Page 8 - Presbyterian Connection

8 FALL 2024
PRESBYTERIAN
Connection
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
presbyterian.ca
Tuesday morning worship with the Joonim Church Choir.
in Montreal, Que. Peter preached on Exodus 3:1–12, with a focus on the image of the burning bush. He noted that God didn’t appear as the mountain itself but as a scraggly bush on top of it. This imagery ties into the Christian narrative that God is in everything. While it is easier to notice God in churches or other “holy” places, God is also in the ordinary. Peter reminded the Assembly that one can encounter God anytime, any- where. Putting aside one’s needs allows one to pay attention to or- dinary things because they can become holy.
This year’s General Assembly brought commissioners and other participants back together for the second time since the pandemic, once again offering renewed con- nections, the oppor tunity to wor- ship together and a chance to reframe how the church thinks of itself, how it tells its story, and what the narratives are that con- tinue to shape us. Several com- missioners noted that they experi- enced a deepening in connections made and a shift in how the PCC views itself. The Rev. Mavis Cur- rie from Knox Presbyterian Church in St. Thomas, Ont., reminded the Assembly during worship: “We have kept this story and held on to it because this is the story of the church... God is still with us on the journey. God will not let us go.”
The 2024 GA web page con- tains the minutes of the proceed- ings, links to video recordings of proceedings and presentations, links to photos, full committee reports, and much more. Visit presbyterian.ca/ga2024.
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to illustrate the profound impact these formative narratives have in shaping us. The discussion pro- vided the Assembly with glimpses into the complexity and diversity that underpin humanity and how these narratives can deliver hope and illustrate the intricacies of our connections. These con- nections include nature and all it encompasses, as Mary Fontaine reminded the gathering.
Father Hladio spoke about how these narratives can be tied to resilience, despite attempts to op- press and deny people their exist- ence. He reminded the Assembly of the maxim: “If you have hope, you plant an olive tree, as it only gives fruit in about 30 years—so, you’re planting it for your chil-
dren.” The Rev. Pat Dutcher-Walls noted that, as a biblical scholar, she was compelled to draw on stories from the Bible as stories from God that give us our iden- tity as followers of Jesus. She explained that these ancient nar- ratives have provided hope to people over time and continue to bolster the determination that can be applied to our contemporary contexts as we seek to follow Je- sus and his ways of compassion.
In thanking the panellists, the Rev. Dr. Richard Topping of the Vancouver School of Theology noted that their stories and shar- ing of formative narratives gave him a profound impression that passing tradition on made for restlessness rather than passiv- ity. While there were undoubtedly
cautionary notes about tradition, he said that he appreciated how these stories were all intensely informed by the belief that we are created in the image of God.
Narratives that Shape Us: table group discussion During last year’s General As- sembly, times were set aside for commissioners to share stories of hope in table groups and re- flect on a structure that may help our denomination live out that hope into the future. This year, the Assembly again broke into table groups to focus on an “in- ternal faith conversation” geared to facilitating the denomination’s understanding of how the foun- dational stories that shape iden- tity help them know who they
are—as a group, as individuals, congregations and presbyteries. The questions for discussion, in- formed by biblical themes, were how such foundational stories could define a future of hope and what the stories were that made people glad and committed to be- ing a Canadian Presbyterian.
As it had done last year, the Assembly Council will refer to the information presented by the table groups as it reflects on the denomination’s future and devel- ops ideas on how best to support the church’s mission.
The final morning worship was led by the Rev. Kristine O’Brien, Director of Crieff Hills Retreat Centre, the Rev. Hugh Donnelly, minister of Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, Ont., and the Rev. Peter Rombeek, minister at Kensington Presbyterian Church
Committee to Nominate Standing Committees
The Committee to Nominate Standing Committees presents names for membership on each General Assembly standing committee. Members of the church serve at the national level on committees and boards where their gifts and skills are most needed and can best be used. The committee coordinates the call and reception of nominations from Sessions, presbyteries, synods and other standing committees.
In its work of preparing and presenting to the General Assembly a slate of names for membership on each of its standing committees, the Committee to Nominate was impressed by and grateful for the willingness of so many members to share their gifts and serve Christ at the national level. The committee was struck by the rich diversity of skills, backgrounds, perspectives and experience within our denomination. The committee endeavoured to complete the standing committees to the best of its ability, and expressed gratitude for those who were nominated.
Dillon W. Hausauer, elder at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Lethbridge, Alta., and member of the Committee on Church Doctrine, wrote: “When I became a member of the Committee on Church Doctrine, I was nervous to join the amazing ministers and seminarians around the table. There is a saying that if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. I certainly felt like I was in the right room! While I have been stretched and grown from this calling, I have also seen how God brought my gifts to this table. My skills of coordination, consensus-building, and communication compliment those of other members, furthering our work. It strikes me that some of the strongest relationships I have developed within the church are with people who are very different to me. Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other, allowing us to effectively serve. The Apostle Paul compared the church to a body, made up of many individual parts, but united. In the same way, we support each other. Whatever your gifts, they were activated in you by God to serve the common good!”
All members of The Presbyterian Church in Canada are encouraged to think of those they know who might serve on these various committees so that God is glorified and the work of Christ continues. To learn more, contact [email protected] or call 1-800-619-7301.
Interfaith guest, Fr. Bodhan Hladio of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.