Flags wave and spirits soar as Wednesday evening business concludes
Assembly celebrates Puerto Rico as the site for the 228th General Assembly (2028)
MILWAUKEE — Toward the end of another lengthy day of Assembly business — punctuated only by meal breaks and a GA Moderator candidate meet-and-greet — the opening prayer by Theological Student Advisory Delegates Bee Wang and Katie Reome was timely.
And almost prescient.
“Celebrate with hymn and joyous dance,” they prayed, “as we come closer to the end.”
And indeed, dancing, applause and loud cheers filled the plenary hall following the vote on the one action of the Wednesday night plenary, GAO-01, the recommendation to hold the 228th General Assembly (2028) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The motion, as amended and with comment, was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 467-5.
In bringing the motion before the body, Ruling Elder Commissioner Anne Wilson of the Presbytery of New Covenant and Ruling Elder Renda Brinson of the Presbytery of Charlotte, moderator and vice moderator, respectively, of the Committee on General Assembly Operations, carefully foregrounded it by asking — and answering — the questions that had arisen during the committee’s deliberations.
Those questions included whether other locations were available to host the 2028 Assembly [they are not]; and why it was decided to have the 228th GA in Puerto Rico in 2028.
“The presence of the General Assembly in Puerto Rico would serve as a powerful statement in affirmation of the inclusive values of the church, as well as make space for the Assembly to expand assembly worship experiences, offer economic support and develop communal relationships within Puerto Rico,” Brinson said.
The amendment, introduced by Ruling Elder Commissioner Brandon Tacadena of Seattle Presbytery, called for Presbyterian Life & Witness “to require all GA commissioners, advisory delegates, volunteers, and staff to undergo cultural competency training and learn about the socio-political and historical relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States,” in addition to Equity Prime trainings.
Tacadena, who was born and raised in Hawaiʻi, began by saying that what is often thought of as the “quintessential vacation paradise … is designed to obscure a dark, colonial legacy; the result of American imperialism.”
“Empire has caused significant harm,” he said, “and many Americans have not been taught this history.”
The amendment, which Tacadena said is especially important “as we consider where we host,” passed by a vote of 437-19.
Perhaps the most poignant moment during the debate on the amended motion came when a host of former General Assembly Moderators crowded together around microphone number seven.
Clutching an iPad displaying the face of Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, a Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly (2018), the Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, a Moderator of the 225th General Assembly (2022), launched into an impassioned speech flanked by her colleagues.
“As the first Hispanic-Latinas elected to the office of Co-Moderator, we are a living testimony of [Puerto Rico’s] legacy of hope, resilience and perseverance,” said Santana-Grace, addressing the “lack of familiarity with [Puerto Rico’s] history” that has impacted the conversation at the Assembly.
Entreating the Assembly to “decide on the merits of the proposal,” Santana-Grace also reminded commissioners and advisory delegates that “[Tuesday] morning we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Puerto Rican pastor in our denomination, the Rev. Blanca Estrella Otaño-Rivera in June 1975, ordained a year after our beloved Katie Cannon.”
“Let’s leave the assumptions we carry at the doorway,” she said. “May we bear witness to the countercultural Christ and recognize the humanity in each other.
“La lucha sigue — the struggle continues.”
In a statement earlier in the proceedings, the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) and Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness, spoke to the fact that some questions raised about hosting the 2028 Assembly in Puerto Rico “were inappropriate and caused harm.”
“These extended beyond the committee and prompted conversations across the church and social media,” she said. “Our common commitment is to see and treat one another with respect and dignity. Loving our neighbor and being loving neighbors is at the heart of this commitment.”
Prior to the vote and subsequent celebration, the Assembly heard greetings from the Rev. Victor Kim, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, which, he said, would never become the 51st state.
Throughout his brief remarks, Kim had the Assembly chuckling, particularly when he turned to record a video of everyone in the room wishing “all the Canadians watching a happy Canada Day [July 1].”
On a more serious note, Kim “echoed the appreciation and admiration of many from the ecumenical world regarding the commitment of the PC(USA) to matters of ecumenism, justice, peacemaking and mission.”
“You have been a beacon to many denominations around the world, and your leadership has been long appreciated and admired by so many,” said Kim. “I recognize that the mission and ministry of the PC(USA) is needed more than ever before in these divisive and polarized times, and so I commend you to continue in your courageous, steadfast, imaginative and faithful witness to the gospel and ministry of the grace and love of God made known in Jesus Christ.”
Bookending the evening was a joint prayer by Frances Cox, a YAAD from Foothills Presbytery, and Priscilla Samuel, a YAAD from the Presbytery of the Coastlands, followed by an evening prayer service.
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