Reflections from General Assembly
Every General Assembly has highs and lows. The Fellowship Community was well represented at GA by Executive Director Mike McClenahan and Advisory Board member Scott Mann among other Fellowship-affiliated commissioners, delegates, and observers. We hosted a table with all other Presbyterian ministries and groups and gathered before and during GA for prayer, support, and resourcing participants.
We were encouraged by a number of things. It was moving to see the whole church unified in expressing concern and requiring accountability for the elimination of PCUSA World Mission and mission co-workers as well as setting a deadline of next GA to articulate the missiology that will guide PCUSA forward. GA commended the importance of theology and worship and also lamented the loss of the Office of Theology and Worship, itemizing its work and requesting denominational leadership report to next GA how these tasks are being carried out and by whom. There was broad support for requiring the proper process for considering a new confession and this was accomplished through the long-standing relationships of trust and respect between Fellowship pastors and many of our progressive siblings. Many welcome the return to in-person General Assemblies in 2030, which is better for developing relationships among other things. GA approved $50k to support creating the Korean American Ministry Roundtable. Theologically conservative young adults were more present and participating than in recent years.
However, it is always discouraging to see how few people affiliated with TFC seek to serve at GA and other higher councils. Although we represent a significant percentage of PCUSA membership, we are dramatically underrepresented in these venues. PCUSA’s dramatic loss of membership has flattened out, yet it is always painful to downsize, and it has been a challenging season especially for PCUSA staff and those involved in the reorganization.
Perhaps the most concerning action was that on GEN-09 which seeks to update, replace, and/or rescind previous theological frameworks concerning sexuality, gender, relationships, and family. This work was assigned to PCUSA staff in consultation with appropriate advisory and advocacy committees and others. Pray that this effort for the whole church will include people representing perspectives from the whole church and if you have suggestions of Presbyterians with theological expertise in these areas, please recommend them to us or PCUSA’s Nominating Committee.
GA and PCUSA leaders routinely make statements or approve policies which do not reflect the views of our whole exceedingly diverse church. These kinds of PCUSA actions do not bind the conscience of any Presbyterian. Our constitution affirms that councils err, and individual Presbyterians and councils like the session may disagree or register dissent or protest. Many express concern about this GA’s statements and actions concerning Israel/Palestine, fossil fuels, and gender-affirming healthcare to name a few. The Fellowship Community’s GA overview in May reviewed and anticipated these concerns to assist our church leaders in navigating GA publicity. All GA actions are at www.PC-Biz.org.
Some were looking for more clarity concerning the Olympia amendments from last GA but, as we expected, no further clarity was provided. If your church is finding these changes difficult in your presbytery, please contact us and your presbytery leadership.
While Scott was keeping track of the votes and overtures at play, Mike was working the lobby, attending lunches, and engaging with TFC friends and GA leadership. We were very gratified with the enthusiasm for our leadership pipeline—seminaries, new worshiping community leaders, mid council leaders, and pastors across the spectrum affirmed our goal to raise up 250 new pastoral leaders in the next ten years.
Mike was elected to serve for two years on the Presbyterian Life and Witness (the new OGA/PMA) Review Committee—evaluating the work of the PLW. We introduced ourselves as those evangelical pastors and churches who are committed to faithful ministry in the PCUSA and who desire the Big Tent of our denomination. We are building bridges and leaning into relationships at every level of the denomination and encourage you to do the same in your context. It was clear that The Fellowship Community team was greatly appreciated by many at GA. It is important that we were there and look forward to the next GA in Puerto Rico.
Mike McClenahan is the Executive Director of The Fellowship Community. Scott Mann serves on the TFC Advisory Board and is the Associate Pastor for Discipleship at Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, WA.