On June 14, the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will convene in Detroit. For those of you who are new to the PC(USA), the General Assembly (GA) meets biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by each of its 173 presbyteries. The GA is full of activities: business sessions, committee meetings, an exhibit hall, daily worship services, and mission tours sponsored by the Committee on Local Arrangements.
The assembly acts on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries. Two issues coming to this GA that will receive national attention are matters pertaining to the Middle East and civil union and marriage. Our own Terry Epling is serving as Parliamentarian for the Civil Union and Marriage Committee.
As the General Assembly meets, please keep the commissioners and attendees in your prayers. The business the GA attends to matters, and the days can be long and sometimes contentious. They need our support! If you would like more information about the General Assembly, the PC(USA) website provides up to date information.
Blessings,
Annie
PS: I’ll continue my summer sermon series on spiritual practices. This week it is the practice of saying thank you. See you in church!