Blog Entries for adamwalkercleaveland

Post GA: There is Hard Work to be Done

cleave@gmail.com — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Photo by Joseph Williams

It's been a long week here at GA; the plenary finally ended last night around 11.45pm and I think commissioners and advisory delegates were very ready to head back to their rooms. Yesterday was the day when we hit all the hot-button issues: gay ordination, same-sex marriage, the Iraq war, Israel-Palestine issues and abortion. While the assembly vo [...]

GA218 Summary Bulletin Insert

cleave@gmail.com — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The following message is from Jack Haberer, the Presbyterian Outlook's Editor:

"General Assembly is winding down to an end, and now the task of interpreting the actions of it falls upon the shoulders of folks like you. Friends will be hearing about it from newspaper reports (your email inbox may already be filling up). I have just put the finishing touches on a bulletin insert that will be made available for purchase on our Web site TODAY by 1PM Pacific time, 4PM eastern t [...]

Blog Comments

cleave@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Just a quick comment on leaving comments on this website. It is an open forum and we do encourage you to leave comments. However, neither Charis (the other Outlook blogger) or myself have the capabilities to approve the comments. Those belong to the Webmasters of the site - and they are doing their best to get them approved.

I just wanted to make sure readers knew that we weren't censoring or purposely avoiding your comments.

A Battle-Cry of Fear

cleave@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Today is a big day. We'll be hearing a lot during the plenary business meetings today, and we'll be hearing from some of the most controversial committees - those that dealt with issues of ordination and Israel & Palestine. As I sat in these committees, and as I heard Overture Advocates, commissioners, advisory delegates and those in the open hearings all speak to these issues, I noticed one tactic being used that stood out over all others: a tactic of fear.

There is a general [...]

YAAD Haikus

cleave@gmail.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Last night, it seemed that plenary would never end (although, it did, finally, around 11pm). We seemed to continue to get caught in parliamentary circles: never-ending amending, motioning and calling for the question. Back at the press tables, we had to keep asking each other, "What in the world are we doing now?"

Apparently some of the YAADs were getting a little frustrated by some of the procedures as well, and some started putting together some haikus in honor of the Genera [...]

Sexuality Issues at General Assembly

cleave@gmail.com — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

If anyone outside of the Presbyterian Church (USA) were to join us over the next couple days, they'd probably think we were a little bit obsessed with talking about sex. Certainly the "Fred Phelps"-type folks who were picketing outside the Convention Center last night think we are probably incredibly obsessed with and misguided about sexuality. Sexuality has been a part of many of the conversations over the past few days, and those conversations will probably be getting even more heate [...]

Youth from Atlanta Disappointed with Assembly Vote

cleave@gmail.com — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

In Erin Dunigan's article "Youth reach out to the church", you may have learned about a youth group from Central Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, GA) who wanted to help volunteer at GA but were told they were too young. The current age limit is 18 years old, and many of the students from Central were under 18. Together with their session, they created Commissioners' Resolution 17-01 which encourages the General Assembly "to celebrate youth and affirm their unique gifts and talents by [...]

DAIO Podcast Interview with Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow

cleave@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Shawn Coons, who blogs at I, Geekrev and runs the Decently and In Order (DAIO) News service as well as the podcast, had a chance to sit down with newly-elected Moderator of the 218th General Assembly, Bruce Reyes-Chow. It's a great interview, so if you get a chance to listen, check it out here.

Hope for the PC(USA)

cleave@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

After a long day of committee meetings yesterday, of becoming frustrated with parliamentary procedure and certain perspectives within the church, I needed some hope. I needed some hope that there was something in store for the Presbyterian Church (USA) other than needing to come back, year after year after year and rehash the same theological arguments and debates.

Speaking for myself (and not the Outlook), I was excited that the Church Orders and Ministry Committee voted to recommend [...]

Who cares what the PC(USA) thinks?

cleave@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Well, at least the New York Times does. Yesterday morning I was sitting in the Peacemaking and International Issues Committee, as they discussed and passed recommendations related to issues in Zimbabwe, Columbia, North Korea and Israel/Palestine. I was sitting between a reporter from the New York Sun (article here) and the New York Times. I'll have to admit, I was a little surprised to see a New York Times reporter covering a Presbyterian committee meeting. Perhaps that's just the part of me tha [...]

