In Spirit and Truth
About this blog
In Spirit and Truth is the blog of the General Assembly Committee on Representation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It will feature content written by the sixteen members of the committee, who are teaching and ruling elders from across the country, and our staff person in the Office of the General Assembly, as well as links and articles of particular interest. These blog entries are intended to prompt reflection and dialogue on aspects of expanding representation and supporting full participation in the PCUSA, especially at the assembly level. The ministries of advising, consulting, advocating, reviewing and recommending are vital to the life of the whole Body of Christ. Committees on Representation and/or their functions exists at all councils above session so from time to time we may highlight activities and insights from our sister committees on representation at smaller councils throughout the church.
Author Molly Casteel is an Assistant Stated Clerk and the Coordinator for Representation and Inclusiveness Services. She is a teaching elder (a.k.a. Minister of Word and Sacrament) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary.
Recent posts
- Five Verbs, Seven Groups and a Case Study
- Lent: A Time for Giving Up
- Toward a More Full Self-Understanding
- The Time Has Come!
- Epiphany: a time for insight and revelation
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- Inclusiveness (1)
- Research (1)
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Archives
Posts with tag: gacor
April 25, 2013Five Verbs, Seven Groups and a Case Study
A visitor at this meeting, I was given privilege of the floor to advise the Synod commissioners about language in soon-to-be adopted Synod by-laws about the Committee on Representation.
March 12, 2013
Lent: A Time for Giving Up
What are you giving up for Lent? That was the question. In fact, I will always remember a new friend's answer to that question. She proudly said, "Do you know what I’m giving up for Lent? I'm giving up celibacy," and before I could feel my ears turning red and my cheeks blushing she announced "I'm getting married!" The idea of giving something up for Lent may or may not be in our Presbyterian/Reformed ethos. We tend to say that our grace-oriented faith does not 
require our efforts to purify ourselves to please God. But ...
February 21, 2013
Toward a More Full Self-Understanding
In the summer of 2011, a historical document of the PCUSA became quietly accessible again with its online publication.
The General Assembly Committee on Representation played a role in making that happen when it did. They were concerned about the ahistoricity of conversations around Presbyterian self-structures in light of the work of the Mid-Councils Commission in 2011.
For over one hundred years there were all-Black governing bodies (presbyteries and synods) in the Presbyterian Church. A history of these structures was written and adopted by the 205th General Assembly in 1993. This document provides a rich understanding of the diverse expressions ...
January 2, 2013
Epiphany: a time for insight and revelation
As the horizon of human knowledge expands many traditions and words take on new meanings.
Initially, the Epiphany (gr. epiphaneia - "manifestation") was a festival that was celebrated twelve days after Christmas in order to remember the birth of our Lord, his baptism in the Jordan River and the manifestation of his glory in the celebrations of the wedding at Cana.
Die Reise der Heiligen Drei Konige (fragment) by Sasseta Giovanni (1432-1436), currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA.
When in the fourth century, the Greek Church adopted the Roman date for celebrating Christmas ...
November 14, 2012
ZERO
As a teaching elder commissioner to the 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh, I had a big time “wow” moment during a PowerPoint presentation given in plenary, “A Snapshot of Presbyterians.” (1.2M) It was this shocking statistic: of the 688 GA Commissioners, ZERO were under age 25. ZERO.
So, how shall we increase participation of young adult commissioners at future general assemblies?
General Assembly did take action on this issue. The Review of Biennial Assemblies Committee’s item 04-01, Recommendation 5, (to create thirty-two young adult commissioners under age 36, 1 ruling elder and 1 teaching elder from each ...
September 21, 2012
So Much Change! Council Responsibilities and How They Can Sustain and Support Diversity and Full Participation
It's autumn and the General Assembly Committee on Representation (GACOR) prepares to convene for their first full committee meeting since the 220th General Assembly adjourned in July. Later this week, they will welcome and orient 6 new members who join the 2 re-nominated members and 8 continuing members (a total of 16 persons, each residing in a different synod).While new Constitutional language became effective on July 11, 2011, many mid councils (presbyteries and synods) waited to see what the assembly would decide regarding the Mid Council Commission report and recommendations (Item 05-12). Synods are retained for now and ...
July 30, 2012
GA220 spotlight: The Church as Employer
Privilege, Power and Policy: The Church as Employer, the report of the Climate for Change Task Force to the 220th General Assembly (2012) and highlighted actions taken by the assembly.
July 21, 2012
Saturday, the last day of the GACOR exhibit at the Churchwide Gathering
Oh what a time we have had at the PW Churchwide Gathering here in Kissimmee, Florida. So many good conversations, shared stories and lots of laughter.
Today we got to meet a mighty mother-daughter duo, Connie and Amy. They met up in Florida from Washington state and Texas respectively. Connie was a voting member at the business meeting this Triennium and Amy served on the Churchwide Coordinating Team for a few years and was back to visit with old friends.
Connie Robinson, the mother (from Washington state), shows off her gifts for diversity and inclusion. Photo by Molly Casteel
Connie ...
July 18, 2012
Adventures in the Exhibit Hall...Day 1 at the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women 2012 in Orlando, Florida
Today was the first day the exhibit hall was open and saw women gathering from across the world. Here are a few of the sights at the COR booth (#416).
Come by and see the new logo and look of the General Assembly Committee on Representation. Photo by Molly Casteel
We are seeing old friends...
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Former member of GACOR, Angelica Michail from Southern California and Hawaii, found us in the exhibit area and gave us a shout out. Photo by Molly Casteel.
...and making new ones.
Cookie can sing y'all! Photo by Molly Casteel
We met Daphne Patterson today ...
July 13, 2012
Leadership Transitions
At each and every General Assembly, the committee greets new members and says good bye to others who have completed their service. Two members leaving after this assembly have served for 8 years! Alma-jean and Stanley, you will be missed and we give thanks for the good work you have contributed and the legacy you leave for those who serve after you.
So it is with Assembly Moderators as well. This year, we said thank you to Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010), Elder Cindy Bolbach as her term of service ended.
Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010 ...
June 22, 2012
Welcome to 'In Spirit and Truth'
Welcome to In Spirit and Truth, a new blog from the 16-member, General Assembly Committee on Representation (GACOR) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).