The Rev. Jim Szeyller’s voice choked as he recalled the year-long work of the special committee he moderated, which studied issues of civil unions and Christian marriage in a report to the 219th General Assembly.

Flexibility and framework are words coming up often in the discussions surrounding the Form of Government revision being considered here at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The nuts and bolts of the Middle East Study Committee (MESC) report, “Breaking Down the Walls,” were outlined Saturday morning during Riverside Conversations at the 219th General Assembly.

Blending a celebration of recent heritage with anticipation of the new was the theme of the Presbyterian Outlook’s luncheon at the 219th General Assembly (2010).

The six candidates for Moderator of this Assembly took time to sum up their weeks of campaigning.

The Rev Julia Leeth recalled the evangelical influence a youth pastor had in her life at a youth camp at age 19, where she first accepted Jesus Christ. Later, she was encouraged to work in church leadership and followed the road to her pastorate.

A hopeful vision for the 219th General Assembly (2010) and encouraging stories about Presbyterian ministries were shared Saturday at one of the six Riverside Conversations.

Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, identified seven hopes he has for this year’s meeting. His colleague Linda Valentine, executive director of the General Assembly Mission Council, expanded on Parsons’ hopes by giving examples of the PC(USA) fulfilling its commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” through evangelism, servanthood, discipleship and diversity.

We as individuals, congregations, presbyteries and a denomination are the problem as well as the solution when it comes to racism. That recognition was the focus of Saturday’s Riverside Conversation “Equipping the Church for Ministry with God’s Diverse Family” during the 219th General Assembly (2010).

Okay, so maybe attending a General Assembly over the Fourth of July weekend isn’t as exciting as a quarter-mile drag strip (and let’s not forget — our nation’s founders assembled over the Fourth of July weekend before it was the Fourth of July — and they did it while perspiring profusely in wool flannel and powdered wigs!). But there’s still plenty of action to go around — and you won’t miss it if you sneeze!

A pre-assembly conference Friday on peace in the Middle East helped set the stage for the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

“Shalom, Salaam, and Peace: One Hope, Two Peoples, Three Faith Traditions” brought together perspectives on the Middle East from diverse faiths practicing in context.

Attendees of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) might have been to their share of conference exhibit halls.

But visitors to the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC) section of this Assembly’s exhibit hall might feel as though they’ve been transported to a museum instead of a typical conference center hall.

A proposal to the 219th General Assembly (2010) this week in Minneapolis to create a commission to address issues facing middle governing bodies in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is essential,” because so many presbyteries and synods are in crisis, says the Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.