Youth Provide Much-Needed Perspective

cleave@gmail.com — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Last night I was told I should swing by the Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD) Caucus to listen to their evening committee reports. And I'm so glad that I did. First, because Bruce Reyes-Chow was given some time to address the YADs; it was great to hear some of their questions (ranging from polity questions to "How do I get you to come to my Presbytery?). You can read more about his visit here.

But secondly because it was so great to hear their committee reports. I wish there was a way [...]

Open Hearing Concerns G-6.0106b

cleave@gmail.com — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

This morning I sat through the open hearing of the Church Orders and Ministry Committee - basically, the committee dealing with the "sex stuff" (as I've heard it referred to around GA the past day or so). The open hearing was a time for people who have come to speak for or against a specific overture that the committee is dealing with, to do so in 90 seconds. People who spoke were commissioners, YADs, members or supporters of affinity groups (OneByOne, Covenant Network, More Light Pres [...]

Committee Meetings

cleave@gmail.com — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I realized yesterday that I'm already tired - which is not a good sign considering that the intense work of the General Assembly is starting today. It's been a busy few days already. We've had four official GA Business Meetings so far; some of them interesting, others extremely boring. Bruce Reyes-Chow was elected as our new Moderator, we received nominations for the new Stated Clerk (the election will happen on Friday) and we've done a lot of other stuff that was less interesting. And now we're [...]

The Presbyterian Coalition and First-Order Things

cleave@gmail.com — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I just got back from the Presbyterian Coalition Luncheon event - their guest speaker was Mark Labberton, who serves as the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, CA. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Presbyterian Coalition (and I really wasn't either, until going to the luncheon), according to their website, they are "A Movement of Christ's People Committed to Life and Transformation in the PC(USA): Exalting Christ, Energizing Congregations and Upholding Histori [...]

Ecumenical Dining

cleave@gmail.com — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Two nights ago, on my way to the Church Basement Roadshow (which was great - my full review of the evening can be found here), I stopped at a pizza joint to grab a quick dinner. I was the only one there until another gentleman came in and ordered his meal. I sensed that he too was from out of town, and so I asked if he was here for the Presbyterian gathering. He said he was as well and we started to eat dinner together. As it turned out, his name was Dr. Kobus Gerber and he is the current Genera [...]

Bruce Reyes-Chow Elected Moderator

cleave@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:00:00 +0100

Bruce Reyes-Chow has just been elected as the new Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008). Bruce is the techno-savvy pastor of Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco and has been very active in the church. I'm sure he will lead us well this week as we negotiate the business meetings of the General Assembly. However, more importantly, I believe [...]

Some Photos from GA

cleave@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Things are now in full swing and it's time for a quick lunch break before our second session starts at 1.30pm. I know there are some other Outlook staff taking photos down here at GA, but I will be shooting some as well. I will try and post some of them here on the blog, but you can also follow those photos here on Flickr.

Top Ten Issues at GA

cleave@gmail.com — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0100

I'm sure if you ask anyone at GA, they will have their own version of what the really important "issues" at GA are going to be. And you'll probably find that what might be a really huge issue for some may not be that important to others. This is important to remember as we engage in debate and dialogue during this upcoming week. For myself, there are a few issues that I'll be following with some interest. I spent the summer of 2005 in the Middle East, primarily living just outside o [...]

presbymergent at GA

cleave@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Some of you may know that I helped found a group called presbymergent, along with author Karen Sloan. Presbymergent has been around for over one and a half years now, and has continued to gain interest among Presbyterians. We currently have over 200 registered users on our website (seminarians, pastors, theologians, Presbytery staff, Executive Presbyters, laity, youth pastors) and a very active blog as well as Facebook group. We've recently formed a Coordinating Group, which gives leadership [...]

Who's blogging at GA?

cleave@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:00 +0100

There are many ways in which you can follow what's happening at GA this year if you're in San Jose, and especially if you aren't able to be here. I'll be blogging here on the Outlook site, but you can also follow me on Facebook and you can follow my "micro-blogging" updates on Twi [...]