Late night - Early morning Epiphanies

Thursday, June 21, 12:19AM, Central Time. It's late, and we're voting on some very complicated issues. Keeping up with the flood of subjects amidst the deluge of Parliamentary maneuvers is next to impossible. Some of us are getting slap-happy, some are getting grumpy, and some are simply exhausted. Yet, the speakers keep speaking, the Moderator keeps moderating, and the Stated Clerk keeps helping us remember all that we're talking about. In short, the Assembly is faithfully attempting to conquer the impossible, trying to put our work before our personal concerns. At this time of night, all of us would rather be just about anywhere else. But here we are – moving, seconding, debating and deciding.

Before attending this week of General Assembly, I might have cynically and simply concluded that we're here so late at night because Presbyterians just enjoy meetings. OK, we do enjoy meetings. But that's not why we're here. After a week of prayerful, impassioned discussions, I can gladly testify that the greater truth behind our late-night meeting is that this is a gathering of prayerful, impassioned people. We're committed to a church whose polity commands us to make decisions for ourselves. The even greater truth is that our church believes God works through our meetings and discussions just as much as God works through our physical acts of mission. God is at work at a General Assembly just as much as God is at work on a mission trip. Yes, we are a church who believes actions count. But we are a church who believes words count, too. We are a church who believes our words and our actions influence each other, and as a force are inseparable tools of service to Jesus Christ. So, after my week of experience with the GA, I would say to my prior self and to anyone who might criticize our General Assembly for all its talk: you're only looking at half the story.

The whole story involves both fiery debate and silent prayer. The whole story involves both the hands of African mission workers and the minds of Louisville staff. The whole story involves seeing that Presbyterians (USA) are a wide collection of individuals, churches, advocacy groups, thinkers, talkers and doers. The whole story is that the PC(USA) is not solely unified around itself, but around the words and mission of Jesus Christ. Not one of the Commissioners, YADs, TSADs, and Advisory Delegates present at the 217th General Assembly spoke of anything less than upholding the highest standard, that of faith in Jesus Christ. While the expressions of our faith may vary, the center holds. The unity in Christ of this General Assembly was, in my experience, undeniable and inspiring.

The whole story is that while this Assembly may have not always conquered the impossible, we did face it. We did far more than just have meetings and hear ourselves talk. We worked to hear and to do the will of Jesus Christ at impossible hours and with improbable people. I want to thank the Presbytery of East Tennessee for this opportunity to serve through voice and vote. By calling me to serve this Assembly, you have given me the blessing of a wider perspective on the Presbyterian Church (USA). I leave this Assembly a fuller Christian, and a deeper and more appreciative Presbyterian (USA). My thanks to you all.

In Christ, James McTyre