I’m left with the impression that today was a rousing day, but it’s strange I feel that way since we sat for several hours of business meetings today. We again were passing or amending the overtures that were before us, one of which was a Commissioner’s Resolution written just yesterday by my colleague from Presbytery de Cristo, Bart Smith, pastor at St. Mark’s in Tucson. It called for the end of the zero-tolerance policy and asked that families be reunited a quickly as possible in the community and not in detention, as well as asking that the resolution be sent to the President, the members of Congress, and to all the presbyteries. It passed with only a little wordsmithing, and immediately it appeared in national Presbyterian magazines and other news sources. The morning ended with an impressive worship service with the neatest communion service that included young children, followed by one of those inspiring sermons typical of Southern Baptist services, but this one delivered by a Presbyterian woman. A men’s chorus from a neighborhood church sang the anthems and hymns at this service. I’m including a couple of pictures of them. The communion service was too far away to photograph.
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The afternoon session focused on a lengthy report by a committee called The Way Forward Committee. It has been meeting since the 2016 General Assembly to study ways the church can work more efficiently and cooperatively in every aspect of its organization – a big task – so its report took a long time to give and a long time to approve.
There are four groups at the assembly who do not have an actual vote but who vote to advise the commissioners. Those groups are the YAADs, which stands for Young Adult Advisory Delegate, the TSADs (Theological Student Advisory Delegate), MADs (Missionary Advisory Delegate, and EADs (Ecumenical Advisory Delegate, leaders of other religions who have been invited to attend to see what the Presbyterian Church is up to). Whenever we vote, the Advisory Delegates vote first on their computers, the results of which show up on a screen and the Moderator says, “Commissioners, you have been advised.” That means we know what they think about an issue, which we can either heed or ignore when we commissioners vote. When we vote, we vote on electronic devices that transmit a signal that is translated into a graphic which shows the percentage of vote for and against. They are the same devises that are used on television show where audience members have a chance to vote. I always wondered how that worked.
Tonight we were excused from meetings so that we could attend a jazz concert put on for us by saxophonist Kirk Whalum, which was just excellent. I had not heard of him before, but now I’m a fan.
During the noon hour, I went for a walk and found a store that sold the most beautiful ladies’ hats. I haven’t seen a hot store for years, so I’m including a picture.
There are four groups at the assembly who do not have an actual vote but who vote to advise the commissioners. Those groups are the YAADs, which stands for Young Adult Advisory Delegate, the TSADs (Theological Student Advisory Delegate), MADs (Missionary Advisory Delegate, and EADs (Ecumenical Advisory Delegate, leaders of other religions who have been invited to attend to see what the Presbyterian Church is up to). Whenever we vote, the Advisory Delegates vote first on their computers, the results of which show up on a screen and the Moderator says, “Commissioners, you have been advised.” That means we know what they think about an issue, which we can either heed or ignore when we commissioners vote. When we vote, we vote on electronic devices that transmit a signal that is translated into a graphic which shows the percentage of vote for and against. They are the same devises that are used on television show where audience members have a chance to vote. I always wondered how that worked.
Tonight we were excused from meetings so that we could attend a jazz concert put on for us by saxophonist Kirk Whalum, which was just excellent. I had not heard of him before, but now I’m a fan.
During the noon hour, I went for a walk and found a store that sold the most beautiful ladies’ hats. I haven’t seen a hot store for years, so I’m including a picture.
