Judging by the galleries, the most interest at the Assembly are in the two committees whose work topped my list - Marriage Issues and Middle East Peacemaking. One member of the Marriage Issues Committee described the committee as "deeply divided and concerned this may not be the time to do anything." The commissioners are feeling the pain and anxiety of the denomination, and have been told by some "The church will split and it will be your fault." That's both unfair and untrue. But it gives an insight into this Assembly.
The big controversy yesterday was the confirmation of the Vice Moderator. Tara Spuhler McCabe had admitted to signing a same-sex marriage license in Washington D.C. about a month ago (she says she didn't perform the ceremony though), and many commissioners wanted to take time to examine her on the floor of the Assembly (the majority voted it down and she was approved with a 30% "no" vote). Nevertheless the moderatorship of Neal D. Presa got off to a challenging start. The lukewarm response to his candidacy was reflected in Committee 5 (which I am resourcing) which not only failed to acknowledge him when he entered the room, but failed to stand (as is protocol) and many didn't even clap. It is sad to see some traditions fade away.
Shortly after the Vice Moderator to-do, Gradye Parsons was elected to a second four-year term as Stated Clerk, the least surprising development of the Assembly, as he was "standing" unopposed.
Some news of personal interest: Sunday morning I was pleased to worship at the church of Robyn Baker) Peterson, who years ago was a teenager in the church I pastored in Utah. The congregation bore a striking resemblance to Family of Christ church in Greeley where my family worships. Later that day, my friend Alyson Jonke was given the C. Fred Jenkins Award for Constitutional Service for a lifetime of dedication to the polity of the church. She was presented the award by our Stated Clerk Lynn Smit, who is President of the Association of Stated Clerks.
The overtures from our Presbytery are meeting with a mixed response. The Polity Committee largely rejected two of our amendments to clarify changes in the Form of Government. One of our commissioners sits on that committee and reported that for a polity committee the group is surprisingly ignorant of (and possibly indifferent to) our polity. Officially, they're not dead, but it will take a miracle the equal of the resurrection to revive them. On a brighter note, our proposed Authoritative Interpretation regarding validating ministries was approved in committee. And, as proof that our presbytery is even more polarized than the General Assembly, the controversial trade reform overture that was approved by a 38-30 vote at our May meeting was unanimously recommended by the Social Issues committee (with one abstention). Kudos to Joanne Dobie for a tremendous job as our overture advocate! The Assembly still must approve them to become official.
Finally, in the Mid Councils Committee, after a full day of listening to various resource people, advocates, and each other an informal survey of opinion in committee shows significant doubts about the Mid Councils Commission report. We'll see what develops tomorrow.
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