Page 3 - Presbyterian_Connection_Spring_2017

Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
3
presbyterian.ca
SPRING 2017
General Assembly 2017
Presbyterian Connection is a quarterly newspaper published by the national office of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Barb Summers: Editor Thank you to all volunteer
contributing writers. ________________________
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Presbyterian Connection is free of charge to all members and friends of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. For address changes, to subscribe or unsubscribe, contact the Communications Office or visit presbyterian.ca/connection
________________________
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
The Presbyterian Church in Canada 50 Wynford Drive
Toronto, ON M3C 1J7 1-800-619-7301 connection@presbyterian.ca presbyterian.ca
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is a community of nearly 850 congregations in Canada. To find a congregation near you, visit presbyterian.ca/church-finder
Moderator of 142nd General Assembly:
the Rev. Douglas H. Rollwage
General Secretary:
the Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald
Principal Clerk:
the Rev. Stephen Kendall
Chief Financial Officer:
Oliver Ng
For all submissions, questions and feedback, please email connection@presbyterian.ca
or call 1-800-619-7301 ext. 243.
________________________
ADVERTISING
For all advertising enquiries, please contact
Stuart Teather
Fenn Company Inc.
P.O. Box 1060
King City, ON L7B 1B1 1-800-209-4810 ext. 23 presbyterian@churchadvertising.ca
Presbyterian Connection
newspaper is supported by gifts to Presbyterians Sharing.
Written by Terrie-Lee Hamilton, Senior Administrator, General Assembly Office
Every year, Presbyterians from across the country gather to take part in General Assembly, the na- tional meeting of the church, where decisions are made that affect the direction of the denomination.
Commissioners discern and debate courses of action and make decisions on policies and governance. Repor ts from the various agencies and com- mittees of the Assembly focus on matters that need to be addressed. Par ticipation from invited par tners from across the globe enhances our connections to the wider church and society.
The 143rd General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada will begin on Sunday, June 4, 2017, with worship and the celebration of com- munion at 7:00 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, On- tario. The meetings of the Assembly will be held at Queen’s University.
“Jesus Christ—the same yesterday, today, forever” from Hebrews 13:8 is the chosen theme. This focus upon Christ provides the foundation and the exhortation for our unity.
You can take part in General As- sembly even if you are unable to at- tend in person—General Assembly is live-streamed. To learn more and read the General Assembly repor ts, go to presbyterian.ca/gao.
MODERATOR’S MESSAGE
Of First Importance
not only to the church in Corinth, but
“...together with all those who in eve- ry place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That’s us. The letter is to us, too.
In addressing the sorry state of the church, Paul gives advice and council from the most practical (“When you come together to eat, wait for each other”) to the most profound (“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love...”). He uses humour (“If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?”), sarcasm (“Not many of you were wise by human standards...”), encouragement (“I am saying this for your own good”) and even thinly veiled threats (“Am I to come to you with a whip?”). He is willing to com- promise in some matters of practice (“I say this as a concession”) and even ventures some personal opinion (“I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgement...”).
Of all the issues facing the Corinthi- an church then, which is paramount? How does Paul bring this epistolary symphony to its epic finale? Listen:
Now I would remind you, broth- ers and sisters, of the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the mes- sage that I proclaimed to you—un- less you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had re- ceived: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was
Continued on page 5
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, ON
Written by the Rev. Douglas H. Rollwage, Moderator of the 142nd General Assembly
First Corinthians is quite a read. Paul addresses the letter, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,” but it isn’t long before we come to understand that the good Christians in Corinth are a work in progress. “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters...that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” Because they’re not.
Paul takes us on a guided tour of Corinth: quarrels, power struggles, jealousy, infighting, arrogance, sexual licence, lawsuits, marital strife, idola- try, fights over styles of worship, even debasements of the Lord’s Supper it- self. So often, we long to be a church as it was in the days of the Apostles; let’s hope it isn’t the church in Corinth we most resemble. I fear, at times, that maybe we do; perhaps that’s why Paul included us by addressing his letter
Role of
Moderator
of General
Assembly
The General Assembly, like all courts of our church, has a moderator. The church cour ts are session (congrega- tion), presbytery, synod and General Assembly. The Moderator of the Gen- eral Assembly has similar responsi- bilities as those who serve this role in the other courts. A primary function is to convene the meeting of the General Assembly. The moderator opens and closes with prayer, welcomes discus- sions, maintains order, calls for the vote and announces the decisions.
Unique to the General Assembly is how the moderator is elected. Indi- viduals are nominated by presbyter- ies, then members of presbyteries vote for the nominees. The Modera- tor-elect is announced on or about April 1 each year. The nomination of the Moderator-elect is placed before the Assembly. Commissioners vote and the Moderator is officially elected and installed.
The Moderator of the General As- sembly continues in office until the next General Assembly and is the only commissioner who “carries the authority” of one Assembly to an-
other. During the year, the Moderator visits congregations, attends special events and, through an international trip, connects with church par tners outside Canada. Other responsibili- ties include representing our church at ecumenical gatherings, speaking on behalf of our church and being an ex officio member of General Assem- bly committees.
The church greatly appreciates the leadership of those who serve the General Assembly as Modera- tor. They offer encouragement and share the stories of various ministries throughout our church.
Ruling elders who are members of a session, and ministers of Word and Sacraments and diaconal ministers on the roll of a presbytery are eligible to serve as Moderator of the General Assembly.
Learn more about the national struc- ture of The Presbyterian Church in Canada at presbyterian.ca/about