Reversals
Commissioners and observers like me spread throughout Birmingham to various places of worship this morning. I joined a group at the convention center led by an organization called Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International. By 1:30 the committees which had not finished their business came back together one more time. Here is where explaining the outcomes starts to get confusing. One committee voted not to recommend any changes to our denomination’s sexuality policy for Minsters, Elders and Deacons. Another committee voted to send a recommendation to the plenary that would give latitude to ordaining bodies to override the standard if they deemed it appropriate. But one or both of these recommendations could be reversed in the plenary and just figuring out the combinations of things that could happen makes the mind spin.
This picture was taken in the very comfortable pedestrian overpass that joins the Sheraton Hotel with the convention center. I’ve walked back and forth this way many times every day since I arrived.
I prayed for you who are in my congregation at noon today my time, which was ten o’clock for you. I’m looking forward to being back with you next Sunday to share with you my experiences.
Rich Z at GA217
Sunday, June 18, 2006
