june 29, 2008
Sharing Christ's Mission
To members of the General Assembly Council:
What a week it has been in San Jose at the 218th General Assembly. The words of Micah 6:8 — to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God — were called upon again and again in worship, deliberations, messages, song and prayer.
We shared a week of fellowship with new faces and familiar acquaintances — the image of family reunion often invoked. Our staff was marvelous, behind the scenes, in front of committees and the assembly, resourcing committees, writing the stories, extending welcome at the General Assembly Council’s wonderful space in the exhibit hall and engaging in conversations non-stop.
I have joined our new Moderator, Bruce Reyes-Chow and our new Stated Clerk, Gradye Parsons in a letter to the church.
I began the Assembly encouraging commissioners to make the message that the church is alive, that Presbyterians are starting new congregations and transforming old ones and joining as partners in God’s mission in new and wonderful ways to be the news, the Good News of this General Assembly. While other stories have also grabbed attention, stories of the issues that continue to divide us, my prayer in all this is that we stay focused on our calling to share Christ’s mission.
Blessings,
Linda B. Valentine
Executive Director
General Assembly Council
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
june 28, 2008
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The 218th General Assembly adjourned just a few short hours ago. Even now, 973 commissioners and advisory delegates are making their way back home from San Jose, CA, where they worshiped daily, discussed and debated overtures, and celebrated the countless ways Presbyterians are engaged in ministry near and very far away—all with a focus on discerning the mind of Christ for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and seeking ways to live out this assembly’s theme: “Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).
Beginning today and continuing over the next two years, elected commissioners will be about the task of interpreting the actions they took at this assembly. Already, their decisions have been broadcast across the church and, in this Internet world—with information received in real time, live blogs, and more—many people have already weighed in on the assembly’s actions, sharing their thoughts and feelings about the implications of those decisions on our life together in the PC(USA). Read the rest of this letter.
General Assembly Council 'At-A-Glance'
The largest of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the General Assembly Council (GAC) is the ministry and mission arm of the PC(USA), offering the world a visible witness to Jesus Christ on behalf of:
- 2.2 million members across
- 10,960 churches in
- 173 presbyteries and
- 16 synods.
With mission personnel serving in nearly 70 countries around the world and over 400 staff, most based in Louisville, Kentucky, the General Assembly Council leads and coordinates the mission program of the General Assembly — the church’s highest governing body — and is responsible for implementing the programs and policies it authorizes.
Learn more — download The General Assembly Council “At-A-Glance.” 
Read the 2007 Annual Report
The mission and ministry of the General Assembly Council comes alive in a new comprehensive report for 2007. Describing the outcomes of activities designed to meet the objectives of the Mission Work Plan, the report presents highlights of the GAC's ministry areas, communications and funds development, shared services and policy development and enhancement. Download the 2007 Annual Report of the General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.
Together in Ministry and Mission
This 24-minute program  illustrates the mission and ministry of the GAC. Learn about some of the exciting ministries taking place nationally and internationally as Deputy Executive Director for mission Tom Taylor shares examples of mission in Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Discover some of the core beliefs of the church with Tom as he discusses what we believe as Presbyterians with Joe Small, director of Theology Worship and Education, and Charles Wiley, coordinator of Theology and Worship. Listen to Eric Hoey, director of Evangelism and Church Growth, describe what we’re doing about evangelism in the church. Finally, reflect with Tom about the need and reason for Presbyterians to stay together as a denomination, following Jesus’ commandment, “Love one another that your joy may be full.” |
