges.  This Assembly might strengthen the role of the "tentmaking ministry" in which a pastor works within a secular field while working part-time in a pastorate.  There will be proposals to emphasis recuiting pastors who are from racial ethnic and immigrant students. 

One proposal calls for presbyteries to develop plans to bring below-minimum pastoral salaries up to established minimums while also setting a maximum compensation level.

9.  Election of a new moderator: One of the first actions of a General Assembly will be the election of a new moderator.  The moderator presides over the meeting, but also serves as a spiritual leader of our denomination over the next two years.

10.  Worship:  Without question, my favorite part of the General Assembly is the wonderful opening worship service in which thousands gather to give glory to God.  Part of this worship is the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  Local artists are usually commissioned to design and make the chalices for this service, which are later sold to the public to pay for the costs of the worship service (which require the use of a large facility).  I have a collection of these chalices from several previous General Assemblies I have attended.  If you have been in my office, you may have seen them.  I look forward to adding to that collection, but mostly I look forward to the worship service.