On Saturday the Unification Commission took its first major step toward unifying the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency, combining communications ministries in the two entities as well as the Administrative Services Group. Their senior leadership has until the commission’s next meeting Nov. 12 to determine who will run the combined efforts and to whom that leader will report.
It was up to the Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon to wrap up the Polity, Benefits and Mission conference with preaching laced with both insight and inspiration, and Cannon did plenty of both Thursday during closing worship.
Cannon, Vice President for Ministry Innovation at the Board of Pensions, preached as others had during the conference on Eph. 3:20-21. In addition to accomplishing abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, what else does Scripture say God has done? That long list, Cannon noted includes rescuing God’s people from a fiery furnace and from a lion’s mouth, restoring sight to the blind, keeping many from stumbling “and making every grace overflow to you. God can work exceedingly abundantly beyond our wildest dream,” Cannon said.
Stewardship has many layers. The Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, the 11th president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, began a recent talk by acknowledging some visible ones.
Deuteronomy 5:17 “You shall not kill.”
The devastation and loss of life in both Israel and the Gaza Strip in the last few days has been horrific. No words can describe the anguish and suffering of the people directly impacted by and caught up in the violence of these attacks. As we watch the recently declared war unfold, our hearts break for all whose loved ones have died, are wounded, missing, displaced, or taken hostage.
Appearing via Zoom from her office in Zimbabwe Thursday, the Rev. Lydia Neshangwe delivered a rich and full plenary — one that even included a mathematical parable — to those attending the Polty, Benefits and Mission Conference.
Neshangwe, a former International Peacemaker who completed seminary while under care of the Presbytery of Denver and sits on the PC(USA)’s Global Partners Roundtable, shared a conundrum called The Parable of the Difficult Will, which she heard from a friend.
If the Rev. Dr. Ray Jones III had a goal for the workshop he offered Wednesday during the Policy, Benefits and Mission Conference, it was this: “I want us to see the deep connection between evangelism and justice.”
“Evangelism isn’t something to make the church work,” said the director of Theology, Formation & Evangelism in the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “It’s part of being the body of Christ.”
“Come, all who are thirsty” to the Association for Partners in Christian Education’s 2024 annual gathering, to be held in St. Louis from Jan. 24-27 or via the Annual Event Online.
Mid council leaders attending the Polity, Benefits and Mission Conference in St. Louis got an update on Wednesday on new initiatives aimed at providing long-term sustainability and broader access to benefits for Presbyterian ministers and staff. The Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer, president of the Board of Pensions, said BOP staff have held a series of conversations across the denomination, where they’ve heard common themes.
On Tuesday, panelists from the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy and the Presbytery of the Pacific regaled those attending the Polity, Benefits and Mission Conference with the innovative Matthew 25 work going on in their jurisdictions — one related to affordable housing and the other to racial justice.
The Rev. Ryan Landino, presbytery leader at the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, told the story of the loan debt that was saddled years ago on Third Presbyterian Church, a predominantly Black congregation in St. Louis. Alongside Landino on the panel were the pastor of the church, the Rev. Cedric Portis Sr., and the Rev. Liz Kanerva, the associate presbytery leader.
Those attending the Polity, Benefits and Mission Conference this week got a look at what’s in store next summer during the 226th General Assembly, which will be held partly online and partly in person in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Utah is so excited to have you all come,” said Candice Sweet, stated clerk of both the Presbytery of Utah and the Synod of the Rocky Mountains. Two weeks ago, Office of General Assembly staff joined with local arrangers for volunteer training and a tour of the remodeled Salt Palace Convention Center. Area churches “are also excited to have you come and worship with them,” Sweet said.