The GAMC cannot by itself accomplish
the goal of restoring a culture of vocation in the PC(USA).
It will require a coordinated effort of the whole church—congregations,
presbyteries, seminaries, conference centers and others outside
the church as well as pastors, educators, elders, and other
individual Presbyterians. Recognizing that such an effort will
not be concluded within the span of the 2007-2008 Mission Work
Plan, the
Discernment of Christian Vocation Project Team recommends that
the GAMC approve the following steps to encourage Christian vocation
among young people and invite others to share in this important
work:
- Expand opportunities for discernment events, especially
as a part of larger events involving middle and high school
youth, college students and young adults.
- Expand opportunities for youth and young adults to participate
in service opportunities sponsored or coordinated by the PC(USA)
or in partnership with other denominations and organizations.
- Connect congregations and presbyteries that are actively
engaged in vocational discernment activities and encourage
them to connect with others by sharing their models.
- Incorporate vocational discernment tools in curricula and
other materials produced for middle school, high school and
college students.
- Identify or develop resources that present the concept of
Christian vocation from a variety of ethnic and cultural perspectives.
- Provide instruction for church educators, youth leaders
and pastors on how to help students discern their call.
- Encourage attendance at colleges and universities or participation
in campus ministry programs that provide opportunities for
vocational discernment.
- Identify or develop resources to help pastors and congregations
see vocational discernment as a fulfillment of promises made
at baptism.
- Encourage congregations to implement the five sacramental
practices found in the report “Invitation to Christ,”
approved by the 217th General Assembly (2006), and to reflect
on these practices, considering how vocation is grounded in
baptism and
nourished in the Lord’s Supper.
- Establish partnerships with seminaries, colleges, the Lilly
Endowment and others that are engaged in programs of vocational
discernment in order to learn from and share their findings
and resources.
- Establish a Web site to support all of the goals and recommendations
above.
- Establish a staff team from appropriate areas within the
GAMC organizational structure to implement these recommendations
and report to the GAMC regularly on the progress of implementation.
Download the full report.

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