 Presbyterian Leaders’ Forum  July/August, 1999
A Message from the Stated Clerk Long hours characterize General Assemblies. Tired tongues become twisted and tied, so that even the most polished preachers stumble over words. Near the end of our most recent annual meeting, held from June 19-26 in Fort Worth, one speaker was heard to refer to “the 211th Generous Assembly.”Some veteran observers of our church like to bestow nicknames on particular Assemblies: “the Reunion Assembly,” “the Referring Assembly,” “the Activist Assembly.” Looking back on our week in Fort Worth, I find it appropriate to summarize the events and mood of that gathering in the phrase “the Generous Assembly.” In committee deliberations and floor debate, a leading theme of this Assembly was a recognition of the core beliefs we hold in common: a devotion to our one Lord, a love of God whom we come to know in Jesus Christ, and a dependence on the guidance of the Spirit as we join to pursue the Great Ends to which the church is called. Bible study and Assembly worship focused on the Great Ends, or goals of the church, especially “the preservation of the truth, the promotion of social righteousness, and the exhibition of the kingdom of heaven to the world.” It was in recognizing our fundamental unity in Christ that the Assembly called for intentional dialogue on “The Nature of the Unity We Seek in Our Diversity.” Study guides and resources were commissioned for use in congregations, presbyteries, synods and ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Based on a national conference in Atlanta last May, these resources will feature reflections on Presbyterian doctrine, history, and church government as they inform our thinking on such issues as worship, Biblical interpretation, racial harmony, and the impact of human sexuality on standards for membership and ministry. The 211th General Assembly was generous in opting for dialogue in search of mutual understanding among Presbyterians who do not see eye-to-eye on certain matters of controversy. There were many other examples of generosity. Funding was authorized for the implementation of church growth strategies through new church developments and the redevelopment of existing congregations. Young people were encouraged to join with the Presbyterian Youth Connection in witnessing the “Dawn” of 2000 at a New Year’s celebration to be held in Indianapolis. The global mission of the church was honored and supported by affirming current work on new funds development and support of mission personnel. In addition, over 100 Presbyterians were commissioned for mission service during the opening worship service. Presbyteries were encouraged to adopt a new relationship with eight other Protestant bodies through “Churches Uniting in Christ.” In addition to formal Assembly actions and reports, offerings at the 1999 opening worship and ecumenical service showed record generosity toward people in need from Texas to Kosovo. It must be added that every General Assembly is made possible through generous gifts of time, effort, and material necessities from our local hosts and Presbyterians across the church. Such people are God’s precious gift to us. May news of “the Generous Assembly” in Fort Worth be greeted by the whole church in the same spirit by which it was generated: the spirit of Christian unity, forbearance, and love. Clifton Kirkpatrick |
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